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Albuquerque, NM–The Lobos used an 11-0 run early in the second half to pull away from a pesky St. Bonaventure squad, and the University of New Mexico womens basketball team defeated the Bonnies 56-46 in front of 7,538 in the first round of the Southwest Lobo Shootout Friday night in The Pit.
UNM (9-3) advances to play Central Michigan in the championship game Saturday night at 8:15 p.m. (MST). St. Bonaventure (5-5) will play Long Island University in the consolation game at 6. The Chippewas downed the Blackbirds 79-58 in the first game.
The Lobos opened the game on fire, as Mandi Moore and Molly McKinnon hit consecutive threes to stake UNM to a 6-0 lead. The Bonnies fought back and drew within two, 14-12, when Graziella Charles hit a bucket with just under seven minutes remaining. UNM would regain control, however, blitzing SBU with a 10-2 spurt, to take its biggest lead of the game, 24-14. Center Jordan Adams and forward Chelsea Grear had five points each in the skein, with Grears three punctuating the run. The Bonnies were resilient though and ended the half on a 7-0 run to close within three, 24-21. Charles scored to open the second half to bring SBU to within one – its smallest deficit of the game – but UNM erupted with its big run and was able to keep St. Bonaventure at an arms length the rest of the way. Five different players scored during the 11-0 burst, ncluding a backbreaking three from Moore, and when the smoke cleared, UNM had hit 4 of its first 7 shots and vaulted to a 35-23 lead.
The Lobos kept the pressure on, building the advantage to as large as 16, 48-32. The Bonnies made a game of it with a 7-0 run – thanks to five points from Courtney Mattingly – to close to within nine, 48-39. Adams put the nail in the coffin, however, with two straight hoops in the final minutes, and the Lobos went on to record their fourth straight victory. Adams and McKinnon led UNM with 11 points apiece, while Grear chipped in 10 and a game-high seven rebounds. Mattingly led all scorers with 12, but had six of the Bonnies 21 turnovers. Adams had a solid all-aroundgame, adding four blocks to her nation-best total, and a career-high 6 assists. UNM shot 42.6% from the floor and held St. Bonaventure to just 35.3% – including 29.2% in the first half. The Lobos have now advanced to the title game of the Shootout in eight consecutive years, and will be seeking their sixth straight championship.i