Torrid Second Half Propels Lobos Past Falcons
Dec. 10, 2004
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – After a sluggish end to the first half the New Mexico Lobos drilled 65% (17-26) of their shots after halftime to run past Bowling Green 73-43 in the opening round of the Southwest Airlines Lobo Shootout. UNM (5-1) will face the University of San Diego in the title game Saturday at 8. The Toreros nipped Utah State 71-68 in the early game.
After no points and seven straight missed shots over the final 4:54 of the first half, the Lobos connected on 11 of their first 15 attempts to build a 60-32 lead with 7:35 left in the game.
New Mexico was deadly from long range, connecting on 55% (11-20) for the 4th-best accuracy in school history. The Lobos were 7 of 8 after the break, including 4-4 by sophomore guard Katie Montgomery who finished with a season-high 17 points.
The Lobos came into the game shooting 33% from 3-point.
Senior Lindsey Arndt recorded her seventh career double-double with a career-high-tying 21 points and 12 rebounds. She also established a career-best with 4 steals.
Senior guard Mandi Moore added a season-high 14 points by knocking down 4 treys. She also dished out 9 assists. Moore came into the game averaging just 4.8 points and had made only 4 of 20 shots from beyond the arc.
Arndt and Moore combined for 14 points during a decisive 21-2 run in the second period to put the game away.
The Lobos seemed to be on their way to an easy win in the first half as they bolted to a 14-3 lead following a 3-pointer by Montgomery. Consecutive treys by Julie Briody and Moore gave UNM a 24-8 advantage and it was 30-14 with 4:54 remaining in the half when Moore knocked down a short jumper. The Falcons closed the half with a 10-0 run.