New Mexico – Air Force Postgame Notes
New Mexico 70, Air Force 47
Clune Arena, USAF Academy, Colo.
1/14/15
Team:
UNM improved to 7-9 on the season and 3-2 in Mountain West play. The Lobos won away from The Pit for the first time this season, and more importantly put themselves above .500 in conference.
UNM improved its series record against Air Force to 35-2 all-time.
It’s the first time the Lobos have won three straight conference games, not including the 2012-13 season when UNM won its last two conference games and then won the first game of the MW Tournament.
The Lobos are 5-0 when leading at halftime. They led 31-24 on Wednesday.
UNM shot 51.9 percent (27-of-52) for a season high, including 60.2 percent in the second half.
The Lobos outscored the Falcons 33-9 from the bench and had a 45-23 edge in rebounds. They had a 17-5 edge in second-chance points and a 26-14 edge in the paint.
Individual:
Junior post Khadijah Shumpert, who struggled from the floor against Utah State, was 4-of-4 in the first half and had 10 points. She also had two first-half blocks. She finished with a game-high 12 points in just 14 minutes.
Freshman guard Cherise Beynon had a monster first half with eight points and seven rebounds She was 4-of-4 from the floor. She finished with 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting and had eight rebounds as UNM put the game away in the second half. She has scored in double figures in four of UNM’s five conference games.
Junior point guard Bryce Owens had five points, six rebounds and a game-high five assists.
Freshman guard Laneah Bryan hit a 3-pointer for the third straight game.
Sophomore post Kianna Keller had three rebounds and two blocks in the first half. She finished with three blocks for the game. She also had four points and seven rebounds.
Freshman forward Jayda Bovero had a career-high eight points. She was 4 of 5 from the free-throw line.
Senior post Maddie Muraida scored three points, her first points of the season, in six minutes of action.
Sophomore guard Marissa Perry grabbed her first rebound of the season in two minutes.
Junior Brea Mitchell scored seven points, her highest output in six games.