ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team fell 59-58 in the final seconds to San Josè State Saturday afternoon in The Event Center.
After sophomore Laneah Bryan tied the game up at 57-57 with seven seconds on the clock off a made free throw, San Josè State threw the ball away to the hands of Bryan. SJSU fouled again putting Bryan at the line. Bryan made the first but missed the second. The Spartans got the rebound and called for their final timeout of the game, giving them a chance to advance the ball up, a new rule to the 2015-16.
The Spartans took advantage of the new rule and advanced the ball up. They threw the ball in but it got shuffled around between players, landing in the hands of Spartan Raina Byrd, who put it in the hoop with less than a second to go for the game-winner.
The Lobos started the game off on a roll, going on a 8-0 run in the first two minutes. The Spartans worked their way back as the Lobos offense went a little bit cold until the 5:38 mark. Senior Khadijah Shumpert sank two free throws to go up 10-4. New Mexico went up 14-13 with 1:57 left and Shumpert scored at the 40 second mark to end the quarter with a Lobo lead of 16-13.
Offense went cold on the second quarter as the Lobos didn’t score until the 4:09 mark, a jumper from senior Bryce Owens. That scoring drought gave SJSU time to take a lead. They went on a 9-0 run up until that 4:09 mark to take a 22-16 advantage over the Lobos. Owens scored again at 1:23 but SJSU took a 31-22 lead into halftime.
New Mexico started their comeback in the third quarter. The entire quarter the two teams went back and forth. The Lobos outscored SJSU 10-8 up to the media timeout at 4:43. UNM held the Spartans to a 2:30 minute scoring drought until 3:33 left in the period.
Offense started to pick up in the final minute as senior Alexa Chavez sank two free throws. Owens sank two more about 15 seconds later to bring the Lobos within two, 42-40. The Spartans hit two free throws with 37.1 seconds on the clock but Owens sank a jumper with 17 seconds left in the quarter to bring the Lobos back within two, 44-42.
The Lobo offense was quiet in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter until freshman Nunn hit back-to-back layups to tie the game up 46-46. The Lobos had a 54-50 lead but a foul by the Lobos gave SJSU three free throws, bringing SJSU within one, 54-53.
The Spartans retook a one point lead at the 1:35 mark. Shumpert responded with 33 seconds left but two more free throws from the Spartans put them back up 57-56 before the final seconds of the game went to SJSU.
Shumpert led the Lobos with 14 points, going 6-for-14 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free throw line. She also picked up a team-high eight rebounds and three steals. Owens finished with 12 points, shooting 5-for-12 from the field. She picked up three assists and three steals. Nunn recorded 12 points, going 6-for-12 from the field.
The Lobos shot 34 percent (24-70) from the field and 62.5 (10-16) percent from the free throw line. SJSU shot 34.5 percent (19-55) from the field, 20 percent (3-15) from the three point line and 64.3 percent (18-28) from the free throw line.
New Mexico is now 12-11 on the season and 5-7 in the Mountain West. The Lobos are on the road next week, taking on Boise State in Boise, Idaho. They return to WisePies Arena next Saturday to face Air Force for the Lobos Love Pink game. For tickets, call 925-LOBO or visit GoLobos.com.