BOISE, Idaho – The University of New Mexico women’s basketball put together a key 70-60 victory over Boise State Wednesday night in Taco Bell Arena.
The Lobos finished with four players in double-figures, the first time since the Lobos played UNLV on Jan. 13. Senior Bryce Owens paced the Lobos with a team-high 13 points. She also picked up five assists and three rebounds.
Sophomore Alex Lapeyrolerie finished with a career-high of 12 points, shooting 3-for-4 from the three. Cherise Beynon recorded 11 points, including 3-for-5 from the three while freshman Jasia Nunn finished with 10.
In the first quarter, Boise State jumped out to an 8-3 lead over the Lobos but a 7-0 run put the Lobos up 10-8 with 4:01 left. Two free throws by the Broncos tied the game but Lapeyrolerie sank back-to-back buckets, including a three to take a 15-10 Lobo lead. Beynon hit two free throws at the 2:36 mark but the Lobos were cold the rest of the quarter. With 38 seconds left in the quarter, Boise State hit two free throws to cut the Lobo lead to 17-12.
The second started off with a 10-2 run by UNM as the Lobos got buckets from Nunn, Shumpert, Beynon, Owens and Whitney Johnson. Boise State hit two free throws at the 7:47 mark but didn’t score until 5:04. The Broncos called for time after Lapeyrolerie hit her second three of the game with 3:35 left in the half.
Lobo fouls put the Broncos at the free throw line in the final two minutes of the half, giving the Broncos a chance to come back. The Broncos hit six straight free throws to finish out the half trailing New Mexico 37-30.
Boise State came out in the second half with a quick two but the Lobos put together a 9-0 run in a two minutes to take their biggest lead of the game, leading 46-32. Boise State called for time and ended up going on a 8-0 run, forcing the Lobos to call timeout. They cut the lead within five, 48-43 with 5:26 left in the quarter.
Laneah Bryan hit a key three with 3:17 left in the quarter to take a 53-49 lead. The Broncos responded with a three but a layup from Alexa Chavez with six seconds left in the third gave the Lobos a 55-50 lead heading into the fourth.
Boise State hit five points within the first minute of the fourth to tie the game up 55-55. The Lobos took the lead for good off a free throw shot from Shumpert. Owens, Bryan and Nunn hit back-to-back-to-back shots to go up 63-55 with 4:12 left to play.
The Broncos brought the game within six at the 3:21 mark and looked to foul the rest of the way. The Lobos went up by as much as 10 after a good free throw by Lapeyrolerie. Two more good ones from the charity stripe gave the Lobos a 69-60 lead with 58 seconds left. Shumpert hit a final free throw with 39 seconds left to give the Lobos their first victory in Boise, Idaho since Feb. 16, 2013.
The Lobos shot 42 percent (24-57) from the field, which is the first time they have shot over 40 percent since the game against Air Force on Jan. 27. They also shot 50 percent (9-18) from the three which was the first time since Jan. 23 they have shot 50 percent or better. The Lobos were 13-18 (72 percent) from the free throw line.
But defense played a huge part in the win tonight as the Lobo tallied 36 rebounds to Boise State’s 27. Nunn finished with a team-high nine rebounds while sophomore Jayda Bovero was second on the team with six. Bryan and Lapeyrolerie each picked up four boards. The Lobos recorded 13 offensive boards to the Broncos six.
New Mexico is now 13-11 on the season and 6-7 in the Mountain West. They will take on Air Force this weekend in WisePies Arena for the Lobos Love Pink game. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. For tickets, visit GoLobos.com or call 925-LOBO.