LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Freshman Jaisa Nunn led the University of New Mexico women’s basketball team with a career-tying 14 points but the Lobos fell 57-48 to UNLV Wednesday night in Coz Pavillion.
Nunn finished 7-for-10 from the field and brought down a team-high nine rebounds. She also picked up one assist and one block. Sophomore Cherisey Beynon was second on the team with 11 points, her ninth straight game in double-figures. She was 4-for-15 from the field, 2-for-9 from the three and 1-for-2 from the free throw line. She also picked up eight rebounds, three assists and a steal. Senior forward Khadijah Shumpert finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. She was 4-for-8 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free throw line.
It was another slow start for the Lobos, as they did not get on the board until the 7:58 mark after a three from Beynon. Shumpert tied it up at 5-5 with 4:46 left in the quarter and Nunn took the first lead for the Lobos with a two down low. The two teams went cold until UNLV took the lead in the final 14 seconds of the quarter, leading the Lobos 8-7.
Beynon started off the third quarter with a trey but UNLV responded with a 6-0 run to take a 14-10 lead and force UNM to a timeout. UNM came out of the timeout and tied it up at the 4:01 mark off a Nunn layup. UNLV went back up by two but Beynon sank a jumper to tie the game for the third time. A foul gave UNLV two free throws. Nunn tied it back up with a layup but UNLV finished the half with back-to-back layups to lead UNM 24-20 at halftime.
The Lobos took their last lead of the game with 6:18 left in the third to play after a jumper from Nunn. UNLV tied it back up with a free throw and took the lead for good off a three. Seniors Bryce Owens finished off the quarter with two free throws to cut the deficit to five, 37-32.
New Mexico went down by as much as 14 in the fourth quarter. Back-to-back buckets from Owens cut the UNLV lead to 52-44 but it was too late as UNLV went back up by 11 by two frees with a minute left to play. Jayda Bovero sank two free throws with 37 seconds left to come within nine but it was too late to get any offense going.
The Lobos out rebounded the Lady Rebels 42-39, including 22 offensive rebounds, but the shooting wasn’t there tonight. The Lobos shot 31 percent (19-62) from the field to UNLV’s 38 percent (18-48). The Lobos finished 10 assists and six steals. They were just 7-for-17 from the free throw line.
New Mexico returns home for two straight games, playing host to San Diego State Saturday, Feb. 6 at 2 p.m. and Utah State on Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. For tickets, visit GoLobos.com or call (505) 925-LOBO.