LAS CRUCES, N.M. — After claiming a commanding 29-point victory at home in their first matchup of the season, the University of New Mexico women’s basketball team (2-4) fell in the final minutes to New Mexico State (5-2) by a final score of 77-70 on Wednesday evening in Las Cruces, N.M in the Rio Grande Rivalry game. Three Lobos scored in double figures, two of which surpassed the 20-point mark.
The game marks the fourth-straight loss for UNM, all of which the Lobos led at some point during the contest.
“I thought we played relatively hard for three quarters, we were outrebounded but we were winning,” head coach Mike Bradbury said. “But we got crushed on the boards in the fourth quarter and didn’t respond very well.”
The Lobos were led by junior Cherise Beynon and senior Richelle van der Keijl who each passed the 20-point threshold on the night. Beynon led with a season-high 22 points before fouling out on a questionable call with 40.3 seconds left in the game. van der Keijl followed with 21 for her third 20+ point game in six games this season, tying her career high.
The Lobos have had at least one player rack up 20 points or more in five of their six games this season.
“Offensively (van der Keijl and Beynon) were both really good,” Bradbury said. “We needed both of their points to be in the game. I think they have been kind of our leaders throughout the year so hopefully they continue.”
The Lobos went down early in the game, allowing the home team to take a nine-point advantage halfway through the first quarter, 15-6. The Lobos went on a 12-2 run to halt the Aggies and take the lead. It was junior Laneah Bryan who hit a three-pointer to take the first lead of the night for UNM, 18-17. The teams ended the exciting first quarter tied at 19 apiece with van der Keijl and Beynon leading the Lobos with seven points each. Bryan and sophomore Jaisa Nunn combined for five.
The Lobos had picked up momentum in the final minutes of the first quarter and took it into the second where they outscored NMSU 21-18 to head into the locker room up 40-37 at the half. Freshman Mykiel Burleson hit a three with 31 seconds left on the clock in the first half to break a 37-37 tie.
In the first half, UNM shot 45.5 percent from the field including 33.3 percent from behind the arc and 56.0 percent at the stripe. The Aggies were just 39.1 percent overall, 38.9 from three-point land and 84.2 from the free-throw line (16-19).
The Lobos, more specifically van der Keijl, came out on fire in the second half. After the Aggies scored the first basket of the third quarter, van der Keijl went off for five straight points to give UNM a six-point lead, 45-39. The Aggies cut the lead to one again before she knocked in two more free throws to extend the lead to three, 47-44. The teams traded baskets throughout the quarter and NMSU’s Tamera William, who led all players with 23 points) drilled a half-court three with just a fraction of a second on the clock to pull the game within one, 57-56 Lobos.
After three quarters of hard work, the Lobos slipped in the fourth quarter. The Aggies scored five straight points to make it 61-57 before senior Kianna Keller cut the lead back to two on a jumper, 61-59. NMSU followed a 6-0 run on two threes from Brooke Salas over just 58 seconds to make it 67-59 NMSU with 7:46 to play.
The Lobos chipped away at the lead, whittling it down to two after six-straight points from Beynon, 69-67 but the Aggies took over and didn’t look back in the final three and a half minutes to run away with the win, 77-70.
Overall, the Lobos outshot the Aggies 45.5 percent to 39.1 from the field. NMSU, however, held the advantage from three (38.9 percent – 33.3 percent) and from the free-throw line (84.2 percent – 56.0 percent).
The Lobos were outrebounded 44-36 as the UNM grabbed just seven offensive boards. Two Aggies finished with double-doubles including William (23 pts., 12 rebs.) and Salas (20 pts., 10 rebs.).
UNM returns to action on Saturday at WisePies Arena – The Pit against SMU at 1 p.m. for its special 50th Anniversary of The Pit game. The Lobos and fans will celebrate the outstanding 50-year history at the iconic venue they call home with giveaways and more.