ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Junior Cherise Beynon scored over 20 points for the fifth time this season on Saturday night as The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team (6-6, 2-0 MW) downed the visiting San Diego State Aztecs (5-7, 0-1 MW) by a score of 85-42 at home to remain undefeated in the Mountain West. The win marks the first time since the 2008-09 season that the Lobos have started conference play 2-0.
“I thought that we came out with the right amount of energy and effort,” head coach Mike Bradbury said. “Tonight we shot extremely well. I think the most important thing is that we played hard and were able to get some defensive rebounds.”
Beynon came just one rebound and two assists short of posting the Lobos’ first triple-double since 1978 with 23 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
“[Cherise] played well,” Bradbury said. “We talk about it every game, if we’re going to be good, she needs to be good. In the last three weeks, she’s been the player we thought she was going to be.”
Beynon was one of three players to lead the Lobos with double figures including freshman Mykiel Burleson and sophomore Jaisa Nunn who both scored 12. Sophomore Emily Lines also shined for UNM, scoring nine points on three shots from behind the arc in the fourth quarter alone. The sophomore went 3-for-5 from downtown.
Once again, the Lobos were able to shut down their opponent’s most consistent shooter, limiting SDSU’s McKynzie Fort (Jr.) to just seven points after entering the game scoring 16.8 per game. Two Aztecs were able to score in double digits however, including juniors Lexy Thorderson (11) and Khalia Lark (10).
The Lobo offense was on fire in the first half, firing at a clip of 58.8 percent compared to just 24.2 for SDSU. Beynon rattled off an outstanding 14 points in the first quarter alone to get the Lobos out to a formidable 31-15 lead after just 10 minutes of play.
UNM did not let up in the second quarter, allowing the Aztecs to score just six points in the frame compared to 20 for the Lobos.
In the second quarter, junior Alex Lapeyrolerie left the game due to injury after scoring eight points but the Lobos did not let the fact that they were a man down halt the momentum. UNM went on a 13-0 streak over 5:17 to increase the Lobo lead to 30, 46-16. A jumper by Nunn with 1:44 left in the half put UNM at 51 points to just 21 for SDSU for a 30-point halftime lead.
It has been almost exactly 12 years since the last time the Lobos scored over 50 points in the first half. The last time was on January 4, 2005 against Morgan State.
The Lobos hit a lull in the third quarter, shooting just 26.7 percent from the floor to 25.0 for SDSU. San Diego State’s Monique Terry scored a quick six points in the frame but the Lobos responded in the fourth to keep a strong lead.
The story of the fourth quarter was a huge performance from Lines who racked up nine points, two assists, one block and one rebound in the frame. Also in the fourth quarter, freshman Brittany Panetti sunk her first career-three pointer.
Overall the Lobos outshot SDSU 50.0 percent to 25.4 while outrebounding the squad 51-34. UNM was dominant in the paint scoring 36 points to just 16 for SDSU. UNM also collected 15 second-chance points (nine for SDSU) and 18 points on the fast break compared to just two for the Aztecs.
The Lobos are back in action on Wednesday, January 4 as they host Utah State at WisePies Arena – The Pit at 7 p.m. UNM looks to extend its conference win streak to three with the matchup.