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| Wyoming Quotes | New Mexico Quotes
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — A poor third quarter in which New Mexico went 1-for-14 from the field and was outscored 25-9 spelled doom as UNM lost all of a 15-point halftime lead and the Lobos were eliminated from the Mountain West Tournament 69-66 by the No. 3 seed Wyoming.
The third quarter came out of nowhere, because for the opening first two, the Lobos looked unstoppable. UNM led pretty much the entire first half, with UNM limited Wyoming to just 29.2% shooting over the first 20 minutes.
UNM took the lead midway through the opening quarter on a Jaisa Nunn layup at 8-6, and kept it throughout the rest of the half. Another Nunn basket to open the second quarter and a three-pointer by Madi Washington made it 18-10. Nunn nearly had a double-double in the first half with 11 points and eight rebounds. Nunn’s three-point play with 2:32 to go gave UNM a 33-16 lead. Wyoming hit the last basket of the half to make it 33-18 at the break.
“I thought we played well, especially in the first half,” said head coach Mike Bradbury. “Defensively we were sound and most importantly we were plus-five in rebounding. That was a big reason we had the lead, but in the second half we got beat up on the boards.”
Here are some https://t.co/xXq41ZY3yu highlights from tonight’s 69-66 loss in the MW Quarterfinals #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/QTSruM18tz
— Lobo Women’s Basketball (@UNMLoboWBB) March 7, 2018
Coming out of the break, UNM couldn’t hit a shot, going 1-for-14. Counting the end of the second quarter and the beginning of the fourth, the Lobos went just 1-for-17 from the field as the score went from 33-16 Lobos to 43-42 Wyoming. UNM stayed within range by hitting its free throws, and N’Dea Flye gave UNM the lead back at the 8:33 mark of the fourth 45-43, but Wyoming quickly tied it, and a pair of Natalie Baker free throws with 7:34 to go gave Wyoming the lead for good.
Eventually it pushed the lead to six at 63-57 with 1:32 to go on a three-pointer by Taylor Rusk, but UNM wouldn’t go down without a fight. Flye hit two free throws to make it 63-59 and after a Wyoming miss, Washington scored with 29.5 left to make it 63-61.
Wyoming then hit four free throws sandwiched around a Washington basket, making it 67-63 Wyoming. Cherise Beynon, who struggled from the field going 2-for-14, drained a long three with 5.4 to go to cut the lead to 67-66, and UNM quickly fouled with 3.3 to go. After Wyoming hit both free throws, UNM called its final timeout to advance the ball to the front court and set up a final shot.
After Wyoming also used a timeout, UNM inbounded to Buck, who took one dribble and let a 24-footer fly. Her shot was right online, but too long and Wyoming escaped with the win.
The loss knocked UNM to 23-10 on the season, but while UNM’s NCAA hopes were dashed, the postseason still should beckon for UNM, as the Lobos have a solid shot at a WNIT berth. The Lobos entered the game with an RPI of 82, and Wyoming’s was 74. UNM’s postseason fate will be announced the night on Monday, March 12.
Bradbury addressed the opportunity to continue playing. “This is the most wins we’ve had at New Mexico in a decade. We’ll play in the NIT next week. They haven’t been to an NIT in a decade. It’s not disappointing. I’m disappointed right this second because we didn’t win.”