Double-doubles from Nunn and Robertson lift Lobos to 72-65 win over Hartford
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team picked up a 72-65 win over Hartford on Sunday at Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit, thanks in part, to double-double efforts by Jaisa Nunn and Aisia Robertson. Nunn’s double-double was of the traditional point-rebound variety with 32 points and 11 rebounds, while Robertson’s was point-assist as she had 10 points and 12 assists.
It was the first double-double of the season for both Nunn and Robertson. For Robertson, it was her first double-double as a Lobo. In the season-opener against Texas State, Robertson flirted with a triple-double with 17 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. For Nunn it is her 21st double-double of her career. Last season, Nunn had 19 double-double games and averaged that for the season.
In the game on Sunday, both Nunn and Robertson got on their way to their double-doubles early as they connected with one another on the Lobos (2-1) first points of the game. On that initial scoring play, Robertson feed the ball inside to Nunn, who finished at the rim and then completed the and-one opportunity.
Robertson and Nunn would help each other’s stat line six more times in the game as Robertson assisted on seven of Nunn’s 11 made field goals, including a make from three-point range by Nunn in the third quarter.
That three-pointer by Nunn gave the Lobos an 18-point lead 50-32 with 3:22 left in the third quarter, and prompted a timeout called by the Hawks (1-3). After a steal and finish in transition by Jayla Everett on the ensuing possession following the timeout, the Lobos secured their largest lead of the game at 20 points.
The Hawks would battle the remainder of quarter and trimmed the Lobo lead down to 17 points.
In the fourth quarter, Hartford continued to fight their way back into the game, and cut the deficit as low as five points, 68-63 with 1:42 left in regulation. In getting the score that close, the Hawks had gone on a 13-2 run that started at the 6:07 mark of the fourth quarter. During that stretch, the Lobos were 0-of-6 from the floor and committed four turnovers.
Not long after the Hawks made it a two-possession game, Nunn stopped the run and gave the Lobos an eight-point lead by converting another and-one opportunity that was feed in by Robertson. Hartford would make a basket on the other end to cut it to six, but a 1-of-2 trip to the line by Nunn was enough to secure the win for the Lobos.
The Lobos will now face their first road test of the season as they will travel to Houston, Texas and take on the University of Houston on Saturday, November 24. Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 1 p.m. (MT).