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Three-ball helps Lobos bounce back with 70-58 win vs. CSU

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team did not waste any time in putting themselves back in the win column following their first conference loss of the season this past Wednesday at UNLV. On Saturday, the Lobos used success beyond the arc to help carry them to a 70-58 win over visiting Colorado State in front of a season-high 5,809 fans inside Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit.
 
The success from three-point range did not come early in the game for the Lobos (13-2, 3-1 MW), however, as they were 1-of-9 (.111) through the first quarter of play. The Lobos would go on to make 11-of-28 (.393) overall for the game after that slow start. In the second quarter things began to heat up from range as Jayla Everett and Jaedyn De La Cerda hit consecutive threes to give the Lobos a seven-point lead, 20-13, with 8:44 to play in the half.
 
With 4:52 to go, Colorado State’s Mollie Mounsey buried her second-straight three to give the Rams (7-8, 1-3 MW) a one-point lead, 23-22. That prompted a timeout to be called by UNM. Immediately out of that timeout, De La Cerda answered right back with a triple of her own to regain the lead for the Lobos. Madi Washington then connected on the first of her trio of three-pointers in the second quarter to push the lead out to five with 3:58 to go.
 

The last of Washington’s threes in the second quarter came as time was expiring and gave the Lobos a double-digit lead into the locker room, 36-26.
 
In the third quarter, the Lobos were able to extend their lead out to as much as 17 points, 48-31, with 4:46 to go. The shot that gave the Lobos their biggest lead was a three-pointer by Aisia Robertson and that followed up a three-pointer by Antonia Anderson the offensive possession prior. The Rams were able to get the score to single digits on another three by Mounsey, but the Lobos ultimately took a 13-point lead into the fourth thanks to a pair of free throws by both Jaisa Nunn and Everett.
 
In the fourth, the Rams fought their way back to within single digits on three occasions, but each time it was short-lived as the Lobos answered right back on the ensuing possession. In the first instance with just over six minutes to go, Ahlise Hurst came away with a steal and finished on the other end with a fastbreak layup. The second instance saw Washington bury her fifth three-pointer of the game at the 2:34 mark, while the final came with 1:44 to go and was a pair of free throws from Nunn.
 
The Lobos would go on to beat the Rams by 12, 70-58. It was the ninth time overall this season that the Lobos have won a game by 10 or more points and the second time in conference play.
 
Offensively, the Lobos were led in scoring by Washington as she scored a season-high 15 points off the bench. All 15 of her points came from beyond the arc as she was 5-of-8 from deep. Coming into the game, Washington had made just eight three-pointers. The five makes also tie a career-best for Washington, a feat she has accomplished twice before.
 
Nunn was next in scoring with 14 points and Robertson rounded out double-digit scoring with 10 points. In terms of rebounding, the Lobos out-rebounded the Rams 49-33 and were even more dominant on the offensive glass, 19-6. Leading the rebounding effort for the Lobos was Nike McClure with a season-high 12.
 
The Lobos will now prepare for San Diego State this coming Wednesday. Tip-off against the Aztecs is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit.