Lobos tripped up late at Fresno State
FRESNO, Calif. – The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team lead Fresno State for most of the game and by as much as 10 points early in the fourth quarter, but a furious late-game comeback by Fresno resulted in a 77-70 loss for UNM on Saturday afternoon.
The loss drops the Lobos to 20-4 overall and 10-3 in Mountain West play.
The comeback effort for the Bulldogs (16-8, 9-4 MW) started in earnest in the fourth quarter after they found themselves trailing by double digits, 59-49, at the 9:46 mark after a layup by Nike McClure. At the 8:15 mark, Fresno got their biggest break of the game as Aly Gamez was fouled on a three-point attempt, sending her to the line for three. Gamez would make all three attempts to cut the Lobo lead to seven, 59-52.
The trio of Gamez free throws were the first attempts from the charity stripe since the second quarter for FSU. Prior to that, the Bulldogs were just 2-of-4 from the free throw line through the first three quarters. In the fourth quarter alone, beginning with the aforementioned Gamez trip to the line, FSU attempted 18 free throws and made 14, aiding their comeback effort.
The Lobos were able to answer right back with a layup by Antonia Anderson to push the lead out to nine points with 8:02 to play. The Lobos would be unable to extend their lead any larger than that, however, as the Bulldogs began to cut into the UNM lead.
After bringing the score to within a possession three times, Fresno knotted the score up at 66-all at the 3:11 mark. Aisia Robertson quickly put the Lobos back on top with a fastbreak layup with 2:27 left. On the ensuing possession, Bree Delaney was fouled and cashed in both free throw attempts to tie the score once more, this time at 68-all.
With 1:44 to go, Jayla Everett found Jaisa Nunn inside for two of her game-high 22 points. As they did the last time the Lobos broke the tie, Fresno answered back, this time it was to take the lead as the Mountain West’s leading scorer Candice White hit a three-pointer with 1:23 remaining on the clock. It was just White’s second three-pointer of the game as she was previously 1-of-8 from range.
The Lobos were unable to score the remainder of the game as the Bulldogs ended the game on 9-0 run.
In the defeat, the Lobos still posted solid stats overall and had several impressive individual numbers as well. As a team, the Lobos shot 42% overall (24-of-57) and 80% from the free throw line (20-of-25). Individually, three players scored in doubles figures and were led by Nunn’s 22 points.
In the game, Nunn was unstoppable all around as she also hauled in 16 rebounds to match her season-high in that category. It also netted Nunn her 12th double-double of the season. In terms of field goal percentage, Nunn made 6-of-11 field goals for a 55% effort, but she was also fouled a lot and went to the line on six occasions. From the charity stripe, Nunn was 10-of-12. The 10 makes are a season-best for Nunn and one off her career best.
The Lobos will now return home for a one-game week as they host Utah State on Wednesday, February 20 ahead of a bye date on Saturday. Tip-off for the Utah State game is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit.