Box Score | 2018-19 Season Statistics
LARAMIE, Wyo. — The University of New Mexico fell on the wrong side of two three-set singles matches, and that was the deciding factor in a 4-1 loss to Wyoming in the Mountain West opener for both teams.
The Lobos dropped to 7-8 overall and saw its four-game winning streak come to an end. The Cowgirls improved to 11-5 overall and 1-0 in the league.
The Lobos fell behind 1-0 after doubles play as UNM’s No. 1 team of Ruth Copas and Danielle Quevedo couldn’t get on track in a 6-0 loss. Wyoming clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 win over UNM’s No. 2 team of Hsiang-Wen “Albie” Huang and Yue Lin “Polly” Chen.
That sent the match to singles, and just the top four flights went off with the match being played indoors due to the cold weather in Laramie, meaning there were just four courts. Bronte Murgett continued her hot streak, winning her sixth straight match and making it 1-1. Murgett took a 6-2, 7-5 decision at No. 2 singles. That’s when the three-setters came into play, and UNM fell in both. Huang took her opening set, but she couldn’t get to the finish line, dropping a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 decision at No. 3 singles, making it 2-1 Wyoming. At No. 1 singles, Ruth Copas showed plenty of heart in bouncing back from a tough opening set to win the second. She lost the opening set 6-1, and then bounced back with a 6-3 win in the second. The third set was tight, but Copas fell 6-4 in the third, and that put UNM in a tough spot down 3-1.
While the No. 5 and No. 6 singles matches were already going, Natasha Munday fell behind by a set after an epic tiebreaker. In a back-and-forth tiebreak that saw three changeovers (they usually just have one), Munday lost the set to Ana Royo 12-10. The second was also close, but Royo won it 6-4 to close the match out.
Danielle Quevedo was even at 2-2, and Yue Lin Chen was up 2-0 when the match ended. The Lobos will stay on the road, taking on Colorado State at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
NOTES: Munday’s loss was her first since moving up to No. 4 singles … Murgett and Munday’s doubles match went unfinished at 6-5 down, although a tiebreaker looked to be in the cards, keeping the duo at 10-1 on the season.