Lobos rally from early deficit to beat NAU 83-76
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – It was certainly not the way they would have wanted to draw it up, but the University of New Mexico women’s basketball team once more displayed tremendous resolve and resilience as they engineered another thrilling comeback victory on Friday night, this time against Northern Arizona and in front of 4,856 boisterous fans inside Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit.
In the season-opener on Tuesday, the Lobos (2-0) trailed by double digits to UC Riverside with just over six minutes left in the opening quarter. UC Riverside would end up taking a 17-9 lead into the second quarter. The Lobos would go on to out-score the Highlanders 72-53 en route to an 80-70 win.
#GoLobos pic.twitter.com/QKStpD68iY
— Lobo Women’s Basketball (@UNMLoboWBB) November 9, 2019
On Friday night, the Lobos found themselves in an even deeper hole trailing Northern Arizona by as many as 19 points with 3:18 left in the first quarter. The Lumberjacks (0-1) would end the quarter with a 15-point lead, 27-12. After that, the script was similar to opening night as the Lobos began to gain their footing on offense and eventually went on to out-score the Lumberjacks 71-49 over the final three quarters.
In the second quarter, the Lobos were able to bring the game to single digits and get as close as eight points with 3:46 left in the first half thanks to a conventional three-point play by Najala Howell. The Lumberjacks shortly thereafter pushed the lead back out to double digits, but a layup by Jayla Everett with under a minute sent the Lobos to the locker room trailing by nine, 41-32.
The third quarter was where the comeback effort hit its stride. The Lobos would out-score the Lumberjacks 24-14 in the period to give UNM a lead heading into the fourth quarter. The entirety of the third quarter, the Lobos were within single digits of the Lumberjacks and methodically chipped away.
With 5:58 left in the third, the Lobos pulled to within a single point, 45-44, but the Lumberjacks did not relinquish their lead. Trailing by five points, 55-50, with 1:46 to go in the period, the Lobos closed out the quarter with a 6-0 scoring burst and took their first lead of the game in the process. The six points during the run came old school and new school as Howell converted an and-one opportunity on the front while Ahlise Hurst buried a trifecta.
That initial lead would not last long however as Northern Arizona opened up the quarter on a quick 5-0 run regaining the lead. All five of the points came on a single play as NAU’s Nina Radford made good on an and-one opportunity and then proceeded to make a pair of technical foul free throws.
Check out some of the broadcast highlights from our thrilling 83-76 comeback win over Northern Arizona! #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/mtc4eL9BPV
— Lobo Women’s Basketball (@UNMLoboWBB) November 9, 2019
Despite that series of actions, the Lobos did not lose their composure and remained within striking distance of the Lumberjacks. Northern Arizona was able to build their lead back out as large as eight points, 68-60, with 6:22 left in regulation, but the Lobos once more chipped away at the deficit.
Just under three minutes of game time later, the Lobos tied the game at 72-all thanks to a converted and-one opportunity by Jaedyn De La Cerda. A couple of possessions later, NAU recaptured the lead as Khiarica Rasheed split a pair of free throws. Following the miss on the second free throw, the Lobos ran the court and took a one-point lead themselves with 2:41 left on the clock on a layup by Everett.
From there, the Lobos did not look back ending the game on an 11-3 run. Seven of those points during the run were scored by Everett as she ended with a game-high and career-high 29 points. Everett’s previous career-high in scoring was 25 points against Auburn nearly a year ago to the day.
Antonia Anderson was the only other Lobo to score in double figures with a career-high 14 points. Anderson also notched her first career double-double with a career-high 11 rebounds. Despite only having two players in double figures, the Lobos had four other players score at least eight points in the game.
The Lobos will now prepare for another home game on Tuesday, November 12. That night, the Lobos will take on the University of Houston. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.