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Lobos use big third quarter to beat Colorado State, 73-62

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Trailing by a point at the end of the first half, the University of New Mexico women’s basketball team went off in the third quarter, outscoring Colorado State 26-11. That big third period proved to be the catalyst of an eventual 73-62 UNM win on Wednesday night inside Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit.
 
The win for the Lobos (11-8, 2-4 MW) builds off their victory this past Saturday afternoon at Air Force and gives them their first conference win at home as well.
 
In the game on Wednesday, the Lobos were able to endure a hot shooting first half by Colorado State as the Rams (8-9, 2-4) knocked down nine three-pointers and were hitting at a 50% clip through the first 20 minutes of play. While the success from deep was there for the Rams, close range shooting was not as they were just 2-of-17 from two-point range during the first half.
 
On the other end of the court, the Lobos were not as lethal from three-point range in the first half going 4-of-14, but senior guard Aisia Robertson was shooting lights out making her first three trifectas and going 3-of-5 in the half. Robertson would go on to score a game-high and season-high 25 points.
 
While not matching the number of made three’s by Colorado State, the Lobos kept the score close at the end of the half thanks to eight made free throws and 40% shooting (6-of-14) from two-point range.
 
Coming out of the locker room, the Lobos were dialed in and quickly heated up from beyond the arc. As a matter of fact, the Lobos’ first six made field goals in the quarter all came from distance. That unbelievable run turned a one-point halftime deficit into a 10-point lead for the Lobos, 50-40, at the 3:28 mark. During that stretch, the Lobos got three-point makes from Ahlise Hurst (x2), Antonia Anderson (x2), Robertson and Jordan Hosey. For Hosey, her three-pointer was the first of the season and her third all-time in a collegiate game after hitting two at the University of Texas.
 
A little over a minute later, that 10-point lead swelled to its apex of 16 points on a layup by Hosey. The Lobos eventually carried a 14-point lead into the fourth quarter.
 
In the fourth quarter, the Rams were able to get as close as seven points on a couple of occasions, but the Lobo defense did not allow any real threat as they eventually secured an 11-point victory.
 
Statistically the Lobos had three players score in double figures and were led by Robertson’s aforementioned 15 points. Robertson also added seven rebounds and seven assists as she flirted with a triple-double. Next in scoring was Hurst with 15 points. Hosey rounded out double-figure scoring with 13 points (11 in the second half). She also hauled in a game-high and season-high 15 rebounds as she notched her fifth double-double of the season.
 
The Lobos will remain at home for their next game and will take on UNLV on Saturday, January 18. Tip-of for the game is scheduled for 2 p.m. inside Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit.