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Lobos resilient in second half, drop shootout in San José

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Down by 12 points at halftime thanks to a three-point barrage by San José State that saw the Spartans hit 12 three-pointers in the first half, the University of New Mexico women’s basketball team displayed a ton of resolve in the second half and nearly overcame the early deficit ultimately losing a shootout, 89-85.
 
In that opening half, the Lobos (11-10, 2-6 MW) controlled the paint, out-scoring the Spartans (13-6, 7-1 MW) 24-8 inside, but the 12-of-18 (67%) success rate from long range for San José gave them the advantage on the scoreboard.
 
Most of the damage done by the Spartans from beyond the arc came in the second quarter as they made seven trifectas and ended the period 7-of-11 (64%). Those seven three-pointers accounted for their first seven made field goals in the quarter and were also all but one of their overall makes from the field.
 
In the third quarter, the Lobos began to battle back into the game. Following a Spartan three-pointer at the 8:36 mark that made it a 15-point game, the Lobos went on a 6-0 scoring burst over the next minute to bring the score to single digits, 59-50. Aisia Robertson bookended that run with pair of painted jumpers while a Jordan Hosey layup came in between.
 
The Spartans answered back on their next trip down the court and got the lead back up to 13 points at the 5:50 mark, but consecutive three-pointers by Jaedyn De La Cerda cut the deficit down to seven points, 63-56, with 5:19 remaining in the third and prompted a SJSU timeout.
 
A minute later on the clock, the Lobos got even closer on a jumper by Antonia Anderson. The Spartans were able to stem the Lobo tide from there and closed out the quarter on a 9-4 run to take a 10-point lead into the fourth.
 
In the fourth quarter, the Lobos remained resilient and brought the game within a single possession at the 4:35 mark of the period on a layup by Shaiquel McGruder that made it a three-point game, 76-73. Just two minutes of game time prior, the Spartans held another 10-point lead, but McGruder’s bucket capped a 7-0 run by the Lobos.
 
Over the next minute and a half of action, the Lobos and Spartans traded baskets keeping it a three-point advantage for the Spartans with 3:08 on the clock.
 
After the Spartans made it a four-point game on a split trip to the free throw line, the Lobos got as close as they had since early in the first quarter on a layup by Antonia Anderson. Anderson’s layup made it a two-point game, 82-80, with 2:39 to go.
 
The Spartans would once again stem that push by the Lobos and kept them at arm’s length the rest of the way out, eventually coming away with an 89-84 win.
 
Statistically for the Lobos five players scored in double figures, led by De La Cerda’s 24 points. Jordan Hosey was next in scoring with 16 points. Hosey also added a team-high rebounds to notch her sixth double-double of the season. Robertson also recorded a double-double with a 14-point, 12-assist game. It was Robertson’s first double-double of the season.
 
McGruder was next in scoring with 12 points while Ahlise Hurst rounded out double-digit scoring with 11 points.
 
The Lobos will now prepare for a home game on Saturday, January 25 against Nevada. Tip-off against the Wolf Pack is scheduled for 1 p.m. (MT) inside Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit.