Lobos Drop Close One to Fresno State in MW Semifinal
LAS VEGAS, Nev.— The University of New Mexico Lobos scored the final seven points in the third quarter to take a 53-50 lead into the fourth, but the Fresno State Bulldogs edged out the Lobos in the final 10 minutes to end UNM’s time in the Mountain West Tournament in the 77-72 result.
Senior Jaedyn De La Cerda finished with a game-high 23 points, 12 of which came in the fourth quarter, while fellow senior Antonia Anderson had the second-highest point total for the Lobos at 15 points. Anderson added five assists, tying a career high, seven rebounds, two steals and a block.
Shaiquel McGruder finished with 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds and LaTascya Duff rounded out the Lobos in double figures with 10 points.
Playing over 37 minutes on Tuesday, Ahlise Hurst was credited with five steals, seven rebounds, two assists and eight points, tying her career highs in steals and rebounds.
Fresno State scored the first five points of the semifinal before a McGruder free throw got the Lobos on the board, and took a six-point lead at 9-3 before the Lobos pushed back. A De La Cerda three and Anderson jumper cut the deficit to one, with the Lobos eventually taking the lead on an Anderson defensive rebound that led to a layup on the other end for the senior that made it 12-11 with 4:33 left in the quarter.
The lead exchanged hands on the next two possessions before UNM regained the lead on a Duff three to make it 17-14, but the Bulldogs closed the opening quarter with the final seven points to carry the 21-17 lead into the end of the quarter.
Anderson opened the game with six points in the first 10 minutes while bringing down three rebounds and adding an assist.
Five-straight points by De La Cerda to open the second put the Lobos back in front 22-21, to which Fresno State answered with five points of its own to push the margin back at four. UNM managed to get it back within one in the back-and-forth physical game, with a De La Cerda three closing the gap to 29-28.
The Lobos ultimately tied the game at 32 on a McGruder layup, but couldn’t regain the lead as FS answered every time the Lobos closed within range. The Bulldogs took a 42-38 lead into the break after UNM pulled as close as 35-34.
De La Cerda led all scorers in the second quarter with eight points, going 3-for-4 from the floor and 2-for-3 from three-point range as both teams scored 21 points.
Out of the break, the Lobos took control of the opening minutes, with Anderson creating steals on back-to-back possessions that led to fast-break layups to tie the game at 42.
After Fresno State went back up by four at 50-46 with 2:29 left in the quarter, the Lobos scored the next seven points on a Duff three, a Duff fast-break layup off a Hurst steal and a Hurst layup off of a LaTora Duff rebound.
UNM outscored Fresno State 15-8 in the third to take the lead into the final 10 minutes, with nine off of turnovers and eight coming on fast-break opportunities.
A LaTora free throw to start the fourth put the Lobos up by four, to which Fresno State answered to score the next seven points to take the 57-54 lead. The Lobos again found an answer to every Fresno State run, as a Hurst three tied the game at 57 with a little over eight minutes left in the game, and a De La Cerda three gave UNM the 60-59 lead.
Again, Fresno State pulled ahead by four at 64-60, and again the Lobos showed their fight and responded to bring the game within one at 68-67 before tying it at 70-all on a Hurst three. Two De La Cerda free throws created a final tie at 72 with 1:19 left.
The Bulldogs pulled ahead at 73-72 with 36 seconds remaining, but the Lobos were unable to get the go-ahead basket on their next possession, forcing a foul to stop the clock and extend the game. Two made Bulldog free throws still made it a one-possession game with 23 seconds remaining, but the Lobos had another empty possession on their offensive possession. Two missed Fresno State free throws with 14 seconds remaining still kept it a one-possession game, but the tying three-point attempt hit the front of the rim and the Bulldogs came down with the rebound forcing another foul. Fresno State added two more free throws before time ran out for the Lobos.
It was the first time this season that the Lobos have lost while leading after the third quarter, the first time losing when having 10 or more steals (UNM finished with 11) and just the second time that the Lobos have lost when making 10 or more three-pointers.
De La Cerda and Hurst accounted for 18 of UNM’s 19 points in the fourth quarter battle, with De La Cerda responsible for 12 on 4-of-5 shooting and 2-for-3 effort from behind the arc.
With the loss, the Lobos’ five game winning streak was snapped, falling to 15-4 on the season, but will have another opportunity to play this season.