Three Lobos Score in Double Figures, Drop First Game of Season

HOUSTON, Texas — Plagued by 34 turnovers and being outscored 28-12 in the third quarter, the Lobo women’s basketball team dropped their first game of the season to Houston, 89-60.

LaTora Duff led the Lobos in scoring with 16 points, going 7-for-11 from the floor, and one of three players that finished in double figures. Jaedyn De La Cerda finished with 14 points on four three-pointers and LaTascya Duff finished with 11 points.

Paula Reus had a solid all-around performance with seven points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals.

UNM opened the scoring with a LaTora layup and added a three-pointer for a 5-2 lead almost four minutes into the game. The lead grew to four at 10-6 on a De La Cerda layup before Houston tied the game at 13 with 1:46 remaining in the first quarter. The Cougars held the 19-16 narrow lead through the first 10 minutes.

LaTora led with five points, followed by four from Antonia Anderson through the fist quarter.

The Lobos used runs to hang close, as after the Cougars led by seven early on in the second quarter, the Lobos answered with a LaTora three followed by a De La Cerda three to cut the lead to one at 26-25. New Mexico again chipped away at Houston’s lead as the quarter came to a close, trimming Houston’s 11-point lead with 1:06 left down to four on a LaTascya layup followed by a LaTora steal on the inbound and putting it back up for a layup, and a De La Cerda three with three seconds remaining.

UNM trailed 38-34 at the break with LaTora tallying 10 points and De La Cerda and LaTascya closely behind with eight.

A LaTora layup to open the third quarter cut the lead in half but Houston went on an 11-0 run to pull away, 58-38, and led 66-46 through the end of the quarter before winning 89-60.

The Lobos are now 3-1 on the season and return to play at The Pit for their next game, hosting Houston Baptist on Tuesday, Nov. 23 at 7 p.m.