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De La Cerda Reaches Milestone, Lobos Fall to Texas Tech in Van Chancellor Classic Finale

KATY, Texas— LaTascya Duff returned to form with 21 points on 5-for-7 shooting that included five three-pointers, and Shaiquel McGruder had her third 20-plus point performance of the season with 20 points, but the Lobos fell 82-75 to Texas Tech to conclude the Van Chancellor Classic on Sunday afternoon.

Of note, super senior Jaedyn De La Cerda finished with 13 points, pushing the New Mexico native past the 1000th-career point milestone.

The Lobos kept it close through the first 10 minutes, with LaTora Duff opening up the Lobo scoring with a three-pointer followed by a McGruder layup that closed the gap to two at 7-5. After the Lady Raiders built a six-point lead at 17-11, the Lobos answered with 7-0 run on an Antonia Anderson three, a McGruder layup off of a LaTora steal and an Anderson layup for UNM’s first lead of the game at 18-17 with 4:30 left in the quarter. A three by LaTascya kept the run going and created a four-point margin at 21-17.  TTU reclaimed the lead at 23-21, but an Anderson three changed the lead right back to the Lobos with under a minute to play. There was one more tie at 25 on a De La Cerda free-throw, before the Lady Raiders scored the final two points for a 27-25 lead through the first quarter.

McGruder and Anderson each had eight points through the first 10 minutes of play, with De La Cerda recording four of UNM’s eight assists.

Texas Tech led by as much as 15 points in the second quarter before the Lobos closed to back within single digits at eight at the break, closing on a 7-0 run for the 49-41 halftime score. LaTascya helped the Lobos stay close with 10 points in the second quarter on 3-for-3 shooting and going 2-for-2 from three and from the free-throw line with LaTora accounting for three assists.

UNM pulled as close as four in the third quarter on a De La Cerda three, but a 9-0 Lady Raider run prevented the Lobos from getting any closer, taking a 65-52 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Lobos made one late push to close the score to within 10 on a De La Cerda free throw and a LaTascya three-pointer before time ran out in the seven-point defeat.

De La Cerda finished with seven points in the fourth quarter, including a layup that pushed the Roswell, N.M.  past the 1000-career point mark.

UNM (5-3) has another short turnaround, hosting Grambling State on Tuesday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. at The Pit.