Five Lobos Score in Double Figures as UNM Defeats SDSU to Remain Perfect in MW

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Sunday’s game against San Diego State was another Mountain West 40-minute battle for the Lobo women’s basketball team, and while the start may have been slow, the ending was anything but as UNM edged out the Aztecs 75-72 to move to 4-0 in the conference.

Jaedyn De La Cerda and Shaiquel McGruder led the way with 17 points apiece for the Lobos, with all five Lobo starters finishing in double figures. LaTora Duff finished with 14 points, LaTascya Duff tallied 11 points and Antonia Anderson had an all-around solid performance with 12 points and a team-high 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the year, as well as two blocks and a steal. Her two blocks give the Texas native 150 career blocks, placing her third all-time in program history.

McGruder was one rebound shy of a double-double, while adding two blocks and two steals and LaTora and De La Cerda led with five assists each.

It took almost two minutes for the first basket to be made as the two teams slowly settled into the contest with the Lobos leading 7-3 at the media timeout with 4:35 remaining in the quarter. UNM led by five at 10-5 on a McGruder fast-break layup before the Aztecs closed the gap to one before eventually tying the game at 14. LaTora put New Mexico back in front on a three-pointer with 52 remaining, the final points scored in the quarter as UNM led 17-14 through the first 10 minutes.

LaTascya paced the Lobos with six points in the first quarter followed by five for LaTora.

UNM pushed the lead to six on a Paula Reus three-pointer, to which SDSU answered to pull within one at 20-19. However, De La Cerda answered with a three on the next possession to create some separation. The Aztecs responded with a 6-0 run to take a 25-23 lead, but De La Cerda tied the game on the next possession. After another tie at 27, two McGruder free throws pushed UNM ahead, but SDSU closed the quarter with the final four points to take a 31-29 lead into the break.

The Aztecs scored the first five points out of the half to push UNM’s deficit to seven, but the Lobos battled back with Anderson leading the charge on two layups and a free throw on an and-one opportunity to cut the deficit to two at 36-34. SDSU built the point differential to five at 41-36 with 7:01 to play in the third, but the Lobos made quick work of it with a McGruder layup and a LaTascya three-pointer in transition to tie the game in 1:01.

Momentum continued to be on UNM’s side with Anderson creating a steal and finishing on the other end to give UNM the lead and McGruder extended the run to 9-0 with a fast-break layup for the 45-41 score. SDSU tied the game at 45 and took a 47-45 lead, eventually building a 51-47 lead before De La Cerda closed the quarter with a three-pointer as time expired to pull UNM within one.

Anderson recorded seven points, four rebounds, a block and a steal in the third quarter, with McGruder adding six points. UNM outscored SDSU 15-0 in fast-break points in the quarter and 12-4 in the paint. Further, UNM made its first seven shots to start the third quarter and was perfect from the free-throw line through the media timeout mark at 4:38.

McGruder put the Lobos back in front on their first possession of the fourth quarter and after SDSU retook the lead, UNM went on a 17-2 run to create a 14-point lead at 69-55 with 5:33 left in the game. During the run, LaTora accounted for seven points, De La Cerda five points, Anderson three points and McGruder two points. Again, the Lobos made their first seven shots of the quarter and went 3-for-3 from the line to start, which lasted until the 4:31 mark of the quarter.

The Aztecs got the game back within nine with 2:52 to play, but De La Cerda hit a three-pointer on the next Lobo possession to push it back to double figures at 72-60. SDSU made a late run in the final minute, making it a one-possession game at 75-72, but the Lobos were able to run out the clock for the win.

After half, UNM outscored SDSU 46-41 with a 20-2 advantage in fast-break points. In the game, there was a total of eight ties and 11 lead changes, with UNM leading for 24:31 compared to 10:39 for SDSU.

UNM improves to 13-4 on the season, 4-0 in conference play and 9-0 at home. In addition, the Lobos have also won their last five games.

The Lobos return to the road for their next two games, set to face Wyoming on Thursday, Jan. 13 at 6:30 p.m. MT and Colorado State on Saturday, Jan. 15 at 1 p.m.

GAME NOTES

• This was the 69th game all-time between New Mexico and San Diego State.
  • The Lobos now lead the series 37-32.
  • The Lobos have now won the last three in the series.
• This is the Lobos second 4-0 start to conference play under Bradbury (previously done in the 2016-17 season).
• The Lobos held the Aztecs without a made field goal for a 4:36 span in the first quarter.
• New Mexico went on a 9-0 run in the third quarter that spanned 2:22 of game time.
• New Mexico’s McGruder was the first Lobo in double-figures with 6:45 to go in the third quarter.
• The Lobos went on a 19-4 run for the first 4:49 of the fourth quarter to take a 14-point lead (this included runs of 9-0 and 17-2).
• The Lobos had five players in double-figures: McGruder (17 points), De La Cerda (17 points), LaTora Duff (14 points), Anderson (12 points), LaTascya Duff (11 points)
• New Mexico’s Anderson recorded her second double-double of the season (12 points, 10 rebounds).
• New Mexico’s McGruder came one rebound shy of recording her fifth double-double of the season.