Lobos Fall in Final Seconds to Cowgirls

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— A 40-minute battle against the Wyoming Cowgirls Saturday ended in a heartbreaker for the Lobo women’s basketball team by the score of 60-59.

After trailing 34-27 early on in the third quarter, the Lobos rallied to cut the lead to two on a Jaedyn De La Cerda and-one opportunity and an Antonia Anderson three-pointer and completed the comeback scoring the last four points of the third quarter to head into the final frame tied at 42 on a LaTora Duff steal and fast-break layup.

The momentum carried over into the fourth quarter with New Mexico making its first five shots of the fourth quarter on a LaTascya Duff layup, a LaTora three-pointer, a Paula Reus three-pointer, a De La Cerda three-pointer and a Reus layup off of an Anderson steal for a 55-42 lead with 7:16 remaining.

However, the Cowgirls answered back to cut the margin to five before a Reus jumper at the 4:19 mark stopped the run. Following a Wyoming basket, McGruder made a layup with 2:52 left off of a LaTascya steal that created another seven-point margin at 59-52, but the Cowgirls scored the final eight points of the game, including a three-pointer as time expired for the final score.

Anderson led the Lobos with 14 points, including a game-high three, three-pointers, while De La Cerda and LaTascya finished with 12 points and 10 points, respectively. Anderson had another solid stat line defensively with three blocks and two steals, while McGruder and LaTascya each finished with three steals. LaTora was credited with two steals as well, with McGruder leading with a team-high seven rebounds.

The Lobos remain at home for their next game, hosting Air Force on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. before traveling to Nevada to close out the week on Saturday, Feb. 12.