Lobos Battle Past Broncos Behind McGruder Double-Double

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— After trailing by six early in Saturday’s game against Boise State, the Lobos responded to take a lead at the end of the first and never trailed for the remainder of the contest in the 76-68 victory.

Shaiquel McGruder led the way with a game-and season-high 25 points and a game-high 14 rebounds (tying her season high), recording her sixth 20-plus point performance and sixth double-double of the season. She also made a career-high nine free throws on a career-high 11 attempts, going 3-3 in the first and 6-8 in the fourth quarter. The Lobo forward was one of four players to finish in double figures with Amaya Brown accounting for 11 for her eighth double-digit game of the season and LaTascya Duff and Aniyah Augmon with 10 each. For Augmon, the sophomore has scored in double figures in three of the last four games and went a career-best 6-6 at the line. LaTora Duff and Viané Cumber each scored nine points, with Cumber hitting two three-pointers including one at the end of the first quarter to give UNM the 18-17 lead.

The Lobos led 6-5 before the Broncos pulled ahead 14-8 with 3:55 left in the first quarter. A McGruder and-one opportunity cut the deficit in half and an Augmon fast-break layup narrowed the margin to one at 14-13 a little more than two minutes later. Following a Bronco basket, two McGruder free throws kept the Lobos within a possession and following the Broncos splitting a pair of free throws, Cumber put the Lobos in front with a three-pointer as time expired.

BSU split a pair of free throws to start the second quarter to tie the game, however the Lobos proceeded to go on a 9-0 run in 1:31 to take the 27-18 lead. UNM’s stretched into double figures midway through the quarter on a LaTora Duff three-pointer, the start of a 7-0 run and a 36-22 Lobo lead. The double-digit lead held to the break, with the Lobos taking a 15-point lead at the half.

UNM outscored BSU 23-9 and outshot the Broncos 42.1 percent to 13.6 percent in the second quarter, holding the Broncos to just three made baskets and 0-5 from three-point range. The Lobos outscored the Broncos 12-6 in the paint and 4-0 in fast-break opportunities.

Brown started the scoring for the Lobos in the third quarter with an and-one to push the margin to the largest point of 16 points (44-28), but the Broncos chipped away at the lead to get it down to a five-point game (45-40) with 5:21 left in the third. Augmon drew a foul out of the media timeout and knocked down both to end the 7-0 BSU run, and after the Broncos got within four, hit another two free throws to keep the Lobos ahead. LaTora hit two more free throws to extend the lead to eight at 51-43. The Broncos hung around, pulling within six at the end of the third.

The Lobos took advantage of Boise State fouls, benefitting from being in the bonus for the final 5:03 of the quarter and went 8-9 from the free-throw line with Augmon a perfect 4-4 to push the Lobo into double figures.

LaTascya took over in the final quarter, scoring UNM’s first five points as the Lobos built an eight-point lead (62-54), and after the Broncos closed to five with 6:45 left to play, made a layup and a three-pointer on consecutive UNM possessions for the 67-57 cushion. A McGruder offensive board and layup pushed the lead to 12, but the Broncos made a final push to get the margin to five at 72-67 with 26 seconds remaining. Already in the bonus, McGruder was clutch at the free-throw line in the closing seconds, going 4-4 to put the game away.

With the win, the Lobos improve to 11-9 on the season, 3-4 in the Mountain West. UNM remains at home for its next MW contest, hosting Colorado State on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m.