Lobos Complete Sweep of Wolf Pack as LaTascya Duff Sets Program Record
RENO, Nev.— The Lobos outscored Nevada in three quarters and led for all of 16 seconds in Saturday’s win over the Wolf Pack, making some history in the process.
LaTascya Duff made six three-pointers in the contest to set the program record in career three-pointers, passing Katie Montgomery’s 221 in her 80th game as a Lobo. Duff led all scorers with 23 points for her fourth 20-point game of the season, her second game this season with six three-pointers and 17th game with multiple three-pointers, and added three steals, three rebounds and three assists.
Duff was one of four UNM players to finish in double figures, joined by Shaiquel McGruder with 18, Amaya Brown with 13 and Aniyah Augmon with 14. LaTora Duff contributed a game-high six assists, including the record setting three to LaTascya.
A Brown offensive board and putback followed by a LaTascya three on the next possession put the Lobos in front 10-5 with UNM leading 12-8 at the media timeout. Nevada went on a run to tie the game at 12, however, layups by Paula Reus and Viané Cumber restored the Lobo lead. The Wolf Pack pulled within one at 17-16 with 2:02 left in the quarter but the Lobos answered with a 10-2 run to close for the 27-18 lead through one.
LaTascya opened the game with 11 points in the first 10 minutes, going 2-2 from three and 3-3 from the line while also credited with three steals. UNM had the 5-0 advantage in fast break points, 9-0 in points from turnovers and 8-2 in second chance points.
UNM’s lead continued to grow in the second quarter with an Augmon and-one opportunity and a McGruder jumper off of an offensive rebound for the 32-18 lead, with the lead reaching 17 points at 42-25 with 4:01 remaining. Nevada closed to within 11 at the end of the quarter, although the Lobos got the points right back at the start of the third on a LaTascya three-pointer and Brown layup.
Both teams traded baskets with the lead never getting below 14 until UNM pushed the lead back to 17 on a LaTascya three-pointer at the 2:06 mark. Her fifth three of the game came with 45 seconds remaining following an offensive rebound that led to LaTora finding LaTascya to break the school record.
LaTascya added nine points in the third on 3-4 shooting from behind the arc, as the Lobos shot a game-high 61.5% in the quarter on 8-13 shooting. Second chance points again favored UNM with the Lobos holding an 8-0 advantage in the category in the category.
The threes continued to fall for LaTascya to start the fourth with the Lobo opening the scoring to create the largest point differential in the game at 19. Nevada cut into the lead with three free throws and a layup off of a steal, but New Mexico responded right back with a free throw by Brown, a Reus layup and a jumper from Brown to restore the 19-point lead at 73-54 midway through. Nevada made a late push to get the game within single digits, the first time it had been so since the end of the first quarter, scoring the last six points for the 79-71 final.
With the win, the Lobos move to 15-11 on the season, 7-6 in conference play and return home for their next two games against Wyoming (Feb. 16) and San José State (Feb. 18).