ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos went on a 12-0 run that spanned the final 3:13 of the second quarter into the first 1:10 of the third quarter to pull within one at 47-46, and a Paula Reus three-pointer put UNM within three at 60-57 in the third, however, UNM couldn’t get the go-ahead basket before UNLV pulled away in the eventual 93-75 final.
Five Lobos finished in double figures, with Reus, Amaya Brown and LaTora Duff all scoring 15. LaTascya Duff finished with 11 points and Aniyah Augmon added 10 points and a team-high five rebounds. LaTora added a team-high seven assists, tying for the game high. Vianè Cumber was a point shy of making it six players, finishing with two three-pointers and three free throws.
A LaTora three-pointer opened the scoring on the game’s first possession, with the threes falling early for both teams as each team hit two three-pointers for the 6-6 tie less than two minutes into the game. The Lady Rebels used a 7-0 run to gain the 13-6 advantage with the Lobos responding to get back within a possession at 21-19 on two LaTora free throws with 2:01 remaining. The margin was pushed to 10 as UNLV closed the quarter with an 8-0 run to take the 29-19 lead through the first.
UNLV’s lead grew to 18 in the second quarter before the Lobos chipped away at the deficit, getting it down to 11 at 45-34 on a Cumber three-pointer, and following a UNLV layup, mounted a 10-0 run to close the quarter and make it a one-possession game at 47-44. Augmon accounted for six points during the run, as the Lobos outscored UNLV 25-18 in the quarter.
A layup by Brown 1:10 into the third quarter brought the Lobos within one, with the Lobos holding to within a possession through the first 2:14 of the quarter. The Lady Rebels gained a little separation at 60-52, but back-to-back baskets by Reus that included a jumper and a three-pointer put the Lobos back within three at 60-57 with 4:12 remaining in the quarter. UNLV got the points back to push the lead to 10 with the margin being 13 at the end of the third and although a Reus layup opened the fourth and Brown added eight points in the final frame, the Lobos were unable to get any closer in the fourth.
UNM now stands at 13-10 on the season and 5-5 in the Mountain West. The Lobos remain at home for their next MW contest, hosting San Diego State in their Lobos Love Pink game on Saturday at 2 p.m. MT.