Four Lobos Finish in Double Figures in Loss to Boise State
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Four of UNM’s starters scored in double figures with Aniyah Augmon leading the way with 15 points, but the Lobos dropped their first Mountain West game to Boise State 64-56 Saturday.
Paula Reus and Nyah Wilson contributed 11 points and Viané Cumber finished with 10, with Charlotte Kohl nearly reaching a double-double with nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds. It was the fifth consecutive game in double figures for Reus, eighth time in the last nine games and 10th overall time. Augmon has scored in double figures 10 times, Wilson nine times and Cumber six times. In addition it was the fourth time that Kohl has finished with 10 or more rebounds this season.
Defensively, the Lobos kept Boise State’s leading scorer Natalie Pasco in check with five points, nine points below her season average and her second-lowest scoring output this season, and offensively, limited MW rebound and block leader Abby Muse to just two rebounds and one block as well as without a steal, her first game in 10 games without recording a steal. It was also the lowest rebound total for the Bronco this season.
Cumber opened the game with a three-pointer and six consecutive points by Reus allowed the Lobos to build a 9-3 lead more than midway through the first quarter. However, Boise State answered with three, three-pointers to lead 12-9 at the end of the first.
The three-pointers continued to fall as Boise State started the second quarter with two quick three-pointers to put the deficit at nine at 18-9. A corner three by Wilson ended the what amounted to a 15-0 Bronco run and an Augmon three pulled UNM back within a possession. After Boise State extended the margin back to five, UNM responded by scoring the next five points on a Wilson layup and a Reus three-pointer to tie the game at 20, to which Boise State pulled back ahead 24-20. Another Wilson three-pointer on the following Lobo possession brought UNM back within one, with the Lobos again getting within one following two Kohl free throws before the Broncos ended the quarter with a final basket for the 28-25 score.
Reus had nine points at the break followed by Wilson with eight, with Wilson scoring all eight in the second quarter including going 2-2 from behind the arc.
Augmon evened the score on UNM’s first offensive possession of the third quarter on a drive to the basket, finishing through the contact and completing the three-point play at the line. Augmon ultimately scored the first seven UNM points in the third to keep the Lobos within reach of the Broncos. Five consecutive Bronco points later pushed the gap to seven at 39-32, to which the Lobos narrowed to four on three separate occasions before the quarter came to an end with Boise State in front 47-40.
After the Broncos opened the final quarter with a basket to extend the margin to nine, the Lobos rallied with a 7-0 run behind a Kohl layup, an Augmon layup and a Cumber block that led to a fast-break layup by Augmon that resulted in a three-point play that made it 49-47 with 8:12 left in the game. However, the Broncos proceeded to make a three-pointer on their next possession, and although a Kohl layup on the other end kept UNM within a possession, the Broncos were able to build their lead back up to six at 56-50.
UNM was within four at 56-52 following two Reus free throws with 5:24 to play, although it was the closest the Lobos were able to get as BSU stretched its lead to the largest point of the game at 10 with 1:35 left. A final layup by Cumber with 1:23 on the clock closed the scoring for the 64-56 final.
Kohl scored seven points in the fourth and collected five rebounds, while Augmon closed with five more points in the fourth to give her 12 points in the final 20 minutes.
UNM (10-5, 1-1 MW) remains at home to host Utah State on Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m.