Wilson Scores Career-High 25 in Lobo Loss to Lady Rebels
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Much like the first meeting between New Mexico and UNLV on Jan. 20, the Lobos held tough with the Lady Rebels, holding them 18 points below their season average, however, the Lady Rebels went on a 7-0 run late for the 62-56 win on Saturday.
Nyah Wilson led the Lobos in scoring for the fourth consecutive game after scoring a career-high 25 points, 17 of which came in the final two quarters and surpassing 20 points for the eighth time this season and the third time in last four games.
Wilson was one of three Lobos to reach double figures, joined by Aniyah Augmon with 15 points and Viané Cumber at 12 points. For Wilson and Augmon, the duo has reached double digits in all 10 MW games. Augmon also added a game-high four steals, the 14th game this season finishing with multiple steals, accounting for four of UNM’s nine steals in the game.
The Lobos scored on their first possession on a layup by Wilson before UNLV scored the next 10 points. Wilson ended the run following a steal and fast-break layup and Cumber added a jumper with 1:14 as the defense held UNLV without a point for 3:16 for an 11-6 score at the end of the first.
Wilson opened up the second with another layup to get the game within three, with the Lady Rebels answering on the other end and then continuing their run to push the margin to 10 at 18-8. The deficit reached 12 at 22-10 with 4:31 remaining in the quarter, with the Lobos chipping away at the lead and closing the second quarter on a 6-0 run with Cumber and Augmon hitting consecutive three-pointers while also holding the Lady Rebels scoreless for 2:59 to get within 25-20 at the break.
An Augmon steal and layup made it a one-possession game, with the Lobos ultimately opening the third quarter on a 6-2 run to close within one at 27-26, with the last basket coming off of an Augmon steal and Wilson jumper. However, four-straight points by UNLV stretched the gap back to five, to which the Lobos answered with a Wilson three and Augmon layup to tie the game at 31. A UNLV three broke the tie, although, the duo of Augmon and Wilson put the Lobos in the lead on a jumper and layup, respectively, to give UNM its first lead since it was 2-0 at 35-34. Another layup for Wilson extended the Lobo lead to three, with the lead reaching three again on a Paula Reus layup with 1:18 left in the quarter. UNLV closed with the final four points to take a 40-39 lead into the fourth.
Wilson finished with 11 points in the quarter on 5-7 shooting as UNM outscored UNLV 19-15 in the quarter and outshot UNLV 47.4% to 29.4%.
UNLV extended its lead to four to start the final quarter, with the margin reaching five twice before the Lobos scored the next four points, again with Augmon and Wilson responsible for the points, to get within one. A three-pointer by the Lady Rebels restored the four-point margin, however, two free throws by Wilson followed by two free throws by Cumber tied the game at 51 with 4:08 to play. A 7-0 run allowed the visitors to pull away, with a Cumber three with 1:47 on the clock stopping the run. Augmon made one final layup with 39 seconds left to close the Lobo scoring with UNLV recording the final points on a layup.
There were three ties and two lead changes in the final 20 minutes with UNM shooting 46.9% to UNLV’s 45.2%, but UNLV made two more three-pointers and went 5-6 from the free throw line compared to 4-7 for UNM.
UNM (16-7, 7-3 in the MW) returns to the road for its next game, heading to San Diego State for another midweek, midday game on Wednesday at 12 p.m. MT.