BOISE, Idaho— The Lobos struggled offensively on Saturday against Boise State, shooting 25.0 from the floor and no Lobo scoring more than eight points in a 63-35 loss. The loss snapped UNM’s four-game win streak and moved UNM to 16-8 (8-5 in conference).
Destinee Hooks led the Lobos with eight points with Jessie Joaquim finishing with a team-high 10 rebounds and Cacia Antonio credited with six of UNM’s 13 steals.
The two teams traded baskets in the first 1:05 of the contest before BSU scored four consecutive points to take the 6-2 lead. The Lobos answered with a three-pointer from Joana Magalhães midway through cutting it to a one-point margin midway through the quarter. A Nayli Padilla three-pointer with 2:00 left gave UNM an 8-6 lead, the only time the Lobos led in the game.
Boise State closed the quarter with two three-pointers in the final 55 seconds for the 12-8 lead.
UNM held close in the initial minutes of the second quarter as an Alyssa Hargrove jumper a minute in pulled the Lobos within two, with an and-one by Hooks closing the game within one at 14-13. An Antonio layup kept the Lobos close with 7:02 remaining in the game before BSU went on a 12-0 run to take a 28-15 lead. An Emma Najjuma layup with 55 seconds left closed the quarter scoring with the Lobos trailing 28-17 at the break.
It took almost three minutes for the first basket of the third quarter, occurring with 7:17 on the clock, with the Broncos expanding their lead to 25 before an Antonio layup with 2:25 left provided UNM’s first points of the quarter and ended the run. Following a Bronco basket, Antonio answered with another layup before a BSU layup with one second remaining closed the quarter with the Lobos trailing 46-21.
Antonio scored all four of UNM’s points in the quarter with the Lobos shooting 2-20.
Two Lobo baskets by Magalhães and Hargrove to start the fourth pulled the Lobos within 21, however, a 7-0 BSU run stretched the deficit to 28. The Lobos responded with consecutive three-pointers from Hooks and Laila Abdurraqib to bring UNM within 22 with two free throws by Hooks with 3:56 to play getting the Lobos as close as they would get for the remainder of the game at 21. The Broncos went on a 9-0 run to stretch the gap to 30 points with a Tyler Jones basket with 1:46 left the final basket of the contest for the final margin.
The Lobos return home to host San José State and Colorado State on Feb. 11 and Feb. 14, respectively.