Lobo fatigue
Weir admits team ‘looked tired’ in consecutive bad losses
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — There’s more than one way to extend a winning streak.
The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team could not get its fast-break game in gear Saturday against Northern Arizona, so the Lobos found alternatives.
Jaisa Nunn scored 20 points and UNM rode its inside game and stifling defense to an 84-55 victory over NAU at the Walkup Skydome. The Lobos (7-1) scored 44 points in the paint and limited the Lumberjacks (4-4) to 5-for-32 shooting in the second half, turning what had been a back-and-forth game into a laugher.
“The second half was about as good as we can play defensively,” UNM coach Mike Bradbury said, “which is good because our first half was not impressive. But this was a tricky game against a dangerous team. I’m proud of the way
our players stepped up.”
Ahlise Hurst added 17 points for New Mexico, which had to juggle personnel to earn its sixth straight win. Starting point guard Aisia Robertson was battling a stomach ailment and played just 22 minutes between frequent trips to the bench.
No problem. Jayla Everett and Jaedyn De La Cerda filled in capably at the point while Emily Lines did just about everything else in her first extended minutes of the season. Lines, who missed UNM’s first six games with a broken finger, played four positions off the bench and finished with seven points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal in 19 minutes.
“I try to practice the guard spots every week,” the 6-foot-1 Lines said, “just to make sure I’m ready for anything. I’ll play anywhere (Bradbury) wants me — even point, though I don’t expect that to happen anytime soon.”
Bradbury was more than satisfied with the senior’s performance.
“Emily was outstanding,” he said. “She knows every play and position, where to be defensively, and she gave us big minutes when the game was still up for grabs.”
Northern Arizona, which knocked off Mountain West contender Fresno State earlier this season, kept things tight through the first half by hitting five 3-pointers and outrebounding the taller Lobos. The ’Jacks held a 24-16 rebounding edge late in the second quarter and trailed just 31-28.
Four Lines free throws and a deft up-and-under basket by Everett helped UNM take a 37-30 lead to halftime, but Bradbury was not satisfied. He challenged Nunn, who had just six first-half points.
“Let’s just say he kind of lit a fire under me,” Nunn said with a grin.
Bradbury also expressed his displeasure about UNM’s first-half defense and rebounding.
“He told us if we didn’t start rebounding we were going to lose,” Lines said. “Defensively, we just wanted to focus on attacking their ball screens.”
Bradbury’s halftime messages were received. Nunn scored eight straight points to open the third quarter, Hurst added a 3-pointer and suddenly UNM’s lead expanded to 48-30.
Meanwhile, the Lobos picked up their defensive intensity and took the ’Jacks out of their game. NAU went more than five minutes without a field goal as New Mexico built a comfortable 60-39 lead by quarter’s end and coasted to the finish line.
Robertson finished with 10 points, six assists and four turnovers in limited action. Everett and De La Cerda picked up the slack, combining for 15 points, nine assists, two turnovers and four steals.
UNM got 26 bench points overall and, after trailing on the boards at halftime, outrebounded NAU 59-45. Regan Schenck scored 12 points to lead the ’Jacks.