Women get first-round TKO at Nevada
Balanced Lobos roll in conference opener
There’s something to be said for finishing on a high note.
The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team put 2020 to bed with a wire-to-wire, 88-69 victory over Nevada on Thursday. The visiting Lobos came out sizzling and staggered the Wolf Pack with an early 17-0 run to take control at the Lawlor Events Center.
Jaedyn De La Cerda paced five players in double figures with 21 points for UNM (4-0) in the Mountain West opener for both teams. They wrap up the two-game series with a rematch on Saturday.
Round one was all Lobos as the visitors hit 14 3-pointers and led by as many as 29 points. The halftime score was 52-25 and, while the Wolf Pack had the better of things in the second half, the outcome was really never in doubt.
“The first half, we were very disciplined,” UNM coach Mike Bradbury said in a postgame phone interview. “We followed the plan, didn’t let (Nevada’s) guards drive it and got rebounds. Once we got in transition, everything really started clicking.”
The Lobos led 6-4 when their potent offense shifted into high gear. Shaiquel McGruder scored three times inside on feeds from De La Cerda during the 17-0 tear that put Nevada on its collective heels. Autumn Watts’ put
back gave New Mexico a 23-4 lead with 2:12 left in the first quarter.
McGruder (15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals) and De La Cerda (9 rebounds, 5 assists) helped the Lobos build and maintain their lead with strong all-around performances. De La Cerda came up one rebound short of a second straight double-double.
“Nevada wants to drive and pound it inside,” Bradbury said, “so we packed it in defensively and did a pretty nice job. Shai did a good job rebounding and using her quickness. Autumn gave us some good minutes inside, too.”
But true to its form this season, UNM did extensive damage from behind the 3-point line. The Lobos entered the game leading the nation in 3s per game (12.7) and exceeded their average by going 14-for30 from long range. Nevada finished 4-for-15.
De La Cerda, Ahlise Hurst and twins LaTora and LaTascya Duff hit three 3-pointers apiece for UNM. Hurst nailed a key one in the third quarter, when Nevada took advantage of some sloppy Lobos play to get as close as 61-45.
Hurst then hit two free throws and added a transition 3 to stop Nevada’s momentum, and UNM steadily rebuilt its cushion to 86-57 before both teams began to substitute liberally in the game’s final minutes. UNM fell short of it’s Division I-leading scoring average (103.7 points entering play), but it hardly mattered.
Nia Alexander scored 16 points to lead the Wolf Pack.
Bradbury said his team will study film and hold a brief practice Friday to prepare for Saturday’s rematch.
“We wasted a chance to get better in the second half,” he said, “but our guards were really good and a lot of people contributed. Good way to start conference play.”