Anderson, De La Cerda lead way to UNM victory
Sunday was all about senior leadership for the University of New Mexico women’s basketball team.
Antonia Anderson and Jaedyn De La Cerda, the Lobos’ two seniors, combined for 57 points and helped their team fight off a late UNLV rally as UNM pulled out an 81-73 victory over the Lady Rebels at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Lobos (6-1, 3-1 Mountain West) earned a split of the twogame series after fading in the second half of a 78-60 loss Friday. Not this time, thanks in large part to Anderson (careerbest 29 points) and De La Cerda (28 points).
“We lost a game Friday that we felt we could’ve won,” UNM coach Mike Bradbury said in a postgame phone interview. “Our two seniors said, ‘We’re playing as hard and as long as we can (Sunday).’ They were very determined and gave everything they had to get us this win.”
Both seniors struggled in Friday’s series opener. Anderson had eight points but fouled out after just 11 minutes of action, while De La Cerda was 2-for-11 from the field and had a season
low four points. Different story Sunday. Anderson got the Lobos rolling in the first half with 25 points, hitting 10-of-11 from the field including four 3-pointers. UNM led 21-13 after one quarter with 17 points from Anderson.
“AT carried us in the first half,” Bradbury said of Anderson, “and Jaedyn took over in the second.”
New Mexico led 45-29 at halftime but could not be entirely comfortable considering UNLV (5-6, 3-3) had rallied from a 14-point deficit in Friday’s game. De La Cerda and LaTora Duff helped the Lobos build their lead in the third quarter, combining for six 3-pointers (four by De La Cerda).
Duff, who scored 15 points, gave UNM a 65-41 advantage with a minute left in the third.
But the Lady Rebels scored the next 12 points, capitalizing on four UNM turnovers, to suddenly make things interesting. A pair of free throws by Delaynie Byrne, who led UNLV with 23 points, cut UNM’s lead to 67-58 with 5:36 left.
But the Lobos had an answer. De La Cerda scored on a coast-to-coast drive, Anderson hit a 14-foot jumper, and the visitors seemed to regain their confidence. De La Cerda, who scored 21 points after halftime, hit a final 3 to rebuild the Lobos’ lead to 76-62 with 2:21 left.
UNLV hit three 3-pointers in the final minute but never drew closer than a sixpoint margin.
The Lobos, who have been on the road since Dec. 28 because of New Mexico’s coronavirus restrictions, will return home Monday. The Lobos’ long excursion included six days in quarantine in Logan, Utah, after two members of their Tier 1 travel party tested positive for COVID-19.
“I couldn’t be more proud of this team,” Bradbury said. “Considering what we’ve been through, to battle and win this game was incredible.”
UNM’s scheduled series this week against San Jose State was canceled because the Spartans opted out of their remaining schedule due to COVID concerns.