by ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — When Wichita State scored to open the fourth quarter to cut the University of New Mexico women’s basketball team’s lead to six at 57-51 – a lead that had been as large as 17 in the third quarter – it appeared the Lobos’ undefeated start may be in danger.
But UNM answered with back-to-back 3-pointers from Alex Lapeyrolerie and Tesha Buck within a 32-second span on a night the Lobos drained 12 3-pointers as they built the lead back to double figures and went on to a 76-62 victory Friday night in their opener of the UNM Thanksgiving Tournament at Dreamstyle Arena.
The Lobos’ 12 3-pointers is the most since hitting 14 against TCU in 2011 and UNM was three 3-pointers away from tying the Lobo record for attempts of 37.
“Out of 34 threes, we took probably about three bad ones, and that’s pretty good,” UNM coach Mike Bradbury said. “Some nights they go in and sometimes they don’t – tonight we made just enough.”
The 5-0 start for UNM is tied for the second-best start in program history (UNM started 5-0 in 2012-13), only behind the 1996-97 team that started the season 9-0.
The Lobos’ only deficit in the game was at 5-3, and they answered with a 9-0 run capped by a Cherise Beynon bucket to make it 12-5.
UNM’s lead grew to 24-15 at the end of the first quarter before a 12-3 run by Wichita State to open the second tied the game 27-27. Again, the Lobos answered as a 7-0 run highlighted by a Tesha Buck 3-pointer helped the Lobos go into the half with a 40-31 lead.
The Lobos’ lead expanded with a 12-4 run to start the third with an Antonia Anderson basket with 6:14 left giving UNM a 52-35 advantage. But thanks to a 7-0 run to end the third quarter, Wichita State trailed 57-49 going into the fourth.
After a Rangie Bessard bucket to start the fourth cut the Lobo lead to six, Lapeyrolerie hit the fourth of her five 3-pointers in the game and Buck followed with her third of four 3-pointers in the contest to give UNM breathing room at 63-51 with 9:01 left in the game.
“I feel very comfortable and in a rhythm,” said Lapeyrolerie – who finished one off a career high with 5 3-pointers. “It’s something I have to thank my teammates and my coaching staff for getting me back into that rhythm, having no hesitation, and just letting it go. I have to thank my coaching staff for getting me there.”
The Lobo lead grew to a game-high 18 after Buck’s fourth 3-pointer of the contest with 4:23 left made it 75-57 and UNM held on from there.
Beynon paced UNM with a game-high 23 points to along with seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. Lapeyrolerie finished with 15 points while going 5-for-10 from beyond the arc, Buck had 14 points, eight assists and four rebounds while Jaisa Nunn collected her third double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
UNM has a quick turnaround as the Lobos host UC Irvine (2-3 – lost to Illinois 65-59 Friday) 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Dreamstyle Arena.
