by Albuquerque, N.M. – The San Jose State women’s basketball team scored just six points and shot 15.4 percent in the second quarter at New Mexico and lost 92-62 on Saturday afternoon in Dreamscape Arena.
SJSU (6-16, 3-8 MW), which defeated the Lobos in The Event Center 95-86 on January 6, controlled the boards 46-42 and outscored UNM and kept the second-chance points close 11-to-10. But in Albuquerque, the Lobos won the battle on the glass 44-to-35 and outscored San José State 15-to-2 in put backs.
New Mexico (18-6, 6-5 MW) used its size inside to outscore SJSU 40-22 in the paint, led by Jaisa Nunn’s 30 points. She also grabbed 11 rebounds. In addition to the inside game, they struck on 12-of-31 three-pointers. Alex Lapeyrolerie drained five of them for 15 points.
Shiprock, N.M., native, Analyss Benally (Navajo) led San José State scoring. She had 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting, including 3-of-4 from long range. Taylor Turney was also in double figures with 13 points.
The game was tied 4-4 with 7:25 to go in the first period when New Mexico got hot and went on an 11-0 run to take a 15-4 lead with 2:51 to go. The Spartans ended the run with Benally’s first three-pointer and she was just getting started. In the next 1:30 she knocked down two more to get the game to 19-15 after one quarter.
In the second quarter the Spartans trailed 22-17 on a layup by Myzhanique Ladd with 8:43 to go before the half, but then went ice cold. SJSU missed their next seven shots, committed four turnovers and saw the Lobos score 14 straight points. A pair of Taylor Turney free throws finally halted the New Mexico run, but the damage was done and the teams went to intermission with San José State trailing 41-21.
In the third and fourth quarters, the Spartans shot 50 percent (13-fo-26) and 5-of-11 (45 percent) from beyond the arc, but UNM was even better. They hit 52.9 percent from the floor (18-of-34) and 7-of-15 (46.6 percent) from three-point range en route to the 30-point victory.
San Jose State has a bye in its Mountain West schedule on Wednesday, but return to action next Saturday, February 10, in The Event Center against Colorado State. Tip off is set for 2:00 p.m.
