Overtime dagger: Cumber's late 3 helps Lobo women outlast Boise State

Excuse the Boise State Broncos if they’ve seen just about enough of Viané Cumber.

The University of New Mexico senior lit the visiting Broncos up for a career-high 27 points, including a long, clinching 3-pointer with 6.7 seconds left in overtime as the Lobos pulled out a thrilling 88-83 victory in the Pit.

UNM snapped a five-game losing streak with the much-needed victory, moving into a tie for fourth place in the Mountain West standings. The Lobos also avenged an earlier 89-80 loss in Boise, Idaho and moved two games ahead of the Broncos.

Cumber, who scored 50 points in two games against Boise State this season, was not exactly in rhythm for the game’s biggest shot. It came with UNM clinging to an 85-83 lead and the shot clock winding down. Alyssa Hargrove, cut off on a drive attempt, dropped a short bounce pass near Cumber’s feet. She grabbed the ball and swished a 22-footer.

“I just let it go,” Cumber said of the clincher. “We needed a big win and hopefully this one gets us back on track. It’s definitely a good feeling.”

Hargrove got the assist on Cumber’s shot to cap an odd statistical performance. She scored just three points — her lone basket giving the Lobos the lead for good in overtime — but posted a double-double with 10 assists and 11 rebounds.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a game quite like that,” Hargrove said with a smile. “I know I struggle sometimes with field goals so I have to find other ways to contribute. It might frustrate me a little but I just have to keep playing.”

UNM also got 15 points from Joana Magalhães and 13 from Destinee Hooks, who scored seven in the fourth quarter. Hooks had an open look on a pull-up jumper in the lane at the end of regulation but missed off the front rim to send the game to overtime.

Boise State (15-11, 5-8 Mountain West) also had a chance to grab a late lead in regulation, but Mya Hansen’s contested driving shot missed with 8.6 seconds left. The Broncos, who got 18 points from Abby Muse and 17 off the bench from Josee Steadman, struggled at times against a trapping 2-3 zone defense that UNM broke out just for the occasion.

“We really struggled to guard them (in Boise),” UNM coach Mike Bradbury said. “We thought the zone gave us the best chance to win tonight. You probably won’t see us playing a lot of zone every game, but tonight it gave us a chance.”

The Lobos also improved their chances of winning by dominating the taller Broncos on the boards. UNM outrebounded Boise State 51-35 and outscored the visitors 50-42 in the paint.

It was an extreme turnaround from Saturday, when UNM was outscored 38-14 in the paint in a loss at UNLV.

“We knew we had to fight for every single rebound,” Bradbury said. “It was less about X’s and O’s and more about competing. I’m proud of the way our players competed tonight.”

UNM led for most of the evening but never by a comfortable margin. There were seven ties, the last at 81-all, and seven lead changes in the hard-fought contest.

Cumber scored 15 of her points in the first half, helping the Lobos take a 38-33 lead to intermission. Boise State rallied to tie things in the third quarter and trailed just 56-55 entering the fourth.

Natalie Pasco hit an open 3-pointer to even the score at 73 with 1:20 left, and each team then hit a pair of free throws but failed to hit go-ahead shots down the stretch.

Magalhães who came off the bench for the first time since November, scored twice on drives to help UNM grab the lead in overtime. Nayli Padilla started in her place after Magalhães was benched early in the game at UNLV. Padilla finished with nine points Thursday.

The Lobos have their final open date of the season this weekend and visit San Jose State on Wednesday.

LOBOS 88, BRONCOS 83 OT

BOISE STATE (15-11, 5-8 Mountain West): Lalotte 5-9 1-2 11, Pasco 3-12 1-2 8, Muse 8-10 2-3 18, Hansen 2-9 2-2 7, Naro 0-2 2-2 2, Christensen 1-1 0-0 2, Clark 1-1 0-0 2, Bayes 4-11 0-0 11, Hueckman 1-3 0-0 2, Hutton 0-0 0-0 0, Steadman 7-12 2-2 17, Sharp 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 33-73 10-13 83.

NEW MEXICO (14-12, 7-6 Mountain West): Joaquim 5-7 1-2 11, Hooks 5-16 1-2 13, Hargrove 1-9 1-2 3, Padilla 4-8 0-0 9, Cumber 10-22 2-2 27, Moreland 4-6 0-0 8, Langermann 0-1 2-2 2, Magalhães 6-9 2-2 15, Lauro 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 35-78 9-12 88.

Boise State 15 18 22 20 8 -- 83

New Mexico 14 24 18 19 13 -- 88

3-point FGs: BS 7-30 (Pasco 1-5, Hansen 1-7, Naro 0-2, Bayes 3-9, Steadman 1-4, Gardner 1-3); NM 9-27 (Joaquim 0-1, Hooks 2-4, Hargrove 0-3, Padilla 1-2, Cumber 5-13, Langermann 0-1, Magalhães 1-3). Rebounds: BS 35 (Lalotte 4, Pasco 1, Muse 5, Hansen 1, Naro 6, Christensen 3, Bayes 4, Hueckman 1, Steadman 3, Sharp 1); NM 51 (Joaquim 8, Hooks 4, Hargrove 11, Padilla 1, Cumber 5, Moreland 5, Langermann 1, Magalhães 7). Assists: BS 28 (Pasco 3, Muse 3, Hansen 4, Naro 8, Christensen 1, Clark 1, Bayes 5, Steadman 3); NM 20 (Joaquim 1, Hooks 1, Hargrove 10, Padilla 3, Langermann 1, Magalhães 4). Steals: BS 5 (Lalotte 1, Hansen 2, Naro 1, Hueckman 1); NM 2 (Hargrove 1, Padilla 1). Blocks: BS 7 (Naro 2, Christensen 1, Clark 1, Bayes 1, Steadman 2); NM 6 (Joaquim 1, Hooks 1, Hargrove 1, Cumber 1, Padilla 1, Moreland 1). Turnovers: BS 7, NM 11. Team fouls: BS 12, NM 10. Fouled out: NM Moreland. Technical fouls: None.

UNM women hang on for overtime win over Boise State: Photos