Lobo women sizzle, then fizzle in loss at Boise State

The first half was the best of times for the University of New Mexico women’s basketball team Tuesday night.

The third quarter was the worst.

After putting up 54 points in a sizzling first half, the Lobos could only manage 10 in an ice-cold third quarter. The latter proved decisive as host Boise State came from behind to take an 89-80 victory at ExtraMile Arena.

It was another head-scratching performance by the Lobos, who seemed to have all the answers in the first half. Viané Cumber scorched the Broncos for 20 points and hit 6-of-8 from 3-point range before halftime. She did not make a field goal in the second half and finished with 23 points — thanks in part to a defensive switch by the Broncos.

With Cumber shut down, UNM could not find enough scoring in the second half. Hulda Joaquim scored 12 points (10 in the first half), and Destinee Hooks had 10 (on 4-of-14 shooting) as the Lobos (13-9, 6-3 Mountain West) dropped their first conference road game and second straight game overall. UNM dipped to 3-11 all time at Boise State.

UNM was also done in by one dismal quarter in Saturday’s 77-64 loss to Fresno State, giving up a 24-5 run in the fourth quarter.

Lobos coach Mike Bradbury was frustrated more by his team’s defense against Boise State than by its cold-shooting third quarter.

“In the first half, we just made every shot,” he said. “I didn’t think we always ran great offense but we were making everything. In the third quarter, (Boise State) took away the 3, and we missed shots around the basket, missed free throws, just couldn’t finish anything.”

Meanwhile, Boise State (15-7, 5-4) began to score from everywhere. Natalie Pasco and Dani Bayes hit 3-pointers during a 12-0 run that erased UNM’s 54-43 halftime lead and gave the Broncos a 60-58 edge. During that span, the Lobos turned the ball over three times and missed two layups.

“Our defense just was not very good,” Bradbury said. “We missed assignments, helping off their better shooters and leaving them wide open. That’s scouting-report stuff that we worked on and did a good job with in practice and that accounted for five of (the Broncos’) 11 3s. That’s what’s frustrating.”

Boise State’s defense looked equally lost in the first half, as UNM shot 60% overall and went 11-for-21 from 3-point range. The Broncos, who had not allowed more than 64 points in a home game prior to Tuesday, matched the Lobos for most of the half. But after Mya Hansen tied the score at 41 with one of her three 3-pointers, UNM ended the half with a 13-2 run, getting two Cumber 3s and five points from Paris Lauro.

Bench play was a positive for the Lobos, who got eight points from Lara Langermann, seven from Lauro and five from Nayli Padilla. But reserves had to play extended minutes, largely because UNM’s starters were ineffective for several stretches, especially in the third quarter.

The Broncos led 71-64 after the third quarter and stretched it to an 11-point lead as the Lobos continued to struggle to find scoring. UNM put together a late rally with trapping pressure, pulling to within 87-80 and forcing a steal with 1:05 left. But Langermann missed an open 3-point shot, and Boise State’s Tatum Thompson hit two free throws to seal the outcome.

Thompson and Bayes scored 18 points each for the Broncos, who were 12-for-13 from the foul line. UNM was 7-for-16 from the line.

Boise State also outrebounded the Lobos 41-33 after UNM held an 18-15 edge at halftime.

“That’s kind of deceiving because in the first half we made so many shots,” Bradbury said. “There weren’t many rebounds to be had. We really didn’t rebound well in either half, and that hurt.”

BRONCOS 89, LOBOS 80

NEW MEXICO (13-9, 6-3 Mountain West): Hooks 4-14 1-4 10, Hargrove 2-8 2-4 7, Magalhães 3-8 1-4 8, Joaquim 6-9 0-0 12, Cumber 7-14 3-4 23, Mwamba 0-0 0-0 0, Langerman 3-4 0-0 8, Lauro 3-3 0-0 7, Padilla 2-6 0-0 5, Jordon 0-0 0-0 0, Moreland 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-66 7-16 80.

BOISE STATE (15-7, 5-4 Mountain West): Thompson 6-14 6-7 18, Bayes 7-12 0-0 18, Naro 1-4 0-0 2, Pasco 6-12 0-0 16, Muse 3-9 0-0 6, Hansen 5-10 4-4 17, Sharp 0-1 0-0 0, Hutton 0-1 0-0 0, Christensen 1-2 0-0 2, Gardner 0-0 0-0 0, Lalotte 4-8 2-2 10. Totals 33-73 12-13 89.

New Mexico 30 24 10 16 — 80

Boise State 20 23 28 18 — 89

3-point FGs: NM 13-31 (Hooks 1-9, Hargrove 1-2, Magalhães 1-3, Cumber 6-11, Langermann 2-3, Lauro 1-1, Padilla 1-2); BS 11-25 (Thompson 0-3, Bayes 4-9, Naro 0-1, Pasco 4-6, Hansen 3-4, Sharp 0-1, Christensen 0-1). Rebounds NM 33 (Hooks 2, Hargrove 2, Magalhães 6, Joaquim 9, Cumber 3, Lauro 3, Padilla 1, Moreland 3). Assists: NM 16 (Hooks 3, Hargrove 4, Magalhães 5, Joaquim 2, Cumber 1, Moreland 1); BS 21 (Thompson 5, Bayes 5, Naro 6, Pasco 1, Muse 2, Lalotte 2). Steals: NM 4 (Magalhães 1, Langermann 2, Moreland 1); BS 9 (Thompson 4, Bayes 1, Naro 2, Muse 1, Hansen 1). Blocks: NM 2 (Cumber 1, Moreland 1); BS 2 (Thompson 1, Christensen 1). Turnovers: NM 13, BS 9. Team fouls: NM 13, BS 13. Fouled out: None. Technical fouls: None.