LAS VEGAS - The UNM women's basketball team used an aggressive second half defense to defeat San Diego State University 65-52 Wednesday in the first round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament in Las Vegas.
The Lobos (22-7) used a 20-5 run and some stingy defense to advance to the second round.
UNM will play Brigham Young University Friday at 1 p.m. The Cougars defeated the University of Wyoming 82-69 Wednesday.
The Lobos jumped out on a 15-5 run to close the first half and tear away a five-point deficit. The run continued into the second half with a 3-pointer and a putback by freshman forward Lindsey Arndt.
UNM head coach Don Flanagan said that when the team calmed down it began to play better.
"Patience is the key against pressure," he said.
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Back-to-back jumpers by junior Chelsea Grear and senior Molly McKinnon sparked the run, which was the deciding factor in the game. Along with five made free throws for UNM, Grear and sophomore forward Melissa Forest each drained a 3-pointer before the end of the half. The Lobos run gave them a 32-27 edge going into the locker room.
The full-court pressure that gave UNM fits in the first half was not a factor in the second half.
With 7:32 to go the Lobos showcased the way to break the Aztecs' press.
They used a few quick passes, leading to an easy lay in by Adams with the assist by McKinnon. UNM led by as many as 14 points off of McKinnon's baseline jumper with under seven minutes left to play.
The Aztecs responded and chipped the lead down to five just under the three-minute mark, but that was as close as they would get.
Freshman point guard Mandi Moore was fouled and scored her first points of the game, making both free throws with 2:56 to play.
Grear followed by making five-of-eight free throws. Her free throw exhibition that began with 2:11 left, would ice the game for the Lobos.
"We knew we couldn't lose this game," Adams said.
UNM was not patient enough in the first half against the Aztecs' pressure. After spurting out to a 9-2 lead, the Lobos began to falter offensively. SDSU capitalized, going on a 20-8 run to take its biggest lead of the game at 22-17 with under six minutes left in the first half.
The Lobos struggled to break the Aztecs' full-court pressure.
"It bothered us setting up our offense," Flanagan said. "We probably didn't start our offense until 17 seconds (on the shot clock)."
The Lobos shot 35.5 percent in the first half compared to the Aztecs 52.4 shooting percentage, but UNM rebounded in the second half by shooting 47.6 percent.
Both teams finished with 17 turnovers.
Junior center Jordan Adams only shot five-of-14, but still shared game-high honors with Aztec guard Claire Swinbank, scoring 16 points each.
Swinbank spent most of the afternoon slicing through the Lobos' defense keeping San Diego State within attacking range.
The Lobo's goal for the game was to get the ball into the post, while San Diego State's head coach Barb Smith said that is the one thing her team didn't want to allow.
"Our plan was to double down inside and get them to kick it back out," she said.
In a rare occasion, the Lobo freshman showed their inexperience, with their first half contribution being only four points by Arndt.
Moore played all but two minutes of the game, but finished with only four points, all which were scored in the games final three minutes on free throws.
Arndt said she knew there was a period when she wasn't being effective offensively.
"You can't play your best all the time," she said. "You can play your hardest though."
Adams, a Nevada native, said that she used to get rattled when she would play in her home state her freshman and sophomore year, concerned about what her critics would have to say.
She says that isn't the case anymore. She said she now enjoys playing in Las Vegas because her family and friends can come and watch her.
Grear chipped in with 14 points and seven rebounds, and Arndt finished with 13 points.
Friday's game against BYU will be telecast on KRQE, TV-13 at 1 p.m. and broadcast on 770 AM, KKOB at 12:30 p.m.
