The UNM women’s basketball team took a bitter 71-48 defeat at the hands of Texas Tech University Saturday, ending the Lobos’ sweet run through the NCAA Tournament.
The stage was set for the Lobos’ first ever appearance in the Elite Eight, but despite The Pit rockin’ in legendary fashion, UNM could not overcome a defining18-0 run by Tech to end the first half.
Senior center Jordan Adams picked up her second foul with 9:21 remaining in the first half and was forced to the bench to avoid picking up her third. After sophomore Mandi Moore drilled a three to cut the Tech lead to four, 23-19, the Lobos would not score again in the half.
“Normally I send other players in and they perform very well to fill in for Jordan, but in this case it didn’t happen,” head coach Don Flanagan said. “ I wasn’t getting offense from anybody. I didn’t want to put Jordan back in and get her third foul and then not have her for the end of the game. Looking back at it, I probably should have played her in the first half.”
The UNM offense froze, while TTU got scoring from eight different players to race past the dazed Lobos for 18 consecutive points, taking a 41-19 halftime lead.
Rewind to the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In that game, the Lobos erased a 14-point halftime deficit versus Miami with hot shooting and a deafening crowd behind them.
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This time around, a 22-point halftime deficit proved to be insurmountable.
“It was quiet,” said Flanagan about the halftime mood in the locker room. “When you’re down 20, it is very difficult to have some kind of an angle to get back and there is not much you can say to them. The only thing we talked about was winning every four minutes.”
The Lobos came out aggressive in the second half, trying to cut into the lead. They ran their offense through Adams as she responded by dropping in baskets inside. But every time it seemed as if the Lobos would break through, they were knocked off their rails with either a missed layup or a Tech offensive rebound.
UNM was outrebounded 39-30, including 12 offensive boards for the Lady Raiders.
On defense, the Lobos needed stops, but again and again the more athletic Tech team hit shot after shot.
Led by Plenette Pierson’s 16 points and eight rebounds, along with Casey Jackson’s contribution of nine points and 11 rebounds, TTU was too much to handle for a Lobo comeback. The deficit never got below 13 as the experienced Lady Raiders didn’t let the crowd or the altitude stand in their way of reaching the Elite Eight. The game ended with a final score 71-48.
“We have no reason to be sad, although we didn’t play our best game,” senior Chelsea Grear said. “I was really happy to finish my season on top.”
Five seniors ended their memorable seasons and storied careers Saturday night. Adams finished with 20 points and five rebounds. Grear and Cristal Garcia struggled from the floor going a combined two-for-15 from the field. Grear finished with five points and nine rebounds while Garcia scored one point in 21 minutes of action. Senior Tiffany Scaglione finished the game with one point, while senior Daja Adams did not enter the game. The only other player in double digits was sophomore Mandi Moore, who had 14 points, four rebounds and four assists.