DENVER, Colo. - The top-seeded Lobos put the No. 8 seed Air Force Falcons out of their misery Wednesday afternoon in a 63-50 blow out at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo.
The Falcons ended the season with no conference victories.
UNM didn't start out looking so hot itself.
"This is my fourth time to play in this tournament, and we've come out flat every time," senior forward Melissa Forest said.
Although the Lobos jumped out to a quick 11-2 lead, they looked sluggish and lackadaisical.
With a commanding lead nine minutes into the game, head coach Don Flanagan sent in the reserves. Flanagan said his goal was to get all the players acclimated to playing in the tournament.
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"That way when I need them to go in, it won't be their first time on the floor," Flanagan said. After junior guard Mandi Moore scored off a pull-up jumper, the Lobos fell into a five-minute scoring drought, and the Falcons pulled to within two with just more than five minutes remaining in the first period.
UNM held on to lead 21-17 at halftime.
Although UNM didn't have an outstanding offensive effort in the first half, it did show the Falcons why it is the best defensive team in the NCAA.
The Falcons were limited to 23 percent shooting from the floor and suffered from 10 blocked shots in the first half - four of those were off the hands of Forest.
Air Force did get its share of boards, though, but it didn't matter. On one possession, the Falcons were blocked three times before turning it over to UNM.
Each of the starters had a block in the first period, and junior transfer Judy Vogt came off the bench to get a couple blocks in only four minutes of action.
"I like a little bit of blocked shots," Flanagan said. "I like how that intimidates players on the next shot."
UNM picked things up and went on a 12-0 run early in the second half. Forest continued dominating the paint, but in the second it was on offense instead of defense. Forest had 17 of her 27 points in the latter period.
"Forest absolutely killed us," Air Force head coach Ardie McInelly said. "We didn't have anything that could stop her."
Flanagan said he was upset with Forest throughout most of the game because she wasn't denying the pass to the interior.
"I was mad at her," he said. "And then I saw that she had 27 points."
Junior forward Lindsey Arndt was also a force down low and finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore clutch-shooter Abbie Letz contributed 12 points, including nine from 3-point range, and seven rebounds.
The Lobos will be back in action on Friday at noon. They play Wyoming for the chance to play in the tournament championship.
The game will be broadcast on the big screen at the SUB Theater. Free food and drinks will be provided.
