The last time New Mexico faced off against San Jose State, the Lobos fell to the Spartans on a last second shot from beyond the arc.
UNM didn’t offer a chance for the Spartans to write a heroic script this time around, winning handily 65-51 in Tuesday’s Mountain West quarterfinals.
In New Mexico’s first round of the Mountain West tournament, senior forward Khadijah Shumpert rose to the occasion, just days after being named to the league’s all defensive squad.
Her efforts were far from defensive exclusivity on Tuesday afternoon.
The senior tallied 26 points on 11 of 15 shooting from the field, going a perfect 4-4 from the charity stripe. Shumpert also recorded two steals, snagged five boards and added a block to her stat line.
“I know that the tournament is a time where it's do or die. And I was in the place,” Shumpert said in her postgame interview. “It's not like I'm going to get a second chance. It's come out and play with all the heart, all the effort and all the energy to make it happen and that was my mentality today.”
Though Shumpert was the only player on UNM’s squad to hit the double-digit mark, All-Mountain West First-Team member Cherise Beynon added to the team’s showing with six boards of her own, scoring nine points and adding an assist to her totals in returning to her hometown of Las Vegas.
“It's exciting to come home because my family doesn't get to see me as much,” Beynon said. “At the same time, I was a little nervous because I don't get to (play in front of them).”
Beynon added that the ambiance at the Thomas and Mack Center made the sophomore feel like she was playing in front of a crowd at WisePies Arena, labeling the arena a “home away from home”.
Head coach Yvonne Sanchez said one of the key’s in Tuesday’s contest was the fact UNM was able to control the Spartan offense, a team averaging 73 points per showing, the most in the league.
“Usually with a team like that, they score in bunches,” Sanchez said. “We were able to hit shots at the right time and able to get rebounds at the right time.”
New Mexico is the only team all season to hold SJSU to under 10 points in a quarter. Though it has only happened twice, once in a 71-57 loss at UNM on Jan. 23, the other came in Tuesday’s first quarter when the Spartans only mustered nine points.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
"Tough first ten minutes for us,” SJSU head coach Jamie Craighead said. “But that first quarter seemed to do us in. We played them pretty even the rest of way. We had our chances to come back in the game.”
New Mexico took advantage of the 19-9 run to start the contest, and didn’t trail once in the game. Craighead said it was UNM’s ability as a good team to close the door on her squad’s chances.
Jaisa Nunn, UNM’s other all-conference recipient, making the all-freshman squad, also added seven points and four boards to her stat line in the win.
Senior Bryce Owens had a game-high 12 rebounds, and also led all players with her five assists on the night.
No. 5 UNM will advance to Wednesday evening’s conference semi-finals, but it will be no easy task as they will face off against CSU, a team that remains unscathed in conference-play.
“We've got Colorado State tomorrow,” Sanchez said. “That's the best team in the league. If you want to be the best you've got to go through them.”
New Mexico only drew the Rams once on the schedule this season, losing 49-48 in the game’s final seconds. Shumpert had a chance to win the game with a last second shot as the Lobos drew up a final play that they wanted.
However, the contested shot fell to the floor as time expired, leaving CSU with a perfect 18-0 record through the MW regular season.
Sanchez said the loss was “heartbreaking” but she said the Lobos will continue to rely on its defense down the stretch in order to progress passed an unbeaten Mountain West squad and into the Championship game on Friday.
“Our team has bought into defense,” Sanchez said. “Our staff is really, really good at preparing them for that. So I just think that our defense is what's going to win basketball games.”
Tipoff is scheduled for Wednesday at 7:30 MST.
Liam Cary-Eaves is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers volleyball, women’s basketball and baseball. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Liam_CE.
