Lobo women capture Mountain West regular season title
Mar. 6—A team that defined resiliency all season now has a trophy to show for it.
The University of New Mexico women's basketball team fought off a late Colorado State comeback Friday night and captured the Mountain West Conference's regular-season championship with a 71-62 victory at the Pit.
The Lobos (14-3, 11-3) broke a 60-all tie with a closing 11-2 run to secure their first regular-season title since 2004-05 and their first-ever outright crown. UNM had twice finished as co-champions, sharing both titles with Utah.
Coach Mike Bradbury and his team celebrated without fans at the Pit, cutting down the nets, holding an impromptu dance party and posing for photos amidst a pile of confetti at midcourt. There was a sense of irony for a team that played its first 15 games outside the state because of New Mexico's coronavirus restrictions.
"I feel like that was a blessing after all we've been through," senior Jaedyn De La Cerda said. "We got to celebrate at the Pit. Dancing in confetti, taking pictures with the trophy, cutting down nets, it's what we all dream about."
UNM will be the No. 1 seed for next week's Mountain West tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada, and will face the winner of a Sunday play-in game between No. 8 San Diego State and No. 9 Air Force. The Lobos will play Monday at 1 p.m. at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center (610 AM/95.9 FM, themw.com).
The Lobos went into their first two-game home series of the season needing a sweep of the Rams (15-5, 11-5) to finish first — and that's what they got. Ahlise Hurst scored a game-high 21 points and led a balanced effort that proved just enough to outlast CSU on Friday.
Bradbury was all smiles afterward but admitted playing a winner-take-all finale against a talented Colorado State team made for a stressful evening.
"The last eight seconds were fun," Bradbury said. "Colorado State is really good and very well-coached. You knew they weren't going to go away. We had to show we could take a punch at some point."
UNM led most of the way, building a 38-32 halftime lead and a 14-point advantage early in the third quarter. But the Rams suddenly caught fire in the fourth quarter and used a 14-2 run to even the score at 58. Jamie Bonnarens' 3-pointer with 5:35 remaining sent a cheer from CSU's bench echoing through the Pit and forced Bradbury to take a timeout.
"We just talked about sticking to what's been working," Hurst said. "Set your screens, follow your assignments and when you get an open shot it's going in. We just kind of refocused."
After each team scored to leave the game tied at 60, LaTora Duff hit a 15-foot jumper to put UNM back in front. Hurst and Antonia Anderson followed suit on UNM's next two possessions, rebuilding the Lobos' lead to 66-60 with 2:58 left.
The Rams managed just one field goal the rest of the way, and UNM gradually put things away from the free throw line. Anderson finished with 13 points and nine rebounds, Corina Carter scored 11 points off the bench, and Shaiquel McGruder had seven points and 15 boards for UNM.
"Those last two seconds when everyone ran on the court were so much fun," said Hurst, who hit five of the Lobos' 10 3-pointers. "I wish fans could have been there. It would have been loud, but I'm glad we got to do this at home."
The Lobos did get something of a pregame boost from fans who gathered outside the Pit and cheered players as they arrived. The group included UNM football coach Danny Gonzales and a group of his players, who sang the school fight song.
Box score: UNM 71, Colorado State 62
