March 5, 2018
Video Highlights
Las Vegas, Nev. --- Earlier this season it was the second quarter that doomed the Spartans in their game with the Lobos in Albuquerque. In similar fashion on Monday in an opening-round game of the Mountain West Tournament, #6-New Mexico blasted the #11-San José State women's basketball team in the second quarter and went on for 84-54 win.
The Lobos (23-9) missed their first eight three-point field goal attempts of the opening quarter. But Cherise Beynon drilled a shot from downtown with just one second remaining in the opening frame and it represented a glimpse of things to come for New Mexico.
The Spartans (7-23) began the second period trailing 19-12, but that turned into a 16-point deficit within the first five minutes of the quarter. New Mexico used a pair of threes by Tesha Buck, another three from Madi Washington and a layup by Jaisa Nunn to pull away. The Spartans were outscored 28-14 in the quarter and trailed 47-26 at halftime.
Myzhanique Ladd scored 12 of her team-high 19 points in the first half. She was 5-of-14 shooting from the field and made 9-of-12 free throws. The All-Mountain West honorable mention choice led SJSU in scoring for the 13th time this season.
The Spartans finished the game shooting a season-low 26.8 percent (19-71) from the field and hit 12-of-15 from the free throw line. New Mexico finished the game shooting 41.0 percent (32-78) from the field and 13-of-15 from the line. SJSU was outrebounded 59-41.
Nunn led New Mexico in scoring with 19 points. Outside of the Lobos' burst from beyond the arc in the second quarter, it was Nunn who gashed the Spartans from inside the paint. Buck finished with 18 points and Beynon notched a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
With the loss San José State's season comes to an end while New Mexico advances to play #3-Wyoming in the MW Tournament quarterfinals.