The UNM women's basketball team showed signs of greatness and inexperience in Sunday's 78-63 loss to Colorado University in the second round of the Preseason Women's National Invitational Tournament in The Pit.
The Lobos (1-1) played tough against the 12th-ranked Buffaloes but stalled offensively in the second half. UNM had two lengthy scoring droughts in the second half and Colorado took advantage, outscoring the Lobos 20-5.
Head coach Don Flanagan said that Colorado's speed and precision hurt the Lobos.
"They were just a superior team," he said. "They just have too good of execution and too good of talent for us at this time."
The Lobos trailed 36-35 at halftime, but took no time in taking the lead early in the second half. UNM took over the lead 37-36 just 20 seconds into the half on a jumper by freshman post Lindsey Arndt. The Lobos held a 44-41 advantage minutes later, but the offense derailed. UNM went scoreless for four and a half minutes and the Buffaloes burst out on an 11-0 run. A 3-pointer by Colorado's Jenn Roulier would give the Buffaloes yet another 10-point lead at 57-47. Colorado would widen its lead as the Lobos struggled to score. UNM experienced another dry period when it stayed at 49 points for almost six minutes, while the Buffaloes cruised to a 66-49 blowout. A lay up from sophomore post Melissa Forest looked as if might spark the Lobos for the remainder of the half. Junior post Jordan Adams, who was double teamed for most of the night, finally got a bucket in the second half with 4:30 remaining to close the gap to 68-53 when she reached over the Buffaloes 6-foot-5-inch center Tera Bjorklund to score. Bjorklund would return with a lay in of her own, giving the Buffaloes their largest lead of the game at 70-53 and rolled to the victory.
Flanagan said he feels that the team's heart and determination will help them improve their execution in games to come.
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"I hate to lose to anybody in this building (The Pit)," he said. "The team has been willing to work hard. We do need some time for preparation."
UNM had trouble containing the guard tandem of Mandy Nightingale and Roulier, who combined to score 41 points and dish out nine assists. Nightingale scored 24 points, including 12-of-13 free throws.
Colorado head coach Ceal Barry was happy with her team's performance.
"(The players) did a good job of not letting the crowd get to them," she said.
Neither team shot particularly well from the field as the Lobos shot 33.3 percent, while Colorado shot 39.3 percent
Senior guard Molly McKinnon opened the game with a steal and the first four points of the game for the Lobos. UNM played even with the Buffaloes in the first half with four lead changes in the initial seven minutes. A steal by Colorado's Diana Spencer and a 3-pointer by Nightingale at the 13:11 mark would give the Buffaloes a lead they wouldn't relinquish for the remainder of the half. The Lobos bounced back at the end of the half by going on a 10-2 run to cut the lead to only one, 36-35 going into halftime.
Freshman point guard Mandi Moore had a team-high 15 points and five assists to lead the Lobos.
Nightingale said that Moore's play impressed her.
"She plays a lot better than a freshman," she said. "She's tough, strong and physical."
McKinnon said that the loss will help the Lobos gain experience for the future.
"I am not too worried about it, it's early," she said. "Nobody had their heads down in the locker room. I know we can get better."
UNM advanced to the second round by defeating the University of the Pacific 81-54 on Friday with the help of Adams' WNIT record seven blocks and 21 points.
The Lobos next game is on the road against intra-state rival New Mexico State University Nov. 20 in Las Cruces.
