The UNM women's basketball team found its winning way again and maybe gained some experience for its younger players in a first-round match-up with Southern in the women's National Invitational Tournament.
The Lobos defeated Jaguars soundly 72-44 at The Pit on Wednesday.
"Their quickness bothered us a little bit, and their trapping bothered us a little bit," head coach Don Flanagan said. "We could have shot a little better because our shot selection was quite good. We had good looks. We played good defense, especially in the first half."
The UNM defense played better than good. The Lobos held the sluggish Southern team to 21.9 percent shooting in the first half.
The Lobos had a 38-15 lead at the break.
"It felt good to get back on the court again and play another game at The Pit and just get another win," Amy Beggin said.
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Aside from the heartbreaking sting still felt by the last-second 56-55 loss to Utah in the semifinals of the Mountain West Conference Tournament, Flanagan said his team has been playing its best basketball in the last two months.
"We have been a rebound kind of team anyway," Flanagan said. "You have to bounce back, and you have to bounce back in any season."
At the 7:20 mark in the first half, Beggin became the 16th UNM women's basketball player to reach 1,000 points.
"I really didn't pay attention to at all," Beggin said. "I give my teammates a lot of credit. I mean, it just comes with playing games. So, it is kind of special but winning is more important."
Beggin lead all scorers with 15 points and five assists.
Seniors Amanda Adamson and Angela Hartill joined Beggin in scoring double figures.
Hartill finished with 11, and Adamson capped the night with 14.
With the victory, the Lobos will host the Nebraska Cornhuskers Wednesday in the second round of the WNIT.
The Lobos defeated the Cornhuskers at The Pit on Nov. 22. UNM trailed by six at halftime but rallied in the second half to a 62-51 win.
"They are a nice team in the Big 12," Flanagan said. "They have had some good victories. They beat Iowa State, and I think they beat Kansas, which are two excellent victories."
Due to the renovations at The Pit, the game will be played at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho.
"We are just thrilled that we get to stay close and that we don't have to travel," Adamson said. "I think that is the biggest thing we are looking forward to is just begin close. So hopefully we can get a lot of fans to go out there and watch us."
