Lady Lobos to return to 'Western Pit'

By Eric Maddy
The SCORE

Call it The Western Pit.   

The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team found a home away from home Wednesday, beating Nebraska 54-43 in the second round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament played at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho.

Forced from their campus home at University Arena in Albuquerque due to schedule conflicts – first round games of the NCAA women’s tournament and a bull riding event – the Lady Lobos brought their home show on the road.

And junior Amy Beggin and senior Angela Hartill made sure UNM will be back for at least one more game, Friday night against Oregon State.

Begin scored 25 points and Hartill 18 as New Mexico broke open a tight game early in the second half to pull away for its 24th victory of the season. Nebraska, which hadn’t played in two weeks, finishes its season 15-16.

After trailing 28-23 at intermission, Nebraska’s Yvonne Turner opened the second-half scoring with a steal and layup. When Dominique Kelley finished the Lady Huskers’ next possession with two free throws, the New Mexico lead was down to just one point.

At that point, Nebraska went ice cold and UNM warmed up. New Mexico outscored Nebraska 23-7 over the next 13:38, with the two UNM stars getting all but three of those points as the Lady Lobo lead crested at 17 points.

The first half was largely about two stretches where each team managed only one point. Nebraska started the game cold, managing only a Kelley free throw in the opening 3:42, while the Lady Lobos made themselves at home. The second three-point goal by Beggin made the score 12-1.

Nebraska didn’t its first field goal until 44 got free for a layout with 12:38 left in the half, which made the score 14-3. Little did anyone know that was the start of the Lady Huskers’ own run and a draught for New Mexico.

UNM got just one free throw by 44 over the next 5:32. By the time the Lady Lobos scored again, it was to regain the lead at 17-16.

UNM was ahead 20-18 with 4:35 in the half before scoring six straight to take an eight-point lead on a Valerie Kast jumper with 2:04 left. Nebraska cut the margin to 28-23 at intermission by scoring five of the last seven points.