Jan. 31, 2007
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - New Mexico shot over 47 percent from the field and made 22 of its 26 free-throw attempts to defeat visiting San Diego State 76-46 Wednesday evening at The Pit. With the loss, the Aztecs fell below .500 to 9-10 overall, completing the first round of conference action with a 2-6 record. The Lobos, meanwhile, improved to 14-7 overall and 4-4 in MWC play.
For just the second time this season, SDSU did not have a player score in double-figures, as junior Shanna Demus (Palmdale, Calif.) and freshman Lauren Hoisington (Las Vegas, Nev.) both had eight points apiece. Aztec leading scorer and rebounder Jennifer Layton (Sacramento, Calif.) was limited to just six points and no boards in 16 minutes. Senior Desiree Johnson (Kahuku, Hawaii) had a team-best six rebounds, while freshman Quenese Davis (Sacramento, Calif.) had five assists after having just one at TCU last Sunday.
The Aztecs had early foul trouble for the second straight game as the three front court starters had a pair of fouls apiece in the first 10 and a half minutes of the game. SDSU opened the night with the early 2-0 lead on a fast break layup by Layton. The Lobos answered that bucket with an 8-0 run, before Demus added the team's second field goal to cut the deficit to four.
The New Mexico lead quickly got into double-figures at 20-10 and the Lobos led by a then game-high 15 points at the break at 36-21.
UNM opened the second half with another offensive run, scoring five straight to increase its lead to 20 at 41-21. Out of a timeout, the Aztecs got on the board with a 5-0 run of their own on a jumper by Shannon Clay (Inglewood, Calif.) and a three-point by Demus. The Lobo lead continued to hover around 20 points until SDSU got stuck at 30 points as New Mexico outscored the Aztecs 6-0 to move up to a 27-point advantage at 57-30.
The New Mexico lead hit 30 points at 70-40, before the Lobos claimed their 15th straight in the series by 30 at 76-46.
UNM's Dionne Marsh scored a game-high 21 points and added 11 rebounds for a double-double, while two other Lobo starters had 13 points apiece.
San Diego State head home for the start of the second round of Mountain West Conference play Saturday against league-leading Utah at 2 p.m. at Cox Arena.