Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
19-8, 11-5MW
New Mexico
17-11, 13-4MW
`Dogs Outlasted at New Mexico, 63-60
2/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
By Josh Mitchell
jomitchell@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Holding its largest lead of the game at five with six minutes to play, Fresno State was unable maintain the lead as New Mexico hit five of its last six field goals to come back to win, 63-60, on Saturday afternoon at the WisePies Arena.
The loss was only the 'Dogs second when shooting over 37 percent as they hit 44.2 percent (23-of-52) and held the Lobos to just 37.5 percent (21-of-56). New Mexico made up the different at the free throw line where they had a plus-nine advantage. UNM also held a 38-31 advantage on the glass and grabbed seven more offensive boards than Fresno State.
Senior forward Alex Sheedy paced the Bulldogs (19-8, 11-5 MW) with 17 points and seven rebounds, with 13 of her points coming in the second half. Lobo senior Anteshia Brown led New Mexico (17-11, 13-4 MW) with 21 points and nine rebounds.
The Bulldogs will continue their two-game road swing as they travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., on Tuesday to play Air Force. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m., PT.
Early in the first half, New Mexico ran out to a 14-7 during the first six minutes with a 10-3 run. After a missed 3, resulting in a UNM rebound, Collins picked Brown's pocket in the backcourt and took in for an uncontested layup. That was followed by a pair from the line from Draper pulled within three at 14-11 with 9:45 to go.
The Lobos went on a 6-1 spurt from that point as a 3 from Bryce Owens gave them a 20-12 lead with just over eight minutes to play in the half.
The Bulldogs battled back though as they clamped down on the defensive end and went on an 11-3 run as they began forcing the ball into the post before Moriah Faulk knocked down a 3-pointer tie the game at 23-23 with 2:50 left in the half.
New Mexico took a one-point lead into the half at 26-25 after hitting three free throws in the final minutes. The Bulldogs held the Lobos without a basket during the final 7:14 of the half.
UNM got it offense back on track at the start of the second half, jumping out 32-25 less than two minutes into the second half before Fresno State called a timeout.
Trailing 35-29 after a layup from Khadijah Shumpert with 16:36 on the clock, Sheedy dropped a 3 that ignited a 14-6 Bulldog run over the next seven minutes to take a 46-41 lead. Senior guard Raven Fox was crucial during the spurt as she drove past her defender for three layups. After Shumpert hit two free throws, Fox again blew past the defense for a layup to maintain the 'Dogs five-point lead.
But with just under six minutes to play, Brown put up a 3 that clanged up off the rim, but dropped back down and rattled in to bring the Lobos within two. Brown then came up with a steal on the ensuing possession took it the other way to tie the game. After Fresno State was unable to regain the lead, Shumpert got deep into the paint and forced up a lay-in off the glass as she was fouled. She hit the free throw to give New Mexico a 51-48 lead with 4:58.
Sheedy pulled the 'Dogs level at 52-52 with 2:30 to play as she drove into the paint and banked in a runner from the right side. Cherise Beynon went to the line on the next possession and gave the Lobos a two-point advantage. Sheedy was then sent to the line with 1:54 on the clock. The senior hit one of two and New Mexico went on to score five unanswered points within the next 50 seconds to take a 59-53 lead with 45 seconds.
The Bulldogs were able to get 3s on back-to-back possessions from Robin Draper and Alex Furr, but Brown knocked down four free throws to keep Fresno State at bay.
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