Written by: NMSU Athletic Dept.
RENO, NV - Senior forward Sherell Neal had a game-high 21 points to lead the New Mexico State women's basketball team who lost at Nevada in overtime, 83-76, Saturday evening at the Lawlor Events Center.
Nevada shot 44 free throws in the game and made 35 of them to help them overcome a 14-point first half deficit. The Aggies fall to 14-5 on the year and 4-2 in the WAC while the Wolf Pack jump up to 14-5 and 5-1 in conference play.
"Our kids did a very good job today and we came in here and competed hard," Spence said. "I'm hurting for our kids right now, but I'm very proud of them. We got beat by a good team in their building in overtime and we'll move forward now."
The Wolf Pack's Mikail Prince led Nevada with 20 points, 16 of which came at the free-throw line. Dellena Criner came into the game as the WAC's leading scorer, but junior guard Tyshae Walton and a host of other Aggies held her to 14 points; all of which came in the second half.
Neal was 10-for-15 from the field Saturday and had nine rebounds, three assists and two steals. Senior forward Anikia Jawara had all six points for the Aggies in overtime and she finished with 13 points and nine rebounds.
The Aggies shot 44.3 percent, but had 24 turnovers that led to 21 Wolf Pack points. Nevada shot 35.5 percent in the game, but the deciding factor was UNR's free throws.
New Mexico State had a huge first half scoring 43 points, which was the most they've scored in the opening period of a game this season. The Aggies made nine of their first 12 shots, made 16-of-19 free throws and out-rebounded Nevada by 17 to take a seven-point lead into the locker room.
Prince scored 14 points in the second half; 12 at the free-throw line to help give the Wolf Pack a one-point lead with 1:12 to go. Freshman guard Madison Spence hit a 3-pointer from the baseline, but with 6.8 seconds Nevada's Johnna Ward got a layup to send the game into overtime.
The Wolf Pack shot 20 free throws in the second half and made 16 of them.
In overtime Nevada pulled away in the final seconds thanks to an intentional foul that led to four straight free throws, sealing the win.
Neal single handily got the Aggies started right off the opening tip, as she scored seven unanswered points in the first two and a half minutes of the game.
Two straight buckets from Jawara in the post put the Aggies up by 10 and then after a bucket from Nevada's Ward, sophomore guard Hannah Spanich drove down the left side of the lane for a layup while being fouled. She made the free throw to give the Aggies a 18-7 lead six minutes in.
Jawara's layup on a nice find from senior guard Irma Kmitaite-Smith put NMSU up 24-10, but Nevada finally got going offensively and came right back with a 9-2 run to pull within seven at 9:42.
NMSU got the lead back up to 11 after two free throws from senior guard Monique Bribiescas, but the Wolf Pack got two baskets in 10 seconds thanks to a steal from Brandi Fitzgerald on UNR's full court pressure defense.
The Aggies made six free throws in the final four minutes of the half to take a 43-36 lead into the locker room.
Nevada came out of the second half and got within two points after Criner's 3-pointer at 16:55; her first bucket of the game. Consecutive jumpers from Walton and Neal put the Aggies up by six with 14:02 to play.
After Nevada's run to open the second half the Aggies came back and started out-working the Wolf Pack and were getting all the loose balls. Then a quick 6-0 run increased the Aggies lead to nine at 11:27.
Criner helped the Wolf Pack get the lead down to four at 7:44 with a 3-pointer and two free-throws. Cherlanda Franklin's bucket at 5:55 cut the Aggies lead down to two and got the crowd into the game. Neal answered right back with a huge bucket driving down the right side of the lane.
Price tied the game at 64 and then Bre'Anna Henry gave the Wolf Pack their first lead at 4:02 with a single free throw.
The Aggies bench was called for a technical foul at 3:41 and Price made 1-of-2 free throws to put UNR up 66-64. However, Nevada could not score when they retained possession as Kmitaite-Smith drew a charge.
Jawara's free throw at 2:55 ended a two and a half minute scoreless stretch for the Aggies and got them within one. Criner then missed a 30-foot 3-pointer as the shot clock was expiring and Neal got a layup on the other end to put NMSU back on top by one.
Nevada recaptured a one-point lead, but Spence hit a 3-pointer on the baseline giving the Aggies a 70-68 lead with 53 seconds to go. Criner was then called for a charge on Nevada ensuing possession.
The Wolf Pack ended up getting the ball back and drove down the court to call a timeout with 10.7 seconds left. Ward got the ball on the inbounds from the sideline and she drove in the lane for the layup to send the game into overtime.
Jawara scored the first four points for the Aggies in overtime, but with 1:20 to go NMSU was down 76-74. Out of a timeout NMSU came right down and got Jawara another bucket posting up Marianne Lombardi.
Lombardi made 1-of-2 free throws on the other end to give UNR a one-point lead and then the Aggies came up empty on their ensuing possession.
Nevada threw the ball down the court to an open Criner and the Aggies were called for an intentional foul. The Wolf Pack then put the game away by making their free throws.
New Mexico State now returns home for games against Hawai'i (Jan. 31) and San Jose State (Feb. 2) at the Pan American Center. Both games tip-off at 7:00 p.m. and the Aggies' game against the Wahine is set to be televised on Aggie Vision.
