Box Score

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Shanice Steenholdt recorded her third double-double, but it wasn't enough, as host New Mexico pulled away late en route to a 63-46 win over Houston Baptist Sunday afternoon from The Pit.

“We had another hard-fought battle against New Mexico,” said HBU head coach Mary Gleason. “We had a solid defensive first half. Second half we had some defensive breakdowns that resulted in New Mexico points. They are a well-coached team and Caroline Durbin is a phenomenal player for them. She took the game over for the Lobos. Shanice [Steenholdt] played so well in her home state. We need others to step around her and contribute.

“We played two solid halves in this two-game road trip,” continued Gleason. “Our growth will come when we can put two solid halves together in one game.  We will get there. I have absolute confidence in this hard-working team.”

For the first time competing in her home state as a Husky, Steenholdt had a huge day, recording game highs of 21 points and 16 rebounds. She shot 9-of-18 from the floor and also added two assists, two steals, and one block.

Devyn Weymouth scored nine points, hitting two 3-pointers, for HBU (1-3), while Tayler Jefferson came off the bench to score seven points.

Caroline Durbin led New Mexico (3-0) with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Bryce Owens, Sara Halasz, and Deeva Vaughn each scored 11 points. Owens also had four assists and three steals.

HBU scored the game's first basket as Steenholdt scored on a layup, following a steal by Erin McGarrachan.

After two baskets by New Mexico and one by HBU made the score 4-4, HBU used a 5-0 run to lead the Lobos 9-4 in just a span of a minute. Weymouth nailed a three-pointer and Shanice hit a jumper for the Huskies. After a basket by New Mexico made it 9-6, a steal by Steenholdt resulted in a fast-break layup to make it 11-6 Huskies.

New Mexico battled to tie the game at 12-all and later 14-all before taking its first lead of the game on a jumper by Durbin to make it 16-14 Lobos with 10 minutes left in the opening half. The Lobos had two quick layups – the second after causing a Husky turnover – which forced HBU to call a timeout down 20-14 with 8:29 left in the first half.

HBU weathered the storm and, with New Mexico up 22-15, HBU battled back. A jumper by Jefferson and a three-pointer by McGarrachan had the Huskies finding themselves down by four, 24-20, with just under five minutes remaining.

Those baskets propelled the Huskies, who closed out the first half on a 13-6 run to lead the Lobos at the break, 30-26.

Steenholdt led HBU at the half with 13 points and eight rebounds. Durbin was the leader of the Lobos, with seven points and five boards.

Steenholdt made one of two free throws to start the second half, giving HBU a 31-26 lead, but the Huskies went cold for the next nine minutes, as New Mexico used a 13-0 run to lead 39-31. The Huskies finally scored their first basket of the half on a Weymouth layup at the 10:28-mark to make the score 39-33.

A pair of Husky three pointers by Weymouth and Rachel Arthur made the deficit one, 40-39. Jourdan Erskine scored a layup on the next Lobo possession, but Steenholdt answered with a layup to make the score 42-41 New Mexico with 8:28 remaining in regulation. The Lobos called a timeout.

The timeout worked wonders for New Mexico, who outscored the Huskies 19-5 the remainder of the game to eliminate any chance of a Husky comeback.

HBU will return home for a four-game home stand, beginning Wednesday night, Nov. 21 at 7 pm, when the Huskies host St. Thomas. The fourth-annual Husky Classic will be held Fri.-Sat., Nov. 23-24.