BYU Drops Conference Game To New Mexico

Turnovers and missed shots down the stretch were keys in BYU's women's basketball team's 59-65 loss to New Mexico, Saturday.

The Cougars were playing before a record 18,018 fans, the second largest attendance in the nation for a women's basketball game this season. With the loss, BYU is now in fourth place in the MWC standings with a 14-6, 4-3 record.

Senior center Jill Adams four three-pointers in the first half got the Cougars off to an impressive 12-2 lead. BYU took advantage of their hot outside shooting to take a 33-20 half time lead keeping the sold out Pit arena crowd quiet.

"Our kids battled hard throughout the entire game and I'm proud of the way we played," said head coach Trent Shippen. "Both teams mirrored each other in each half. Ours was better the first half and New Mexico had a better second half."

BYU's Jill Adams finished the night with 18 points followed by Erin Thorn's 15. Jennifer Lietner's 12 rebounds and eight points, six of which came at the free-throw line kept the Cougars alive in the final minutes of the game. BYU shot 36 percent from the field and 62 percent at the line. They were able to outrebound the Lobos 42 to 38, but had 19 turnovers to New Mexico's 12.

The Lobos' Jordan Adams, a freshman who was recruited by BYU, led all scores with 25 points and nine rebounds. New Mexico shot 34 percent from the field and 81 percent at the line. New Mexico is now in second place in the conference standings with a 14-6, 5-2 record.

Mountain West Conference action continues for the Cougars as they host UNLV and San Diego State on Feb. 10 at 12.