LAS -- The Cougars could not overcome a late UNM run to lose 46-52 in the MWC Tournament Championship.
Head Coach Jeff Judkins said the game came down to which team could make the plays at the end. "My team showed a lot character, battled to the end in a hard fought game, and I'm proud of them," he said.
The defending tournament champions fell behind 43-48 with a minute in the game after New Mexico took advantage of BYU turnovers to go on an 8-0 run. The Cougars made a few last minute shots, but could not make up the difference.
Although All-American Erin Thorn was held scoreless in the second half, she added to her MWC tourney record for points by scoring a team-high 12 points in the game, ending with 76 tournament points. Thorn and Danielle Cheesman, who scored 10 points, were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Poor shooting kept the game close and the score low. A five-minute span passed in which neither team scored in the first half. New Mexico's Melissa Forest scored two of her six points in the game on a lay-up to end the game's drought at 8:30 left in the first half with BYU up 9-8.
Thorn ended BYU's five-minute drought with a three-pointer, she's made a three-pointer in a school record 41 consecutive games. While neither team could make a shot, Jen Overdiek took advantage of the situation by pulling down eight rebounds. Overdiek ended with a career-high 12 boards.
The two teams warmed-up and settled their nerves with five minutes to go in the half and began to match each other shot for shot. Thorn made a jumper at the half to put the Cougars up 24-22 going into the locker room. BYU shot 10-29 (35 percent) from the field in the first half and New Mexico shot 9-33 (27 percent).
BYU ended the game shooting 19-53 (36 percent) and New Mexico was 16-50 (32 percent). The Lobos out scored the Cougars at the free throw line, making 14 of 20, while BYU only went to the line eight times making four. The Cougars turned the ball over 15 times compared to New Mexico's 12.
Jordan Adams, named tournament MVP, scored a game-high 17 points for the Lobos and grabbed eight rebounds.
The Cougars await the decision of the NCAA selection committee in order to find out if they will get a bid into the NCAA Tournament and a chance to return to the Sweet 16. The field of 64 will be named at 3 p.m., MST on ESPN 2.
"We know our season is not over yet, and we're looking to the postseason," Judkins said.
Official Basketball Box ScoreBYU vs New Mexico
03/15/03 3:30 PM at Las Vegas, Nevada
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VISITORS: BYU 19-11, 8-6
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
32 KOZLOWSKI, Kristen.. f 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 7
51 CHEESMAN, Danielle.. f 5-14 0-3 0-2 2 2 4 4 10 2 2 0 1 34
04 NELSON, Kestlee..... g 1-5 0-3 1-1 2 0 2 1 3 3 2 0 1 35
11 THORN, Erin......... g 5-18 2-10 0-0 0 7 7 2 12 4 6 0 2 32
15 OVERDIEK, Jen....... g 1-2 0-0 1-1 1 11 12 3 3 1 0 1 1 32
01 SELJAAS, Nancy...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
05 LEWIS, Amy.......... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+
10 MILLER, Marianne.... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+
20 LARSON, Brittany.... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 7
25 TAYLOR, Kali........ 1-2 1-2 1-2 0 0 0 1 4 2 0 0 0 13
30 BROWN, Melissa...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+
33 ANDERSON, Ambrosia.. 3-6 1-1 0-0 1 3 4 0 7 0 1 0 0 9
40 CHAMBERLAIN, A...... 3-5 0-0 0-0 2 2 4 4 6 0 2 0 1 20
45 HANSEN, Lisa........ 0-0 0-0 1-2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 6
TEAM................ 3 3 1
Totals.............. 19-53 4-19 4-8 8 30 38 17 46 12 15 2 6 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-29 34.5% 2nd Half: 9-24 37.5% Game: 35.8% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-9 33.3% 2nd Half: 1-10 10.0% Game: 21.1% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 1-3 33.3% 2nd Half: 3-5 60.0% Game: 50.0% 1
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HOME TEAM: New Mexico 22-8, 9-5
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
30 GREAR, Chelsea...... f 2-7 0-2 3-4 2 7 9 0 7 0 1 0 1 30
42 ARNDT, Lindsey...... f 1-2 1-2 0-0 1 2 3 0 3 1 1 0 0 18
40 ADAMS, Jordan....... c 7-17 0-3 3-4 2 6 8 2 17 2 6 0 0 31
21 MOORE, Mandi........ g 1-6 1-3 2-4 0 4 4 1 5 6 1 0 3 40
31 GARCIA, Cristal..... g 0-4 0-3 1-2 1 3 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 34
05 LEITZ, Abbie........ 2-3 2-3 2-2 1 2 3 1 8 0 0 0 0 12
32 SCAGLIONE, Tiffany.. 1-3 1-2 2-2 0 1 1 2 5 0 1 0 0 16
33 FOREST, Melissa..... 2-8 1-5 1-2 1 1 2 1 6 0 0 1 1 13
44 ADAMS, Daja......... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
50 MCLEOD, Lauren...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
TEAM................ 1 3 4 2
Totals.............. 16-50 6-23 14-20 9 29 38 8 52 9 12 1 5 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 9-33 27.3% 2nd Half: 7-17 41.2% Game: 32.0% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 4-15 26.7% 2nd Half: 2-8 25.0% Game: 26.1% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 0-0 0.0% 2nd Half: 14-20 70.0% Game: 70.0% 1
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Officials: Jack Jones, Connie Pardue, Clarke Stevens
Technical fouls: BYU-None. New Mexico-None.
Attendance:
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
BYU........................... 24 22 - 46
New Mexico.................... 22 30 - 52
Women's Championship Game for the Mountain West Conference
