ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (March 7, 2019) – The Cowgirls (20-7, 13-5 MW) wrapped up the regular season with a grinding, 57-50, loss against the Lobos (24-5, 14-4 MW) on New Mexico's "Senior Night." With the result, the Cowgirls will enter the Mountain West Tournament as the No. 3 seed, starting play on Monday after a first round bye.
 
"You have to give New Mexico credit, defensively, tonight," said head coach Joe Legerski. "It was a struggle for anybody to get open looks, then we had them and we were rushing some things. When I look back at this, there were some missed opportunities, but I liked the way we defended and gave ourselves a chance. When you take a look at each quarter, it's either a pusher or we're down a point or two, and when you add it all up, it's a 57-50 loss."
 
The Cowgirls were led offensively by senior Sladjana Rakovic and junior Taylor Rusk, who each scored 10 points. Rusk added a team-high three points, while Rakovic had her first-career double-double with a career-high 14 rebounds.
 
Senior Bailee Cotton scored eight points with nine rebounds, while Freshman Karla Erjavec scored six points.
 
The Cowgirls shot a season-low 31.7 percent (20-of-63) from the field, a season-low 10.5 percent (2-of-19) from the field and 66.7 percent (8-of-12) from the free throw line. Wyoming had 8 assists and 12 turnovers.
 
The Lobos were led by Jaisa Nunn's 26 points and 13 rebounds, while Antonia Anderson scored eight with four rebounds.
 
New Mexico shot 46.0 percent (23-of-50) from the field, 21.4 percent (3-of-14) from three and 50.0 percent (8-of-16) from the free throw line. The Lobos had 14 assists and 13 turnovers on the night.
 
The Lobos got on the board first to start the game with a free throw, but a Tapia three gave the Cowgirls a 3-1 lead early. The Cowgirls took an 8-4 lead after a Rusk three, but a quick 4-0 run for the Lobos tied it up. Rusk converted an old-fashioned three point play, but New Mexico took a 14-13 lead after a layup. Freshman Tereza Vitulova added a pair of free throws, but a Lobo three on the last possession gave the home team the 17-15 lead after the first quarter.
 
Rakovic scored a layup to start the second frame, but New Mexico answered right back with a Nunn layup. Tapia added a free throw before Nunn scored another layup, and the Lobos held a 21-18 lead at the 3:49 media timeout. Vitulova ended a long Cowgirl scoring drought to cut the Lobo lead to 25-20 at the end of the second quarter.
 
Gomez opened the second half's scoring with a layup off a nice feed from Erjavec, however, the Lobos scored four straight to respond. The Cowgirls scored four of their own in a row, and the teams traded baskets until the Lobos lead 33-28 with 4:57 to play in the third quarter. Cotton ended a 6-2 Lobo run with a layup, but New Mexico responded to preserve their lead, 41-32, at the 1:04 mark of the third quarter. The Cowgirls scored six of the next eight points – four from Erjavec – and the Lobos held a 43-38 lead at the end of three.
 
Freshman Quinn Weidemann scored the first points of the fourth quarter at the free throw line, and the Cowgirls trimmed to a single-possession game, 43-40. However, the Lobos scored five straight to push the lead to 48-40 and force a Cowgirl timeout with 5:41 to play. Rusk scored in the paint out of the timeout, but the Lobos converted a layup of their own. Rakovic scored a pair of quick layups to force a Lobo timeout, as New Mexico led 52-46 at the 2:40 mark.
 
Rakovic scored again to cut it to four, but Nunn stepped out for three to extend the lead to 55-48 with 1:28 to play. Again, Rakovic, scored a driving layup, and the Cowgirls started the foul game with 29.2 to play. The Lobos made their shots and earned the 57-50  victory.
 
The Cowgirls will return to the hardwood at the 2019 Mountain West Championships, held Sunday through Wednesday, March 10-13, in Las Vegas, Nev. The Cowgirl will have a bye on Sunday and will await their quarterfinal foe following Sunday's first-round games.