The latest failed attempt was especially tough, losing to the Nevada Wolf Pack in overtime. It was a game the Broncos had every opportunity to win, missing free throws in regulation and overtime that might have sealed the deal for Boise State (17-9, 8-5).
This despite an outstanding game from Elodie Lalotte, who scored a season-high 19 points.
Guards Mary Kay Naro and Mya Hansen were injured late in the game. It appeared Naro rolled her ankle and Hansen left the game in overtime with what might have been a head injury. Naro did return to the game but it will be interesting to see if both are available for this week's games.
The two have combined for 197 assists, just over 50 percent of the team's total. Naro has 32 assists over the last five games and continues to move up the Broncos all-time list.
Natalie Pasco remains Boise State's leading scorer at 14.2 points per game. Pasco has upped that to 15.8 in the last four games, though she is only 8-28 from three-point range, including a 1-8 performance in Reno. And Abby Muse is the rebounding leader, averaging nine per contest. Muse has 21 rebounds in the last two games. More offense from her could be useful, where Muse is only 3-12 from the field in the same span.
Boise State dropped into a tie for fourth place with Nevada, who swept the season series. The Broncos, however, remain only one game behind the New Mexico Lobos and Wyoming Cowgirls. UNLV sits safely in first place with a conference record of 12-1.
Two home games this week, where the Broncos are 11-2 this season, give Boise State a chance to not only maintain their conference position but climb to second place if they take care of business. Wyoming has home games with UNLV and New Mexico and Nevada hosts UNLV on 2/24. The Broncos can get things started right when they play host to New Mexico (2/21 at 6:30 p.m. MT).
Boise State Broncos vs New Mexico Lobos
Naro missed the first game against New Mexico, a 64-56 Boise State victory. The Broncos found their stroke in that victory, knocking down 11 three-pointers. Dani Bayes had 21 points that game and Hansen had 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists.
Hansen has been efficient in the last three games, averaging 11.3 points.
Pasco struggled in the first meeting with the Lobos, scoring only five points while shooting 1-11.
New Mexico (18-8, 9-4) is 2-2 in their last four games. The Lobos four conference losses are by an average of 6.7 points.
In the first meeting between the teams, the Lobos shot only 35.1 percent from the field and committed 13 turnovers. The Broncos, at full strength, hold an edge in bench play, where 10-11 players contribute efficiently for Boise State. New Mexico isn't as deep and bench players scored 0 points in the last meeting.
Nyah Wilson is the top scorer for New Mexico, scoring 14.8 points per game. Wilson has six conference games in which she scored 20+ points and was held to 11 by Boise State.
Aniyah Augmon had 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in that first matchup. On the season, Augmon averages 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists and recently had 22 points and 16 rebounds in a victory over Colorado State.
Paula Reus and Viane Cumber also scored in double digits in the first meeting but were a combined 7-25 from the field.
Charlotte Kohl had nine points and 10 rebounds vs the Broncos and averages 6.7 and 7, respectively.
This game will come down to Boise State's defensive effort and keeping New Mexico's guards at bay. Advantage inside and the bench goes to the Broncos and I expect a big game from Lalotte, Muse, and Trista Hull.
Boise State vs Fresno State
The Fresno State Bulldogs (13-14, 6-8) boast a deeper bench than New Mexico, with the unit scoring 23 points in their first meeting with Boise State. The Broncos overcame 21 turnovers in that game to defeat the Bulldogs 60-50.
Sophomore Tatum Thompson scored 21 points and had 7 rebounds in the victory. Pasco scored 14 and Muse had five blocked shots.
Fresno State had 14 turnovers of their own and shot 33.3 percent (5-25 on three-point attempts).
Mia Jacobs was the only Bulldog to score in double digits in the first meeting and the only one who does so on the season. Jacobs had 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists against Boise State. She averages 14.2 points and 7 rebounds per game.
The rest of the team is balanced, with six players who average at least five points per game. Kylee Fox and Taija Sta. Maria each average 8.1 points per game. Fox shoots 38.6 percent from deep and Sta. Maria averages four assists.
Fox scored eight points (3-10 from the field) in the first game against the Broncos, while Sta. Maria was 0-2 with four turnovers and three assists.
Senior Deajanae Harvey is the top player off the bench. Harvey scored a career-high 21 points off the bench last Saturday in a victory over San Jose State.
Fresno State is 2-2 in their last four games and are 3-6 in their last nine.
Discouraging as the loss to Nevada was, Boise State is in prime position to earn a first-round bye in the Mountain West tournament. Taking care of business at home is a must. Do that this week and the Broncos will be one step closer to guaranteeing exactly that.
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photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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