RENO, Nev. – Concluding a two-game Mountain West series against New Mexico, the Nevada women's basketball team suffered a 78-67 loss Saturday afternoon.
 
Turnovers proved costly for the Wolf Pack (4-3, 0-2 MW), which committed 19 in the game, compared to just eight for the Lobos (5-0, 2-0 MW). New Mexico then turned 19 of those turnovers into 17 of its 78 points. Nevada held the Lobos in check from the 3-point line, however, holding New Mexico to just 21.1 percent, a vast improvement from nearly 50 percent from beyond the arc in Thursday's game. It wasn't until the second half that the Lobos began heating up from long range as they were 0-for-10 through the first two quarters.
 
Nevada played right with New Mexico for three quarters, before the Lobos began putting some distance between them in the fourth. Opposite from Thursday's contest against New Mexico where the Lobos led by more than 20 points at halftime, Nevada took a 34-33 lead into the break. The Wolf Pack posted its best offensive period of the game in the third, connecting on 55.6 percent of its shots, but the Lobos forced Nevada into five turnovers and hit three triples in the quarter to take a three-point lead into the final quarter.
 
Even though the final score showed an 11-point victory for New Mexico, the fourth quarter remained close for most of the 10-minute span. Nevada did not trail by more than eight points until the 4:06 mark of the fourth when a layup by UNM's LaTora Duff gave the Lobos their first double-digit lead of the game. A second chance layup from sophomore Leta Otuafi with 47 seconds on the clock brought Nevada within seven, but a steal by the Lobos on the ensuing Wolf Pack possession added two more points for New Mexico, all but sealing the victory.
 
Senior LaPraisjah Johnson led the Wolf Pack with a career-high 17 points, including a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line, and added seven rebounds, which also led the team. Otuafi also produced a career-high with 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field. Senior Nia Alexander and sophomore Bethany Carstens each added 10 points, a season-high for Carstens.
 
Nevada will remain at home next week for a two-game Mountain West series against San Diego State. The first game will be played Thursday, Jan. 7 at 6 p.m. and will conclude Saturday, Jan. 9 at 1 p.m.