Colossal Collapse Dooms Lady Broncos

The WAC tournament came to a shocking end for the Boise State women's basketball team yesterday afternoon in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Playing before a friendly hometown crowd for the second year in a row, New Mexico State once again advanced to the WAC Championship, coming from 19 points down to demoralize Boise State 72-66.

The Boise State Lady Broncos got tantalizingly close to their second straight Western Athletic Conference championship game.  The Broncos watched as a seemingly insurmountable 19 point second half lead not only evaporated but resulted in a stunning 72-66 loss to the hometown New Mexico State Aggies yesterday afternoon in Las Cruces.

Boise State hit 47 percent of their shots in staking a 44-30 lead at halftime as Jackie Lee scored all of her 11 points and Jenna Galassi added 10.  Coach Gordy Presnell’s team extended the lead to 19 at 51-32 with 16:23 remaining in the game.  Then, one of the most amazing comebacks in WAC tournament history took place.

The homestanding Aggies utilized a 14-5 advantage in fouls (outscoring Boise State by 10 points from the line) to pummel the WAC Champion Broncos 40-15 down the stretch to win it.  With just ten minutes remaining, New Mexico State had cut the Bronco lead to 16.  Then, a basket for the Lady Aggies.  And another.  And another.  Although Boise State had three of the league’s top 17 scorers as well as sophomore sensation Ja’Lara Walker, they had no answer, either offensively or defensively.  Five minutes later it was New Mexico State 59, Boise State 58 as the Aggies went on a 15-0 run to catch and pass the bewildered Broncos.

The chilling turn of events ended one of the nation’s longest winning streaks at 15 as Boise State must now wait and see if they get an invitation to dance at either the NCAA, where they were a year ago, or the WNIT. 

Jenna Galassi led Boise State with 18 points while senior Tasha Harris had 12 points and seven rebounds and Lee finished with 11 points and five rebounds.

New Mexico State was led by Hannah Spanich with 18 points and six rebounds, while Anikia Jawara added 15 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Sherell Neal with 10 points and nine rebounds.

Boise State lost for just the seventh time compared to 23 victories.  New Mexico State improves to 23-8 and advances to the WAC Championship against Fresno State this afternoon.