ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –New Mexico topped Hartford, 72-65, in the consolation round of the Preseason Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) Sunday afternoon. 
 
Junior Sierra DaCosta scored a team-high 22 points, as the Hawks fall to 1-3 on the season. Jaisa Nunn scored a game-high 32 points for New Mexico, as the Lobos improve to 2-1 overall.
 
NEW MEXICO 72 HARTFORD 65
With New Mexico leading by one at the end of the first quarter (18-17), the Lobos pushed their lead to four after Asia Johnson knocked down a jumper with 8:29 remaining in the half. The Hawks wasted little time closing back within one, when DaCosta found Lindsey Abed at the top of the key for the three-pointer, making the score 21-20 with 8:10 on the clock. New Mexico however used an 8-2 run to pull away from Hartford and hold a 30-22 lead with 4:19 remaining in the half. Hartford managed to get one back before the intermission, and the Lobos took a 33-26 lead into the locker room.
 
At the start of the second half, sophomore Jade Young knocked down the first jumper of the third quarter, making the score 33-28 before New Mexico went on an 8-0 run to take a 41-28 lead and force a Hartford timeout. The Lobos continued to add to their lead in the third, pushing it all the way to 20. The Hawks responded in the fourth, going on a 15-4 run late in the quarter, highlighted by eight straight points by Abed during the run, making the score 68-63 with under two minutes remaining. New Mexico however held off the Hawks the rest of the way to close out the 72-65 win.
 
NEWS AND NOTES

• DaCosta has scored in double-figures in three of her first four games, and 20 or more in the last two.
• Hartford registered a season-high four blocks.
• Sophomore Young and DaCosta combined for six steals as the Hawks forced 21 turnovers by the Lobos.
• New Mexico finished with 20 assists and outscored Hartford's bench 27-11.

 
NEXT ON TAP
Hartford returns home to take on Harvard on Wednesday. Opening tip is 12 p.m.