ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico used a late second quarter surge to lead by 15 at the half and didn't let Fairleigh Dickson get back in the game in the second half to win 83-56.

"Our effort was very good today," said head coach Peter Cinella. "I was so impressed with Natalie getting 18 against a very good team. We kept our turnovers down, but we just missed some open shots. We have to a better job of defending the three-point line."
 
Natalie Zamora (Albuquerque, N.M./St. Pius X) had a career high 18 points on 5-of-9 from three to lead the offense for the Knights. Zamora was playing in front of about 50 family and friends. Zamora added three steals and two assists to her 18 points.

"We had some open looks and we probably took too many contested two-point shots today," Cinella added.

Kiana Brown (Richmond, Va./Hermitage) had 17 points -- career-high, five rebounds and four assists also for Fairleigh Dickinson (0-1). Brown and Zamora were the only two Knights to make more than three field goals on the afternoon. The Knights shot 28.6-percent for the game and 26.7-percent from three-point range.
 
The Knights it as close as four in the second quarter when Jenna Clark (Pembroke, Mass./Exeter Phillips Academy (N.H.)) and Zamora hit back-to-back three-pointers with six minutes to play in the opening half.
 
New Mexico (1-0) outscored the Knights 24-13 over the final six minutes to take a 15-point lead into the locker room (48-33).
 
Fairleigh Dickinson battled back to within 11 in the third quarter at 55-44 on a pair of free throws from Courtney Blankenship (Sachse, Texas/Sachse). New Mexico outscored the Knights 9-1 over the last 4:09 to take a 64-45 lead into the final quarter.  
 
The Lobos held the Knights to 11 points in the final quarter to get the 27-point win in both team's season openers.

Alex Lapeyrolerie led the way for the Lobos with 21 points off the bench –18 coming on threes. Richelle van der Kejil had New Mexico with 20 points on 10-of-14 shooting. Three other Lobos were also in double figures.  
 
Up next for Fairleigh Dickinson is the home opener against Longwood on Friday, November 18 at 7 pm in the Rothman Center. The can be seen live on NECFrontRow.com