Boise State women’s basketball secured a narrow 62-61 victory over New Mexico in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Women’s Basketball Championship on Sunday in Las Vegas. With this win, head coach Gordy Presnell became the all-time leader in Mountain West tournament victories, earning his 23rd career win and surpassing former New Mexico coach Don Flanagan.
The Broncos improved their season record to 25-8 and advanced to the tournament semifinals for the ninth time in program history. New Mexico concluded its season with a 22-10 record.
The game began with Boise State taking an early lead after Dani Bayes and Natalie Pasco each made three-pointers. Both teams experienced scoring droughts in the first quarter, but Boise State ended it ahead 16-12. In the second quarter, Libby Hutton’s buzzer-beater started a 7-0 run for Boise State, who maintained their lead into halftime at 35-26.
New Mexico closed the gap in the third quarter with contributions from Jessie Joaquim and Cacia Antonio, but Mason Borcherding helped keep Boise State ahead. The fourth quarter saw several lead changes as both teams traded baskets. With six seconds left, Tatum Thompson hit a jumper that gave Boise State a one-point lead, securing the win.
Dani Bayes led Boise State with 15 points, four assists, and three blocks. Tatum Thompson added 13 points and eight rebounds, while Natalie Pasco contributed 11 points.
Boise State achieved several milestones during this game. The team remained undefeated this season when leading by at least three points entering the fourth quarter (21-0) and also stayed unbeaten when holding a four-plus point advantage after the first quarter (11-0). The Broncos shot a season-high field goal percentage of 75% in the fourth quarter and earned their fifth win of the year despite being outrebounded by their opponent.
Bayes, Pasco, and Thompson scored double figures together for an eleventh time this season—the most by any trio in Mountain West play this year and since Boise State’s 1999–2000 season. Bayes also set a personal best with three blocks, while Borcherding recorded career highs with eight points, eight rebounds, and four field goals.
Assistant coach Mike Petrino commented on Presnell’s achievement: “I’m so happy for our seniors and Coach Presnell,” Petrino said. “The resiliency and toughness of our players to have a great start, get a lead, lose the lead and bounce back was just amazing. Coach Presnell has a great message pregame. He said that we are going to stand up in hard moments. And we stood up.”
Boise State will face Air Force next in Monday’s semifinal round of the tournament.
