Lobos Place Two on All-Conference Team
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos placed two on the Mountain West All-Conference Team with LaTascya Duff earning all-conference and Shaiquel McGruder earning honorable mention, as announced by the conference on Sunday.
The selection marks the second time that Duff has been named all-conference, with the other time being her junior season. For McGruder, while it is the first time being an honorable mention, the Lobo forward was named to the all-conference team and all-defensive team last season and to the all-defensive team as a junior.
Duff and McGruder were the top-two scorers for the Lobos in Mountain West play with 13.5 and 12.4 points per game, respectively. In addition, Duff led the conference in three-pointers (51), three-pointers per game (2.8) and three-point percentage (45.5%). Duff finished in double figures in 12 conference games, including three games of 20-plus points and a game with 30. Her 30 points at Utah State were the second-highest point total by a MW player this season.
She made a three-pointer in every game but two with 10 games with multiple three-pointers, six games with four of more three-pointers and two games with eight three-pointers. Her two games of eight three-pointers were the highest recorded by a MW player this season. At the end of the conference season, Duff made 11 more three-pointers than the next conference player.
Beyond her ability to shoot from behind the arc, Duff also led the Mountain West in free-throw percentage, shooting .939 from the line, going 46-49. She has missed one free throw in the last eight games and two in the last 10, which included a perfect 8-8 in consecutive games. Duff was also a facilitator this season, averaging 2.5 assists per game, which included three assists in seven of the last eight games and four in the last game at Fresno State.
The Lobo finished sixth in the conference in scoring and 11th in assists per game.
For McGruder, the Lobo finished in double figures in 10 conference games which included four games with 20-plus points and three double-doubles. Of the games with 20-plus points, two were games where she finished with 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds. McGruder finished third in field-goal percentage, shooting 48.7%, sixth in rebounds per game (6.8), 10th in scoring, tied for 13th in steals per game (1.4) and fourth in blocks per game (1.4).
McGruder was an all-around playmaker on the floor, finishing with at least one block and one steal in nine conference games with five games with multiple blocks and multiple steals. The Ohio native recorded at least one block in 10 games with seven games with multiple blocks and five games with three or more blocks. She recorded at least one steal in 13 MW games with multiple steals in seven games and four games with three or more steals.