UNM women host NMSU Saturday in Nike N7 Game

New Mexico vs. New Mexico State
2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017
Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit
Ticket special: Nike N7 Game – Get a seat in the lower bowl for $5 by wearing turquoise at time of purchase

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team looks to keep its undefeated start to the season going as it welcomes in-state foe New Mexico State 2 p.m. Saturday for the Lobos’ annual Nike N7 Game at Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit.
 
UNM partnered with Nike and are wearing turquoise uniforms for Saturday’s contest to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. The turquoise color represents harmony, friendship and fellowship in the Native American culture.
 
With that in mind, UNM will be offering $5 tickets anywhere in the lower bowl for this game to anyone wearing turquoise when they purchase their ticket. There will also be a jersey auction starting when the gates open at 1 p.m. and ending at halftime on the north concourse with proceeds benefiting the NB3 Foundation and UNM American Indian Student Services.
 
Nike’s N7 Collection supports the N7 Fund which helps enable Native American and aboriginal youth to be active through the power of sport. For the past 10 years, Nike N7 has worked closely with Native American and aboriginal communities across North America to provide access to product and support for sport and physical activity programs. Since 2009, the N7 Fund has generated more than $4.6 million to support Native American and aboriginal youth programs. Learn more at N7Fund.com.
 
Along with New Mexico, 14 other men’s and women’s teams are participating in the initiative to celebrate Native American Heritage Month – including the UNM men’s basketball program which had its Nike N7 Game on Tuesday.
 The Lobos have had a noteworthy week heading into Saturday’s matchup, beating No. 16 Marquette 88-87 Monday night for its first victory over a ranked opponent since 2010 and followed it up by setting a school scoring record Wednesday in beating Northern New Mexico 107-66 Wednesday night – both games at Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit.
 

In Monday’s win the Lobos got a career night from Jaisa Nunn as the junior set a Lobo record with 39 points to go along with 13 rebounds. She went 14-for-15 from the field and 11-for-12 from the free-throw line to help her surpass Yvonne McKinnon’s UNM record of 35 points set Feb. 19, 1992. On Wednesday, the Lobos saw all 13 players play at least 10 minutes while scoring 107 points, breaking the old school record of 106 set in 1979. Freshman Madi Washington paced four UNM players in double figures with 27 points – the second-most points by a player off the bench and tied for the sixth most points by a freshman in Lobo history.

New Mexico State enters Saturday’s contest 1-1 after beating UT-Permian Basin 88-58 at home on Tuesday night – led by Gia Pack’s 18 points and seven rebounds. The Aggies opened the season with a home loss to Western Michigan 64-55 on Sunday – a team the Lobos defeated two nights before 88-76 at Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit. Brooke Salas led the Aggies with 15 points and 15 rebounds in the loss.

The Aggies under first-year coach Brooke Atkinson were selected unanimously as the WAC preseason favorites – the third year in a row they were picked to win the conference.

NMSU returns two starters and four letter winners from a 2016-17 season that saw them go 24-7 and qualify for the NCAA Tournament. The returning players include 2016-17 All-WAC first-team member Brooke Salas (also selected to preseason first team) and Zaire Williams, who was named to the WAC preseason second team.

Salas is averaging 11.0 points and 11.0 rebounds through two games this season while Williams is at 6.0 points per contest. Gia Pack leads the team at 12.5 points per game to go along with 8.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals per contest. Monique Mills is also averaging double figures at 11.0.
SERIES HISTORY
The Lobos are 48-26 all-time against New Mexico State, including 26-12 at home (22-14 in Las Cruces). UNM is 36-5 against NMSU since 1996, though the Aggies have won four of the last five meetings. The teams split last season with each team winning at home – the Lobos 84-55 in Albuquerque and the Aggies 77-70 in Las Cruces.
 
THE COACHES
The Lobos are led by head coach Mike Bradbury in his second season with UNM, his 11th season overall. Bradbury posts a career record of 196-130 and is 18-15 at the helm of the Lobos.

New Mexico State is led by first-year coach Brooke Atkinson, who is 1-1 as Aggie head coach.
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Saturday’s game will be available to watch live on the Mountain West Network. Fans can also follow live via live stats (click here) or fans can also listen in on the radio. Josh Suchon and Lobo basketball alum Nikki Lobato will be on the call on 610 AM (click here to listen).