New Mexico at New Mexico State
11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017
Pan American Center – Las Cruces, N.M.
UNM NOTES | WATCH | LISTEN | LIVE STATS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team looks to equal its best start in program history as the Lobos take on in-state foe New Mexico State 11 a.m. Saturday at the Pan American Center.
The Lobos (8-0) can match the 9-0 start of the 1996-97 squad and remain one of 20 teams still undefeated in NCAA Division I heading into Saturday.
UNM improved its record to 8-0 on Thursday night in its first road game of the season thanks to a strong defensive effort in a 59-35 victory over UTEP. The 35 points allowed is the fewest by a UNM team since holding Air Force to 33 points in the 2015-16 season. The Lobos also forced a season-high 25 turnovers against UTEP while holding the Miners to 25 percent shooting from the field, also a season best.
UNM, which didn’t allow more than nine points in a quarter over the final three quarters, were led by Tesha Buck’s 19 points as the senior – last week’s Mountain West Player of the Week – went 5-for-12 from 3-point range. The Lobos as a team, a game off hitting a program-record 18 3-pointers in a win over Illinois, went 12-for-36 on 3-pointers in the game. Cherise Beynon, despite foul trouble, also finished in double figures with 11 points, going 4-for-4 from the field and 3-for-3 on 3-pointers.
The Aggies have had a week to prepare for Saturday’s matchup as NMSU last played Saturday when it lost to Arkansas 69-60 at the UTEP Thanksgiving Classic in El Paso. NMSU also lost the opener of the event, losing to Texas Southern 66-50.
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.
Thus far in this young season, Salas is leading the team in scoring (16.3), rebounding (9.3) and blocks (1.5) while Gia Pack (14.2) and Monique Mills (10.8) are averaging double figures as well. As a team, the Aggies are averaging 65.8 points per game while allowing 67.3.
SERIES HISTORY
The Lobos 49-26 all-time against New Mexico State, including beating the Aggies 86-75 at home Nov. 18 of this year. UNM is 22-14 all-time in Las Cruces, and since 1996, the Lobos are 37-5 against the Aggies. UNM lost last season’s matchup in Las Cruces, 77-70 (UNM won at home, 84-55, last season)
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 201-132 and is 23-15 at the helm of the Lobos.
NMSU is led by first-year coach Brooke Atkinson and is 2-4.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Fans can follow the game live via live stats (click here) or fans can also listen in on the radio. Josh Suchon will be on the call on 610 AM (click here to listen).