Lobos return home to take on Fresno State

New Mexico (15-3, 3-2) vs. Fresno State (8-8, 3-2)
2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018
Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —  The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team looks to get back on track as the Lobos take on Fresno State 2 p.m. Saturday at Dreamstyle Arena.

The Lobos (15-3 overall, 3-2 MW) have dropped two games in a row, including falling at Wyoming 66-55 on Wednesday. The iron was unkind from long range for the Lobos as they went 3-for-16 from 3-point distance – including several that rimmed in and out in the fourth quarter. UNM finished the game shooting 35.4 percent from the field (23-for-65) compared to 43.6 percent (24-for-55) for Wyoming. The Cowgirls shot 7-for-20 (35 percent) from 3-point range.
 

Lobo fans: We have a key Mountain West game 2 p.m. Saturday versus Fresno State at Dreamstyle Arena – let’s get loud!!! Get your tickets at: https://t.co/WOqJxZoZST#GoLobos pic.twitter.com/4RtkWl7EY8

— Lobo Women’s Basketball (@UNMLoboWBB) January 11, 2018

UNM got a strong effort from Cherise Beynon as the senior finished with a game-high 28 points, going 11-for-20 from the field and hitting two of the Lobos’ three 3-pointers in the contest. The only other UNM player in double figures was freshman N’Dea Flye with 10 points while freshman Madi Washington came off the bench for nine.

Fresno State had its three-game win streak snapped Wednesday as the Bulldogs lost on the road at Boise State, 75-66. Fresno State led Boise State 21-17 after the first quarter and 45-40 at the half before being outscored 35-21 in the second half.

The Bulldogs shot 26.9 percent from the field in the second half (7-for-26), including 2-for-10 from 3-point range after shooting 48.4 percent (15-for-31), including 8-for-16 on 3-pointers, in the first half.

Candice White paced Fresno State with 30 points as she went 10-for-16 from the field and 5-for-8 from 3-point range.

Fresno State ranks in the middle of the conference in both scoring (64.8 – seventh) and points allowed (68.1 – fifth). The two statistical categories the Bulldogs rank near the top of the conference in is 3-point percentage (36.0 – second, behind UNM’s 36.9) and free-throw percentage (73.9 – second behind Wyoming’s 76.9).

Candice White leads the Bulldogs and the conference in scoring at 18.4 points per game. She’s also an eye-popping 70-for-72 from the free-throw line (97.2 percent) and has hit a team-high 36 3-pointers on 97 attempts (37.1 percent). White also leads the team in rebounding (6.0 per game), assists (44) and steals (23). Maddi Utti (8.9) and Aly Gamez (8.6) are also averaging above 8.0 points per contest for the Bulldogs this season.

SERIES HISTORY
The Lobos are 11-10 all-time against Fresno State, including 7-3 in Albuquerque. The Lobos won both meetings last season, beating the Bulldogs 80-54 in Fresno on Dec. 29, 2016, and 66-57 in Albuquerque on Feb. 18, 2017.
 
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 208-135 and is 30-18 at the helm of the Lobos.

Fresno State is coached by Jaime White and she’s 71-45 in her fourth season with the Bulldogs and is 188-173 in her 12th season as a collegiate 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).