Lobos travel to take on San Diego State on Saturday
New Mexico (16-4, 4-3) at San Diego State (8-9, 2-4)
2 p.m. (MT) Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018
Viejas Arena – San Diego, Calif.
UNM NOTES | UNM STATS | WATCH | LISTEN | LIVE STATS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team looks to bounce back from hits first home loss of the season as the Lobos hit the road to take on San Diego State 2 p.m. (MT) Saturday at Viejas Arena.
The Lobos came out hot against UNLV on Wednesday, jumping out to a 20-6 lead after Tesha Buck drained a 3-pointer with 3:36 left in the first quarter and eventually took a 40-30 lead into the second half. But the Lobos went cold in the final 20 minutes, going 6-for-27 from the field (22.2 percent) – including 3-for-18 (16.7 percent) from 3-point range – as they fell to UNLV 68-66 at Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit. The loss snapped UNM’s 13-game home winning streak.
The Lobos trailed by as much as nine points in the fourth, but sliced the lead to three when Cherise Beynon drained a 3-pointer from the wing with 2:33 left in the game. The Lady Rebels led 68-66 with 4.4 seconds left and missed two free throws to give the Lobos a chance – but UNM’s desperation heave from 35 feet was off the mark and UNLV handed UNM its first loss at home this season.
Alex Lapeyrolerie paced UNM with 19 points to go along with seven rebounds, Jaisa Nunn finished with her 10th double-double of the year with 15 points and 13 rebounds, Beynon had 12 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and four steals.
San Diego State dropped its fourth game in its last five contests in losing on the road to Fresno State, 64-53, on Wednesday. McKynzie Fort led the Aztecs with 20 points while Cheyenne Greenhouse came off the bench with 12 points. SDSU struggled from the field, going 20-for-57 (35.1 percent).
The Aztecs head into this weekend’s game in the middle of the conference in most statistical categories. SDSU is fourth in the Mountain West in scoring defense at 66.8 points per game, but still has a minus scoring margin as the Aztecs are averaging 65.5 points (sixth in the Mountain West).
San Diego State is led by the second-leading scorer in the conference in McKynzie Fort as she’s averaging 16.9 points per game (she’s averaging 18.8 points during Mountain West play). She also leads the team in rebounding (5.6 per game), steals (22) and is second on the team in assists (56). Geena Gomez is second on the team in scoring at 9.3 per game while Lexy Thorderson (8.3) and Naje Murray (8.2) are also averaging above eight points per game. Thorderson leads the team in 3-pointers (33) and 3-point percentage (40.7).
SERIES HISTORY
The Lobos are 33-27 all-time against San Diego State, including 12-13 in San Diego. The teams split last season with the Lobos winning at home, 85-42, and losing in San Diego 63-51. The Lobos have won six of their last eight games against the Aztecs since breaking a seven-game losing streak to San Diego State in 2014.
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 209-136 and is 31-19 at the helm of the Lobos.
San Diego State is coached by Stacie Terry and she’s 56-83 in her fifth season with the Aztecs (and overall 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).