Lobos Host Rice in Second Round of WNIT at Dreamstyle Arena
Time: 7 p.m.
Tickets: www.unmtickets.com
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New Mexico Game Notes | Rice Game Notes
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico’s opening round WNIT match-up with Saint Mary’s was a contrast of offensive styles, with the Gaels an inside team and UNM deadly from the outside. The Lobos took that game by two, presenting a second a second-round match-up with another contrast of styles, this offense vs. defense.
The Lobos and the Rice Owls will face each other in the final Round of 32 matchup with a date with TCU looming in the Third Round. The game will tip-off at 7 p.m. at Dreamstyle Arena. Tickets are $10, with all students with valid ID able to purchase tickets for $4. Parking around the arena is free.
The Lobos are coming off a tense 82-80 win over Saint Mary’s, a game which was in hand early, and then not-so-much in the fourth quarter. Saint Mary’s, down as much as 15 in the third quarter, came roaring back to take a one-point lead with 4:08 to go. However, when the chips were down, the Lobos answered.
Cherise Beynon hit a three and N’Dye Flye hit two more as UNM took control back with a 9-2 run, holding on for the win. Statistically, the much taller and deeper Gaels outrebounded UNM 55-30, and they outshot UNM from the field and hit more free throws. However, UNM’s defense forced 24 turnovers which turned into 30 Lobo points, and UNM drained 11 threes to just four for the Gaels.
So UNM has the offense, with the nation’s No. 16 offense, scoring 80.2 points per game. Unlike Thursday, the game vs. Rice features a team that thrives on defense, as the Owls own the nation’s 29th-best defense, allowing just 57.0 points per game. Seven times this season, Rice has allowed 45 points or fewer in a game. Contrast that to New Mexico, which has score 45 points in a half 22 times this season, and it should be an interesting clash of styles.
One thing both teams are adept at doing is hitting the longball, with UNM averaging 9.0 per game and Rice averaging 8.3 per game.
NOTES: Lobo fans can certainly witness history on Tuesday, as Tesha Buck needs 17 points to break the 500-point mark for the season. She would be the third Lobo this season, joining Cherise Beynon and Jaisia Nunn. This is the first season two Lobos have scored 500 points in the same season … UNM is 24-10, and is looking for just the fourth time in school history … the Lobos lead the all-time series 3-1, including 2-0 in Dreamstyle Arena, but the two teams haven’t played each other in over 20 years.
Rice (3-1)
H: 2-0; A: 0-1; N: 1-0
12/17/82 W 86-72 H
1/18/97 W 60-57 (OT) H
2/13/97 L 74-48 A
3/7/98 W 69-48 N