UNM Notes | FDU Notes | Live Audio | Live Stats
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team will tip off the 2016-17 season Saturday against the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights at 2 p.m. in WisePies Arena – The Pit.
The Lobos will kick off the season with UNM’s “RED vs GREEN Decision Day.” Fans wearing either red or green can purchase tickets for just $4 into Saturday’s season opener. Fans can purchase tickets online in advance by clicking HERE, or at the gate on Saturday.
The Lobos enter Saturday’s matchup coming off of two straight exhibition victories under first-year head coach Mike Bradbury, including a 101-point showing against Fort Lewis (101-48). In UNM regular-season history, the Lobos have only scored more than 100 points eight times.
In UNM’s first exhibition match, junior Cherise Beynon paced the Lobos with 20 points shooting 7-of-11 fom the field and 2-of-3 from behind the arc. Mountain West Preseason Freshman Of the Year Mykiel Burleson burst on the collegiate scene with 14 points in 25 minutes in the match. In their second exhibition outing against Eastern New Mexico, the Lobos once again came out strong, this time with Burleson leading the pack with a game-high 19 points, hitting 7-of-14 from the field.
Several Lobos notched double-doubles in preseason competition including Beynon, senior Richelle van der Keijl and sophomore Jaisa Nunn.
The Knights were picked to finish ninth in the 2016 Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll for the second time in three seasons. FDU enters Saturday’s game coming off of its only exhibition match, a 64-51 win over Seton Hill. The Knights were led by freshman Lauren Francillon with a double-double in her first career outing while senior Brianna Thomas tallied 14 points en route to their victory.
The Coaches:
The Lobos are led by head coach Mike Bradbury in his first season with the Lobos, his 10th season overall. Bradbury enters this season with a career record of 178-117. Assisting Bradbury will be Valerie King in her first season at UNM, Aarika Hughes in her first season and Erin Grant, who is returning to the Lobos for her second season.
The Knights are led by Peter Cinella in his 10th season. He has amassed a 95-175 record in his career at FDU and is coming off of an 11-21 season in 2015-16.
Series History:
Saturday’s meeting will be the first between the Lobos and the Knights in the history of the two programs.
Broadcast Information:
Saturday’s exhibition game will be streamed live on The Mountain West Network. Click HERE to watch live. Fans not near the computer can also listen in on the radio. Josh Suchon will give the play-by-play action alongside Nikki Lobato on 610 AM. Listen here.