UNM Notes | SDSU Notes | Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Following an outstanding 80-54 conference-opening victory over Fresno State on Thursday, The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team (5-6, 1-0 MW) is set to resume Mountain West action against San Diego State (5-6, 0-0 MW) in a New Year’s Eve tilt at WisePies Arena – The Pit on Saturday evening at 7 p.m.
The Lobos enter the match 3-2 in their last five games while the Aztecs are coming off of a three win streak including a 63-48 win over Biola. Saturday night’s contest will mark SDSU’s Mountain West opener as the squad was chosen to finish seventh in the league in the 2016-17 Preseason Coaches Poll, just one spot below the Lobos.
The Lobos are led by senior Richelle van der Keijl who averages 15.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, followed by Preseason All-Mountain West Team honoree Cherise Beynon who posts 14.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game. In the Lobos’ last game at Fresno State on Thursday, Beynon collected her fourth game scoring 20 points or more and just missed her fourth double-double of the season with 20 points and nine rebounds. In addition to van der Keijl and Beynon, redshirt-junior Alex Lapeyrolerie is the third Lobo to average over 10 points with 12.3 on the season.
The Aztecs are led by junior McKynzie Fort who averages 16.8 points per game as the only player on the squad to average in double digits so far this season. She is followed by two players who average just short of 10 points per game including senior Kymberly Ellison (9.9) and junior Khalia Lark (9.5).
The Coaches:
The Lobos are led by head coach Mike Bradbury in his first season with UNM, his 10th season overall. Bradbury posts a career record of 183-123 and is 5-6 at the helm of the Lobos.
Series History:
The Lobos are 32-26 overall against the Aztecs including a winning 13-10 record at home at WisePies Arena – The Pit. UNM is 5-1 over SDSU in the teams’ past six meetings but until March 7, 2014, the Lobos were riding a seven-loss streak that had lasted since January 18, 2012.
The last time the two squads met, the Lobos claimed a 64-45 victory on the road on March 1, 2016. The last time the two teams played at WisePies Arena was just a month before (2/6/16) when UNM fell to the Aztecs 51-46 to end a four-win streak in the series.
Broadcast Information:
Saturday night’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 will give the play-by-play action alongside Nikki Lobato on 610 AM. Listen here.