New Mexico vs. No. 17 Marquette
7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13, 2017
Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team has a chance to beat a ranked opponent for the first time since 2010 when the Lobos host 17th-ranked Marquette 7 p.m. Monday at Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit.
UNM (1-0) last beat a ranked team March 17, 2010, when the Lobos defeated No. 25 SMU, 66-51 at home.
The Lobos enter Monday’s contest with Marquette 1-0 after defeating Western Michigan 88-76 on Friday at Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit in their season opener. It’s the most points the Lobos have scored in a regular-season game since defeating New Mexico State 92-85 in 2009.
UNM never trailed in its opener as it jumped out to a 25-12 advantage after the first quarter. The Broncos cut the Lobo lead to as little as one, but UNM found an answer each time to win their third consecutive season opener (the Lobos are 26-14 overall in season openers). The Lobos were led by senior guard Cherise Beynon as she had 24 points (18 in the first half), nine assists and eight rebounds. Senior transfer Tesha Buck in her first game as a Lobo had 22 points thanks to going 5-for-8 from 3-point range while adding five assists. Jaisa Nunn had 18 points to go along with six rebounds in 23 minutes of play.
This will be Marquette’s season opener with the Golden Eagles coming off a 2016-17 campaign that saw them go 25-8 and win the Big East Tournament (first time in program history) and claim their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2011.
The Golden Eagles return four starters from that squad, including Big East Preseason Player of the Year Allazia Blockton.
Blockton, who was an honorable mention All-American and unanimous first-team all-conference player, averaged 17.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists last season. Joining the junior in returning to the starting lineup are fellow juniors Danielle King (11.1 ppg), Natisha Hiedeman (13.9 ppg) and Erika Davenport (13.2 ppg, 9.2 rpg) along with key reserve Amani Wilborn (9.8 ppg).
The Golden Eagles also didn’t fear the big games as they were 6-0 against ranked opponents last season – beating Arizona State, Oregon State and Creighton as well as DePaul three times. MU’s 78.8 points per game ranked 14th in the NCAA as the Golden Eagles are going to look to run.
SERIES HISTORY
The Lobos are 1-1 all-time against Marquette with the two teams meeting for the first time in 21 years last season in Milwaukee with UNM falling, 62-52. The other meeting came Dec. 31, 1995, again at Marquette with UNM winning, 73-71. This will be the first time Marquette has played against the Lobos in Albuquerque.
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 194-130 and is 16-15 at the helm of the Lobos.
Marquette is led by fourth-year coach Carolyn Kieger as she’s 48-46 during time with the Golden Eagles (and overall as a head coach).
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Monday’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).