New Mexico at UTEP
5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017
Don Haskins Center – El Paso, Texas
UNM NOTES | WATCH | LISTEN | LIVE STATS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — It’s a battle of unbeatens between regional foes as The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team plays its first road game of the season at UTEP 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Don Haskins Center.
The Lobos at 7-0 are off to their second-best start in program history (started 9-0 in the 1996-97 season) while the Miners at 4-0 haven’t lost while, like the Lobos, having played all of their games at home.
The undefeated Lobos are coming off winning their UNM Thanksgiving Tournament after beating Wichita State 76-62 on Friday, UC Irvine 83-61 on Saturday and Illinois 97-68 in the championship on Sunday behind a school-record 18 3-pointers.
Tesha Buck was named the tournament’s MVP after averaging 17.3 points, 5.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals. It also netted her Mountain West Player of the Week – the third time in three weeks with three different players the Lobos have earned the honor. Also joining Buck on the all-tournament team was Jaisa Nunn (13.7 points and 12.3 rebounds per game) and Alex Lapeyrolerie (15.3 points and 13 3-pointers).
In the title game against Illinois, the Lobos outscored the Fighting Illini 84-49 over the final three quarters after trailing 19-13 heading into the second quarter. All five UNM starters finished in double figures, led by Buck’s 21 points and Lapeyrolerie’s 20 points.
UTEP enters Thursday’s contest 4-0 after a weekend that saw them host the UTEP Classic, beating Arkansas 64-61 on Friday and Texas Southern 65-55 on Saturday. The Miners’ other two wins this season are over CSU-Bakersfield 67-56 and Texas A&M – Corpus Christi 69-49.
The Miners have a new coach this season in Kevin Baker, who was appointed as the eighth head coach in UTEP women’s basketball history on April 24, 2017. He has an overall record of 344-123 in 15 years, including 122-30 in five years as a college head coach.
UTEP has been led to its undefeated start by Tamara Seda and Najala Howell. Seda is averaging 16.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game while Howell is averaging 15.0 points, 3.5 assists and 6.3 rebounds per contest. The Miners also have a pair of players averaging just below double figures in Katarina Zec (9.5) and Jordan Alexander (9.5).
As a team, the Miners are outscoring their opponents by 11 points per game (66.2-55.2) and are shooting 47.2 from the field while holding their opponents to 32.8 percent. While the Miners won’t attempt a lot of 3-pointers (47 in four games), they do hit at a clip of 38.3 percent.
SERIES HISTORY
The Lobos are 32-17 against UTEP all-time in a series that dates back to 1975. The Lobos are 11-12 on the road against the Miners and are looking for their first win in El Paso since Nov. 23, 2001 – a streak of three straight losses (teams didn’t play from 2002-06). UNM won last season’s meeting 79-66 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 200-132 and is 22-15 at the helm of the Lobos.
UTEP is led by first-year coach Kevin Bakers who is 126-30 in his college coaching career overall with this being his first NCAA Division I job.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Thursday’s game will be available to watch live on the Miner TV (must pay to watch). 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).