New Mexico (16-5, 4-4) at Colorado State (13-7, 5-4)
2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018
Moby Arena – Fort Collins, Colorado
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — It’s going to be a contrast of styles Saturday afternoon in Fort Collins as The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team – the top scoring and shooting team in the Mountain West – travels to take on the top defensive team in the conference in Colorado State.
The Lobos looks to snap a two-game skid as despite a school-record 41 points from Cherise Beynon, UNM fell to San Diego State 97-89 on Saturday afternoon at Viejas Arena.
The Lobos led 69-66 when Beynon drove into the paint and scored within the first 15 seconds of the fourth quarter. But San Diego State rattled off a 17-2 run over the next three minutes – capped by a McKynzie Fort jumper to give the Aztecs an 83-71 lead with 6:39 remaining in the contest. UNM cut the lead down to four points with 2:21 left when Beynon again scored in the paint, but that’s as close as the Lobos would get as SDSU quickly answered and held off the Lobos – handing UNM its second loss in a row.
Beynon finished 17-for-31 from the field, 4-for-11 from 3-point range and 3-for-4 from the free-throw line to go along with eight assists, five rebounds and four steals. Alex Lapeyrolerie had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Lobos while Jaisa Nunn added 10 points.
Colorado State is coming off a convincing 72-43 win over San Diego State at home on Wednesday. The Rams trailed by two heading into the second quarter but outscored the Aztecs 50-21 over the next two quarters on their way to the 29-point victory. Hannah Tvrdy led Colorado State with 28 points and 10 rebounds while Veronika Mirkovic had 12 points and Stine Austgulen had 10 points, five rebounds and two assists.
Colorado State held SDSU to 28.8 percent shooting from the field (15-for-52).
The Rams are the top defensive team in the conference, allowing 54.8 points per game and holding teams to 34 percent shooting (4.6 percent better than the next closest team) – both first in the Mountain West. Colorado State also leads the conference in 3-point percentage defense at 25.7 percent. Those three categories the Rams lead in, the Lobos lead the conference in (scoring – 84.1, field goal percentage – 43.3, 3-point percentage – 36.5).
Grace Colaivalu leads the Rams in scoring at 10.4 points per game while also leading the team in assists (68) and steals (27). Hannah Tvrdy is second on the team in scoring at 9.3 points per game while leading the team in rebounding (6.2) while Stine Austgulen is third on the team in scoring (9.0) and is the team’s top 3-point threat – hitting 47.5 percent of her 3-pointers (48-for-101), also the top percentage in the conference.
SERIES HISTORY
The Lobos are 40-37 all-time against Colorado State, but have dropped their last four games and seven of their last eight against the Rams. UNM is 11-22 at Colorado State and are looking for its first win in Fort Collins since Jan. 23, 2013. Last season the Lobos lost at home to Colorado State, 78-63, and on the road, 58-55.
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 209-137 and is 31-20 at the helm of the Lobos.
Colorado State is coached by Ryun Williams and he’s 128-53 in his sixth season with the Rams and is 386-206 overall as a collegiate head coach.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Saturday’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 be on the call on 610 AM (click here to listen).