Lobos Return to Court for Two-Game Series at UNLV
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team returns to the court this Friday, Jan. 15 and Sunday, Jan. 17 in a two-game Mountain West series at Cox Pavilion on the UNLV campus.
The Lobos and the Lady Rebels tip on both days at 2 p.m. PT/ 3 p.m. MT with both games streaming on the MW Network.
Entering the weekend with a 5-0 overall record and 2-0 conference record, the Lobos have scored 90-plus points in three of five games this season and lead the NCAA with an average of 95.4 points per game.
Additionally, UNM is third in the NCAA in three-point field goals per game (11.2) and leads the conference in three-point FG defense (26.6%), scoring margin, turnover margin (+6.4) and three-pointers made per game. UNM is second in three-point field-goal percentage (.371), steals per game (9.2) and assists per game (16.8) among MW teams.
That success is contributed to a balanced attack in which six Lobos are averaging double figures in points per game. Jaedyn De La Cerda leads the Lobos with 17.2 ppg, followed by LaTascya Duff (16.4), Ahlise Hurst (14.0), LaTora Duff (13.0), Shaiquel McGruder (10.2) and Corina Carter (10.0). De La Cerda and both Duffs have finished with 10-plus points in every game this season.
This season, the Lobos have had six players finish in double figures in scoring in two games (Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Sam Houston State), had five players in double digits in two games (Midwestern State, Nevada Dec. 31) and four in one game (Nevada Jan. 2).
The Lobos are outscoring their opponents in every quarter, with the largest margin occurring in the first quarter with 50 (113-63) and the second-largest margin in the second quarter (38). UNM is outscoring its opponents 240-152 (margin of 88 points) in the first two quarters with its largest scoring output in the second quarter (127 points).
As the first 20 minutes of the last game at Nevada demonstrated, the Lobo offense is fueled by three-point accuracy, as the Lobos are averaging 11.2 made three-pointers per game, which is the fourth-most in the NCAA and leads the MW. After going 0-for-10 in the first two quarters against the Wolf Pack, when the threes started to fall in the third quarter, the offense was able to find its stride to not only take a lead but build a lead.
Hurst is currently UNM’s best three-point shooter, going 15-for-34 from distance to lead the team with the most made and attempted threes and leads the MW in three-point field goal percentage (44.1).
Defensively, the Lobos have held their opponents to below 70 points in four games, are outrebounding their opponents and are averaging 9.2 steals per game. UNM is led on the boards by De La Cerda, who has tallied 37 rebounds (22 defensive) for a 7.4 average and in steals by McGruder’s 13.
On the other side of the court are the 4-5 (2-2 MW) Lady Rebels, led by first-year head coach Lindy La Rocque.
The Lady Rebels are led in scoring by Delaynie Byrne with 12.1 ppg, followed closely behind by Bailey Thomas (11.9). Jade Thomas is UNLV’s best three-point option with 22 made threes and shooting .431 from distance, while Byrne has made 21 on the season.
The duo of Byrne and Thomas statistically lead UNLV in several categories, as Byrne posts a team-high 66 rebounds (7.3 rpg) and eight blocks, and Thomas holds a team-high 35 assists and 16 steals.
J.J. Buck will carry the Lobo radio feed on KNML (610 AM) with the pregame show starting 30 minutes before game time. The radio feed can also be picked up on the Lobo Sports App.