ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team returns to the court for the first time since Jan. 17 as the Lobos take on Fresno State in Canyon, Texas. While the Lobos will be the home team, this will be the first game for the Lobos this season at the First United Bank Center on the campus of West Texas A&M after having played all seven games on the road this season.

UNM enters the two-game series 6-1, 3-1 in conference play, while Fresno State is 8-5, 6-2 in the Mountain West.

On the other side of the court is Fresno State, with the Bulldogs entering the two-game series on a four-game winning streak after going 2-0 against Boise State in their last series and against Nevada. Their win streak extends even further in the conference with Fresno State winning its last five conference games that includes an 83-80 win over Wyoming at the beginning of January. However, all but two of Fresno State’s MW games have been decided by eight or fewer points.

Fresno State was picked as the preseason favorite after winning the 2020 MW regular season title and has the 202 Mountain West Player of the Year in Maddi Utti and the 2020 MW Freshman of the Year in Haley Cavinder. Currently, Cavinder leads the team in points per game, assists, steals and rebounds, as well as in made threes with 26.

The matchup has the potential to result in a couple of high-scoring contests as the Lobos are averaging 88.3 points per game and the Bulldogs are averaging 79.4 points per game, which are the first- and third-highest scoring offenses in the league, respectively. Both teams are shooting over 45 percent from the field this season and are making 34.6 percent (Fresno State) and 35 percent (UNM) of three-point attempts.

Cavinder leads the conference in scoring with 19.6 points per game, followed by her twin sister Hanna Cavinder, who averages 17.5 ppg. De La Cerda is third in the conference at 16.7, one of five Lobos who are averaging double figures in scoring. Utti leads the conference in field-goal percentage at .520 with Hanna fourth (.486) and De La Cerda fifth (.470).

Ahlise Hurst is third in the conference in three-point shooting at .352 and second in three-point field goals made with an average of 2.7 per game, while LaTascya Duff is fourth in made three-pointers per game at 2.3

Additionally, UNM has scored 80 or more points in five of seven games this season and is second in the country in three-point field goals per game (11.3) and fourth in scoring offense.

The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. CT/ 6 p.m. MT.

HOW TO WATCH

The game will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network, found here.  Stats can be found here and works on phones or tablets.

HOW TO LISTEN
The game will be on KNML 610 AM with coverage starting 30 minutes before game time with the pregame show. The feed can also be picked up on the Lobo Sports App.

HOW TO INTERACT
Download the Lobo Sports App to interact throughout the game.