ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.– For the first time this season, the location for a University of New Mexico women’s basketball game says Albuquerque, N.M.

After playing every game on the road, including two games in Canyon, Texas that served as neutral contests, the Lobos will host Colorado State in two make-up games Thursday and Friday. And there’s no better time as the Lobos and Rams currently are the top two teams in the MW standings with three losses each to the exact same teams (Fresno State, UNLV, Air Force).

The matchup between CSU and UNM will feature the top two scoring offenses in the MW with UNM averaging 84.1 points per game and and CSU 80.4 points per game, as well as the top two field-goal percentages in the conference at .464 (UNM) and .463 (CSU).

UNM enters the series after sweeping Utah State with two commanding 30-plus point victories, nearing the 100-point mark in both games. Junior guard LaTascya Duff could not be contained by the Aggies, shooting 75 percent from three-point range with six made threes in each game. From the floor, Duff was 17-for-25 (68 percent) and was a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line. Duff averaged 26.5 points in the series with eight assists, second on the team only to her sister LaTora Duff who had 14. As a result of her performance, Duff was named Mountain West Player of the Week for the second time this season.

In the eight quarters, UNM trailed just once at the end of the quarter, a 21-17 deficit in Monday’s game. In Sunday’s game, UNM led from start to finish, limiting Utah State to seven points in the first quarter and 19 points through the first 20 minutes. In the second game, UNM outscored USU 31-16 in the second and 29-8 in the third to pull away from Utah State.

Coming into the game, Utah State was third in the MW and 21st in the NCAA in defensive rebounds per game at 29.8, but the Lobos outrebounded USU 46-41 overall on Sunday, with the Lobos collecting 12 offensive rebounds and 34 defensive rebounds, while Utah State had just 30 defensive rebounds. On Monday, UNM outrebounded Utah State 43-33, grabbing 37 defensive rebounds to USU’s 25 and collecting six offensive rebounds.

On the other side of the court, Colorado State enters coming off of a loss to Air Force, snapping an eight-game win streak. CSU enters the series 15-3 overall and 11-3 in the MW with its three losses coming to Fresno State (78-74), UNLV (80-76) and Air Force (75-68).

CSU is second in the conference in scoring offense, averaging 80.4 points per game, scoring margin (+14.94), field goal percentage (.463), field goal percentage defense (.380) and made three-pointers per game (8.8), but leads the conference in free-throw percentage (.787), three-point field goal percentage (.403) and assist/turnover ratio (1.38.

Nationally, CSU is second in turnovers per game, fourth in three-point field goal percentage, fifth in assist/turnover ratio, eighth in defensive rebounds per game (30.8), 10th in free-throw percentage, 14th in scoring offense, 19th in scoring margin, field-goal percentage and fewest turnovers and 23rd in three-point field goals per game.

The Rams are led in scoring by McKenna Hofschild (13.9 ppg) and in assists with 104, with Lore Devos leading in blocks (22) and second in rebounds per game (7.4) but has a team-high 133 rebounds. Tori Williams leads with 31 steals and 50 made threes. Hofschild is 26th in the NCAA in assists, 18th in assist/turnover ratio, and 16th in assists per game.

Both games will tip at 5 p.m. MT and be streamed on the Mountain West Network. Following Thursday’s game, fans can stay on the broadcast to watch UNM’s Senior Day ceremony honoring seniors Antonia Anderson and Jaedyn De La Cerda.

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.