UNM Opens WNIT Friday with California Baptist
FORT WORTH, Texas– The season continues for The University of New Mexico Lobos on Friday at 7 p.m. MT/ 8 p.m. CT after earning an automatic bid to the WNIT.
UNM drew the Fort Worth region, and will face the undefeated California Baptist in the first round. In the Lobos’ portion of the bracket are San Francisco (15-10) out of the West Coast Conference and Houston (16-7) out of the American, with Arizona State, Rice, Fresno State and Missouri as the other teams in the region.
All games will be streamed on FloHoops, which will require a subscription.
Statistically, UNM is one of the top teams in the field, entering as the 10th-best scoring offense, averaging 81.0 points per game, third in made threes per game (10.3) and eighth in assist/turnover ratio. Additionally, the Lobos are 21st in scoring margin (13.6), 18th in assists per game (16.7) and 28th in field-goal percentage (.450).
The Lobos have four players averaging double figures in scoring, led by LaTascya Duff with 14.6, followed closely behind by Jaedyn De La Cerda (14.3). Ahlise Hurst (12.6) and Antonia Anderson (12.5) round out the double-digit scorers.
CBU is very similar statistically to the Lobos on offense with four scorers averaging double figures, led by 13.5 by Caitlyn Harper. Britney Thomas (13.1), Ane Olaeta (11.7) and Nicole Avila-Ambrosi (10.9) are the other three. The Lancers are a strong all-around team, averaging 21.0 assists per game and are similar to the Lobos in their field-goal and three-point percentages at 43.8 percent and 33.5 percent, respectively. They make 9.6 threes per game and average 77.7 ppg. Defensively, Cal Baptist is averaging 43.4 rebounds per game, 9.5 steals per game and 5.5 blocks per game. Out of the WAC, CBU won both the regular season and conference tournament but were ineligible for the NCAA automatic bid as the Lancers are in year three of the four-year transitioning to DI.
UNM and CBU share one common opponent this year in San Diego State, with the Lancers winning 75-71 in their third game of the season. The Lobos defeated the Aztecs 84-48 and 65-48 in their two-game series.
This will be the first meeting between the two programs.