Lobos Picked Second in MW Preseason Poll, Anderson Named to Preseason All-MW Team
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The University of New Mexico Lobos were picked to finish second in the Mountain West Preseason Poll with 251 points and seven first-place votes as voted on by the Mountain West head coaches and media, while senior Antonia Anderson was selected to the MW preseason all-conference team, one of five players to earn the distinction.
It is the second time in head coach Mike Bradbury’s tenure that the Lobos have been picked to finish second, with the last time occurring in 2019-20 when the Lobos earned three first-place votes and 280 points.
The Lobos are primed to contend in the MW, returning top talent across the board as well as veteran leadership.
UNM returns its leading scorers in Jaedyn De La Cerda, LaTascya Duff, Anderson and Shaiquel McGruder and their top rebounders in Anderson, McGruder and De La Cerda. In addition, the Lobos return their leader in assists in LaTora Duff and McGruder, who led in blocks and steals.
Last year, the Lobos led the conference in scoring margin (11.2), assist/turnover ratio (1.38), assists per game (16.07) and turnover margin (3.71), and finished second in offense at 77.8 points per game in conference games. Further, the Lobos were first in three-point field-goals made at 10.1 per game and second in field-goal percentage (.450).
For Anderson, the Cibolo, Texas native is coming off of a campaign in which she averaged 12.1 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, 1.9 assists per game, 1.0 steals per game and 1.0 blocks per game and scored 10-plus points in 13 games with a career-high 29 points in the victory over UNLV on Jan. 17. Anderson led the team in rebounds and rebounds per game, was second in made field goals and blocked shots and third in total points.
In MW contests, she averaged 12.6 points per game and a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game, as well as led the conference in field-goal percentage with 49 percent. Further, Anderson was eighth in blocks per game at 1.07 and ranked in the top 15 in scoring, rebounding, field-goal percentage, blocked shots and defensive rebounds, resulting in her first all-conference honor in being named to the Mountain West all-conference team.
Fresno State was selected as the preseason favorite with 13 first-place votes and 269 overall points. UNLV was picked third with 232 points and three first-place votes and Colorado State fourth with 207 points and one first-place vote. Five different teams received at least one first-place vote, with San Diego State receiving two and San José State receiving one to go along with Fresno State, UNLV and New Mexico.
2021-22 Mountain West Predicted Order of Finish
Rank Team (First-Place Votes) Points
1. Fresno State (13) 269
2. New Mexico (7) 251
3. UNLV (3) 232
4. Colorado State (1) 207
5. Wyoming 190
6. Boise State 166
7. San Diego State (2) 135
8. Nevada 123
9. San José State (1) 105
10. Air Force 62
11. Utah State 42
2021-22 Preseason All-Mountain West Team
Pos. Name Yr. Team
G McKenna Hofschild Jr. Colorado State
G Haley Cavinder Jr. Fresno State
G Hanna Cavinder Jr. Fresno State
G/F Antonia Anderson Sr. New Mexico
C Desi-Raw Young So. UNLV
Preseason Player of the Year
Haley Cavinder, Jr., Guard, Fresno State
Preseason Freshman of the Year
Asia Avinger, Fr., Guard, San Diego State
Preseason Newcomer of the Year
Kylie Jimenez, Sr., Guard, Nevada
The Lobos open up their season with an exhibition on Oct. 31 at 2 p.m. against Western Colorado. UNM will have two exhibitions before the regular season starts on Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. at home against Lamar. The Mountain West portion of the schedule begins Dec. 28 with San José State.
Season tickets are available for as low as $110, which include 17 home games. Fans can purchase season tickets online at GoLobos.com/tickets or in person at the University Arena Ticket Office.