Lobos Back at Home Tuesday Against Grambling State
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.– After three games in three days, the stretch for Lobo women’s basketball continues with four games in five days and the first of three games this week when UNM hosts Grambling State on Tuesday night.
Tip is set for 7 p.m. in The Pit, with streaming and live stats available for those not able to attend in person. Fans can also listen on the radio with Josh Suchon on the call. Tuesday night will also be Mental Health Awareness Night where Lobo women’s basketball will bring awareness to the issue of mental health in student-athletes. Partnering with “The Hidden Opponent”, the team will wear warm-up shirts benefitting the cause and have resources available around the concourse.
The Lobos are coming off of a 1-2 weekend at the Van Chancellor Classic with losses by a margin of five and seven points. UNM attempted a fourth-quarter comeback against Stephen F. Austin, scoring 32 points led by Jaedyn De La Cerda, LaTascya Duff and LaTora Duff. LaTora and De La Cerda scored 13 and 11 points, respectively, and De La Cerda a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor and 3-for-3 from three-point range. LaTascya’s eight points accounted for the remaining Lobo points. UNM got it within a two-point game with 19 seconds left and had a chance to tie the game late, but the tying three was off target.
UNM hung close to Texas Tech through the first 10 minutes, staying within two through the first quarter, and got the game back within four points in the fourth quarter. LaTascya Duff returned to form with 21 points on 5-for-7 shooting that included five three-pointers, and Shaiquel McGruder had her third 20-plus point performance of the season with 20 points.
Five Lobos are currently averaging 10-plus points per game in Jaedyn De La Cerda (14.1), Shaiquel McGruder (13.4), LaTora Duff (11.6), LaTascya Duff (10.1) and Antonia Anderson (10.1). De La Cerda has reached double figures in all but one game (only game was Northern New Mexico), and in each of the last six games. LaTora and McGruder have scored double digits in five games and LaTascya and Anderson have recorded double digits in four games.
In addition, the Lobos have had six different leading scorers in the eight games this season: Anderson (16, Lamar), Vianè Cumber (17, Northern New Mexico), McGruder (30, Prairie View and 20, Houston Baptist), LaTora Duff (16, Houston), De La Cerda (18, Stephen F. Austin and 15, Louisiana-Monroe) and LaTascya Duff (21, Texas Tech). UNM is outscoring its opponents 598-510 with the largest margin in the first quarter (163-115, 48 points).
As mentioned, Tuesday’s game will be the first of three games on the week, with the Lobos hosting New Mexico State on Friday to begin the rivalry series, with the teams facing off again in Las Cruces on Sunday. In total, the Lobos will have played six games in 10 games when the Aggies and Lobos play on Sunday.
On the other end of the court, Grambling State enters having recently lost to UNLV on Sunday, and has played the likes of Florida (L, 70-55), Florida State (L,76-53), UMKC (L, 78-55), Northwestern State (W, 68-60), Louisiana-Monroe (W, 69-61) and UNLV (L, 89-49) this season. After winning their first two games, the Lady Tigers have lost their last four. GSU is 0-3 on the road this season.
The Lady Tigers play three common opponents with the Lobos in Louisiana-Monroe (won 69-61), UNLV (lost 89-49 on Sunday) and Prairie View A&M. In their last game against UNLV, the Lady Tigers had two players in double figures in Alexus Holt (17 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals) and Justice Coleman (14 points, three rebounds, one assist).
The leader for the Lady Tigers is Holt, with the graduate student leading in scoring, rebounds and assists and tied for the team high in steals. Holt leads Grambling State in points (14.8), assists (2.8) and rebounds (4.3) per game and is tied for the team lead in steals (1.8). She also leads in free-throws made (24) and attempted (28), shooting .857 from the line. Holt is tied with Coleman for made three-pointers with nine on the season, making 1.5 per game.
In their six games this season, four Lady Tigers have started all six games in Holt, Coleman, Ciera Ellington and Ashanti Lavergne, with Colbi Maples starting in five games and Phylicia Allen starting in one.
Tickets are still on sale for Tuesday’s game and can be purchased at golobos.com/tickets.