Lobos Head Back on the Road for Wyoming

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.– The Lobo women’s basketball team heads on the road for the first of two road games this week, starting with the Wyoming Cowgirls on Thursday, Jan. 13 at 6:30 p.m. MT.

The game will be available to watch on the Mountain West Network, can be heard on the radio and can be followed through live stats.

Thursday’s game also puts the two Mountain West champions from last season against each other, with New Mexico winning the regular season and Wyoming winning the tournament.

Four games into the Mountain West schedule and the Lobos remain perfect, finding ways to win with two, one-possession victories and one four-point win. It is the first time since 2016-17 (which was Coach Mike Bradbury’s first year) that New Mexico has started 4-0.

The Lobos are one of two teams that are still undefeated in conference play, and the Lobos have played the most overall games in the MW at 17.

Further, New Mexico leads the Mountain West in six statistical categories and is second in one category. UNM leads in three-point field-goals made per game (9.7) with a conference-best 165 on the season, assists per game (16.5) with a conference-best 281, blocked shots per game (4.5) with a conference-best 77, three-point field-goal percentage (.380), field-goal percentage (.454) and in scoring (75.8 ppg). New Mexico is second in scoring margin (+10.0), as well as third in steals per game (9.1).

On an individual level, the Lobos lead in five statistical categories. LaTascya Duff leads in three-point field-goal percentage (.480) and three-pointers made per game (2.9) with a conference-high 47. LaTora Duff leads in assists with a conference-high 101 assists. Shaiquel McGruder leads in field-goal percentage at .607 and Antonia Anderson leads with 1.6 blocks per game and 27 blocks. Jaedyn De La Cerda is second in three-pointers per game at 2.4.

Additionally, McGruder is still the only MW player who is in the top-10 in scoring, rebounding, steals and blocks on the season.

In just conference games, New Mexico leads in scoring offense (79.0), three-pointers made per game (11.0), assists per game (17.0), assist/turnover ratio (1.6) and blocked shots per game (5.8). LaTora also leads the conference in assists (30) and assists per game (7.5) in just MW games, and LaTascya leads with a .615 shooting percentage from three. LaTascya and De La Cerda are tied in made three-pointers per game in MW games at 4.0 per game and De La Cerda is third in three-point field-goal percentage with .533. McGruder leads in field-goal percentage at .532 and is tied with Anderson for blocks (7) and blocks per game (1.8).

Through the first four conference games, the Lobos have four players averaging double figures with De La Cerda leading with 18.0 points per game, LaTascya at 16.3 ppg, McGruder at 14.3 and LaTora at 12.3.

Nationally, the Lobos are second in the NCAA in made threes, fifth in attempts, and 10th in three-pointers per game and three-point percentage. Individually, the Lobos are putting up strong numbers with LaTora third in assists (101) and 14th in assists per game, 34th with 36 made three-pointers and 43rd in three-pointers attempted (95). LaTascya is fourth in three-pointers made, ninth in three-point field-goal percentage and 22nd in three-pointers per game. McGruder is 10th in field-goal percentage and 13th in field-goals made and De La Cerda is is 13th in three-point field-goals made.

Also of note, Antonia Anderson is eight points away from 1000-career points. Should Anderson reach the milestone, she will be the 17th player in program history to have 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and the 24th player to reach 1000 points in their career.

While the Lobos are coming off of a three-game week, Wyoming enters Thursday’s game with plenty of rest, with its last game back on Dec. 31, a 66-60 loss to UNLV. Wyoming’s only other MW game was against San Diego State, a 62-54 win for the Cowgirls. Wyoming has played just 11 games on the season and two in conference due to postponed games.

As a team, Wyoming is averaging 61.7 points per game, shooting .393 from the floor, .288 from behind the arc, and .783 from the free-throw line. They have made more free throws (119) than opponents have attempted (118). In conference play, the Cowgirls are averaging 61.0 points per game, shooting .398 from the floor and .295 from three. The Cowgirls are 23-of-24 from the free-throw line (.958).

The Cowgirls have three players in double figures, led by McKinley Bradshaw’s 12.5 ppg. Quinn Weidemann is averaging 10.8 ppg and Allyson Fertig at 10.1 ppg. Alba Sanchez Ramos leads with 69 rebounds (6.9 per game), followed closely by Fertig at 68 (6.2 per game). Tommi Olson leads with 22 steals and 36 assists and Paula Salazar leads with seven blocks. Weidemann leads with 18 made three-pointers on the season and Bradshaw and Ustowska at 12 made threes. At the free-throw line, Weidemann and Grace Ellis are tied for the team high with 19. In the 11 games, only Weidemann and Olson have started every game, with Bradshaw and Sanchez Ramos starting 10. Ellis has started eight games, Fertig four and Ola Ustowska starting one game. In the two conference games, Olson, Fertig and Weidemann are the only players who started both.

Wyoming is 3-1 at home this year, with the Lobos 3-2 on the road, but 2-0 in MW games. UNM has won three of the last four meetings.