| Broadcast Information | |
| WATCH: Mountain West Network |
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| RADIO: Lobo Radio Network | |
| (KNML 95.9/ 610 AM flagship in Albuquerque) | |
| Play-by-Play: | J.J. Buck |
| Nikki Heckroth-Lobato | |
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.– With eight games remaining in conference play, the Lobo women’s basketball team opens a three-game homestand starting on Wednesday against Colorado State, with both the Rams and Lobos going 3-1 since the last time the last two teams met in Fort Collins.
The Lobos remain at the top of the MW standings, tied with UNLV for first at 9-1, and lead the MW in scoring at 79.9 ppg, as well as three-point field-goal percentage (.373), three-point field-goals made per game (11.0), blocked shots (45), blocked shots per game (4.5), assists (176), assists per game (17.6) and assist/turnover ratio (1.6) in conference games.
UNM also has five players scoring in double figures both on the season and in conference play, led by Shaiquel McGruder, who is averaging 16.6 ppg in league play.
The Lobo senior also leads the team in rebounds per game (7.6), blocks (23) and is tied with Antonia Anderson for the team high in steals (17) in MW games. Among all MW players, McGruder is second in the MW in scoring, tied for first in field-goal percentage (.581), 10th in rebounds per game, eighth in steals per game and leads the conference in blocks and blocks per game with 10 more blocks than the second-highest total.
On the other side of the court, CSU is scoring 72.9 ppg in conference play and is third in field-goal percentage at .429 and fourth in three-point field-goal percentage (.356). The Rams enter the game 14-5 on the season, 5-4 in conference. Since the last time the Lobos faced the Rams, Colorado State has gone 3-1 with wins over Utah State (88-72), Fresno State (78-67) and Nevada (66-55) with a loss to Boise State (69-64).
McKenna Hofschild leads the Rams in scoring (16.2 ppg) and assists (7.3, leads the MW), while Karly Murphy leads the team in rebounds per game (9.3) in conference games. Murphy also averages 14.6 ppg and is tied with McGruder in field-goal percentage.
CSU is 3-2 on the road this season, 2-2 on the road in conference, with the Lobos 11-0 at home on the year, 4-0 at home in conference.
In the last meeting between the two teams, on Jan. 15 in Fort Collins, UNM recorded the second-highest three-point total in program history with 19 made three-pointers, led by a career-high eight for Antonia Anderson. Anderson finished with a career-high 30 points. Paula Reus made a season-high four three-pointers, finishing with 17 points and McGruder tallied her fifth double-double of the season with 14 points and a team-high 13 rebounds.
After Colorado State went on a run to tie the game at 62 at the end of the third quarter, UNM outscored CSU 23-12 in the final quarter, finishing with seven three-pointers in the fourth for the 85-74 win.
PROMOTIONS
Wednesday’s game will be Women in Sports Night, in which the Lobos will recognize the achievements of Lobo female student-athletes.
PIT POLICY
The entry requirements for all events in The Pit have been extended until further notice. Lobo fans will have three ways to come and enjoy Lobo Basketball in The Pit. The simplest will be for patrons to provide proof of vaccination status. Proof of vaccination status means having two shots of Pfizer or Moderna, or one shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine (or AstraZeneca for international fans), with the last shot received two weeks prior to the date of event entry. The second way to enjoy Lobo basketball at The Pit would be to provide proof of a negative COVID test. A PCR test must be within 72 hours and an antigen test must be within 24 hours of the event. Home COVID tests are not valid for this type of entry. The third way to enjoy Lobo Basketball at The Pit is to be under 12 years old, as fans up through age 11 will be admitted without proof of vaccination.
Patrons to all events at The Pit must additionally adhere to all other state health regulations, which currently include wearing a mask in any indoor venue or setting.