UNM Hosts Utah State Wednesday

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.– There are just two home games remaining in the regular season for the Lobo women’s basketball team, with Utah State on Wednesday and Boise State on Saturday.

The Lobos and Aggies are set to tip at 7 p.m. on Wednesday with streaming available on the Mountain West Network.

Heading into the final four conference games on the schedule, New Mexico continues to lead the MW in conference games in scoring offense (77.2), three-pointers made per game (10.4), made three-pointers (145), three-point percentage (.372), assists (228), assists per game (16.3), blocked shots (60) and blocked shots per game (4.3). UNM is tied in field-goal percentage (.455), second in assist/turnover ratio (1.4) and in scoring margin (+7.1), and third in field-goal defense (.398) and steals per game (7.3).

The Lobos have had balanced scoring this season with a conference-high five Lobos currently averaging 10-plus points per game in Shaiquel McGruder (14.4), Jaedyn De La Cerda (13.1), LaTora Duff (12.1), Antonia Anderson (11.7) and LaTascya Duff (11.6). When it comes to MW games, the trend continues with a conference-high five Lobos averaging double figures, with McGruder leading with 14.9 points per game, De La Cerda at 14.2, Anderson at 13.5, LaTascya at 11.8 ppg, LaTora at 10.8, and Paula Reus nearly there at 8.5.

De La Cerda has reached double figures in 20 games, McGruder in 18 games, LaTora in 16 games, Anderson in 14, LaTascya in 14, and Reus in six games. Further, UNM has had a player score 20-plus points 17 times this season.

When it comes to three-point shooting, UNM has made 266 three-pointers this season, 90 more than the second highest team total (Colorado State). In conference games, UNM is making 10.4 per game with 145 makes, with the next closest team has made 97 (difference of 48). Nationally, the Lobos are second in the NCAA in made threes and second in attempts, fifth in three-pointers per game and 10th in percentage.

On the other side of the court, Utah State is coming off of a 63-55 win over Boise State, with Adryana Quezada leading with 20 points, six steals and tied with Stafford for the team high in rebounds with seven. E’Lease Stafford also had three blocks and nine points in the game. Shyla Latone scored 17 points with three, three-pointers to go with two steals, and Emmie Harris finished with 12 points and three steals.

Since the last time the Lobos faced the Aggies, Utah State has gone 3-8 with wins over Wyoming (76-66), San José State  (63-61) and Boise State (63-55) and has gone 3-4 in the last seven games.

In conference play, USU is averaging 63.6 points per game while opponents are scoring 72.7 points per game, and is led in scoring by Quezada (17.6 ppg). Three Aggies are averaging double-digit points in Quezada, Latone (11.6 ppg) and Stafford (10.3 ppg). Quezada also leads in rebounding (8.5 per game) and steals (18), Harris leads with 56 assists and Stafford leads with 14 blocks.

Quezada is third in the conference in field-goal percentage (.542), fourth in scoring and seventh in rebounds per game in MW games, with Stafford sixth in blocks per game (1.1) and Harris sixth in assists per game (4.7). As a team, Utah State is shooting .385 from the floor and .284 from three-point range, making 5.6 three-pointers per game. Opponents are shooting .409 from the floor and .328 from distance, making 7.5 three-pointers per game.

Of their 14 conference games, the Aggies have not had a player start all 14 games. Stafford and Kaylin Randhawa have started the most with 13, followed by Quezada and Latone at 11 and Harris has started 10. On the road, Utah State is 1-6 in conference games, 2-10 on the season.

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.