Duffs and McGruder to Return for Final Season
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Seniors LaTascya Duff, LaTora Duff and Shaiquel McGruder have made their decision regarding their additional year of eligibility.
And for Lobo fans, it’s good news, as all three have decided to return to UNM for the 2022-23 season.
In doing so, the Lobos retain their floor general in LaTora, a three-point sharp shooter in LaTascya and a defensive impact player in McGruder, who also led the Lobos in field-goal percentage and made baskets this past season.
LaTora tallied 192 assists during the 2021-22 season, the fifth-most in a single season in program history, and finished with 10-plus assists in a game three times during the 2021-22 season that included a career-high 14 assists. The point guard started in all 36 games and averaged 33.3 minutes per game, scoring in double figures in 21 games and 20-plus points in three games. Additionally, she recorded her first double-double as a Lobo with 14 assists and 13 points at Utah State, finishing with two on the year.
Duff was named Mountain West Honorable Mention, third in the MW in assists per game (5.11), sixth in assist/turnover ratio (2.24) and seventh in steals per game (1.61) in MW games. On the season, Duff was third in the MW in assists per game (5.3), sixth in assist/turnover ratio (2.13), 11th in steals per game (1.47) and made three-pointers per game (1.83) and 15th in scoring with 12.0 points per game.
LaTascya was equally as important to the Lobos’ success in 2021-22, making 97 three-pointers, the second most in a single season in program history, while setting the program record with a three-pointer in 29 consecutive games that dated back to the 2020-21 season.
Duff scored in double figures in 20 games, six games with 20 or more points and led the Lobos in scoring in six games. Duff was a threat from distance, shooting 42.7 percent from three-point range, the fifth-best percentage in a single season in program history, and led the MW in three-point percentage, made three-pointers and three-pointers per game (2.77). Duff made multiple three-pointers in 28 games this season, making a three-pointer in all but one game this season, and made five or more three-pointers in six games and four or more in nine games.
She currently has a career three-point percentage of .417, second all-time in program history, and 149 career three-pointers, tied for sixth all-time in program history and 73 away from the program record.
McGruder returns as a two-time MW All-Defensive player and as a 2021-22 All-Conference member, and produced the best numbers in her career as a Lobo in points, rebounds, steals, blocks, assists, made three-pointers, made baskets and free throws. McGruder led the team in steals, rebounds and made baskets and was second in scoring and blocks.
The Ohio native led the MW in field-goal percentage at .608, finished fourth in the MW in steals per game at 1.83 per game, as well as second in blocked shots and blocked shots per game (49/ 1.36), 13th in scoring (14.2 points per game) and 10th in rebounds per game (7.2). The forward also scored in double figures in 25 games and finished with 20-plus points in seven games along with seven double-doubles.
Last season, McGruder recorded at least one steal in 28 games, including in every conference game but five and had at least one block in 23 games, including twice registering five blocks (against UTEP and San Diego State), a game with four blocks, five games with three blocks and five games with two blocks. Her 219 made field goals were the third most in a single season in program history, her .608 field-goal percentage was the second best in a single season in program history, her 258 rebounds were the eighth most in a single season in program history and her 49 blocks were the 10th most all-time in a single season as was her 66 steals. Further, her 512 points were the ninth most in a single season in program history.
McGruder is 18 points away from the 1000-career point milestone, and with 622 rebounds, would be the 18th Lobo in program history to join the 1,000 point, 500 rebound club. LaTascya is also on the brink of the 1000-point achievement with 717 points. LaTora is also close to joining the ranks of the top-10 in career assists, sitting at 270 career assists.