ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—The Lobos are home for the week, starting with Wyoming on Thursday. UNM went 1-1 last week and is coming off of a win over Nevada on Saturday.
Tip for Thursday’s game is set for 7 p.m. and is the annual Teddy Bear Toss, presented by BeKind UNM. Fans are encouraged to bring a teddy bear to toss on the court at halftime to donate to children in need.
UNM (15-11, 7-6 MW) had five players average double figures last week, led by LaTascya Duff at 19.0 points per game. Shaiquel McGruder averaged 13.0 ppg, Amaya Brown averaged 10.5 and Aniyah Augmon averaged 10.0 ppg off the bench. Duff led the Lobos in scoring in both games, scoring 15 at Boise State and 23 at Nevada, which included six three-pointers in the win against the Wolf Pack. LaTora Duff averaged 4.5 assists per game and has finished with six or more assists in four of the last five games.
For Wyoming, the Cowgirls went 2-0 last week and have won five of their last six games, currently standing at 17-8 on the season, 10-4 in conference.
Thursday’s game will have the second-best scoring offense in the MW in conference games (UNM at 73.3) against the second-best scoring defense (Wyoming at 61.2).
GET AHEAD, STAY AHEAD
The Lobos are 14-3 on the season and 7-1 in conference games when leading after the first quarter and 13-2 overall and 6-1 in MW games when leading at the half. When leading at the end of the third quarter, the Lobos are 14-2 overall and 7-1 in conference games.
CONSISTENT TORA DUFF
Duff has scored in double figures in 14 games, including four of the last five, has finished with five or more rebounds in 11 games and has been credited with six or more assists in five of the last six games. She’s recorded multiple steals in nine games but has had at least one steal in 17 with a career-high five at Nicholls, which she matched at Boise State. Duff has played 30-plus minutes in 18 games with three games of 40 or more minutes, including all 40 minutes of regulation at Colorado State.
Duff is averaging 32.1 minutes, 10.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game. In MW games, she’s averaging 31.6 minutes, 10.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
TRIPLE THREAT TAY
There is no one better in the MW and very few better in the country when it comes to three-pointers than LaTascya Duff.
The Nevada game was the 57th career game at UNM for Duff with multiple three-pointers and was the 18th time that Duff has scored 20 or more points as a Lobo.
She currently has a career three-point percentage of .411, second all-time in program history, and a program-record 223 career three-pointers. She is just the third player all-time to make 200 career three-pointers.
The super senior leads the MW in three-point field-goal percentage at .398 (with a 2.5 3FG/G average), in three-pointers per game at 3.0 and made three-pointers (74), 22 more than the second-highest player in the MW (Vianè Cumber). Nationally, she is 12th in the NCAA in three-pointers per game and ninth in three-pointers. In conference games, Duff leads with 2.7 made three-pointers per game and 35 made threes.
THE QUEEN OF THREES
With six three-pointers in Saturday’s game at Nevada, LaTascya Duff climbed the record books, passing Amy Beggin for second all-time and Katie Montgomery (221) to become the program leader in career three-pointers with 223. She is also currently second all-time in career three-point percentage at .411.
Duff achieved the record in 80 games, the quickest Lobo to do so with Montgomery needing 127 games and Beggin 131 games to get their totals.