ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos close out the week hosting San Diego State on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the annual Lobos Love Pink game. Fans are encouraged to wear pink with tickets available for $5.
Both teams are looking to get back in the win column with the Lobos (13-10, 5-5 MW) losing Thursday to UNLV and the Aztecs (18-6, 8-3) losing at Boise State on Monday.
Since the two teams met in San Diego on Jan. 19, both UNM and SDSU went 3-1 with each team winning its next three games before the win streaks came to an end.
Three-pointers will be a battle between the teams, with UNM entering as the MW leader in three-pointers per game (8.9) and SDSU entering as the conference leader in defensive three-point field goal percentage (.283). In conference games, UNM (.304) and SDSU (.309) are 1-2, respectively, in defensive three-point field-goal percentage.
Each team has three players averaging double figures in MW games, with SDSU led by Asia Avinger (12.3 ppg) and UNM led by Shaiquel McGruder (13.3 ppg).
FINDING OTHER WAYS TO SCORE
While UNM has had nine games with 10-plus three-pointers, the Lobos are actually 4-5 in those games. The Lobos are 4-2 when making exactly nine and won against Houston when only making two three-pointers, and against Boise State and Colorado State when making only four.
The Lobos are shooting 43.1% from the floor this season and 50.3% (410-815) when excluding three-point attempts. The Lobos are 9-5 when shooting .400 or better, and had a season-high 54.8% in the game against South Carolina State. UNM shot 54.5% in its game against Nevada for its second-highest percentage of the season and 52.2% in the last game at Utah State.
The Lobos have shot better than 50.0% in five games this season.
BALANCED ATTACK
UNM has had seven different leading scorers this season in LaTascya Duff, Amaya Brown, LaTora Duff, Vianè Cumber, Shaiquel McGruder, Paula Reus and most recently, Aniyah Augmon.
Of the players that have appeared in more than half of the games this season, six are shooting 40.0% or better from the floor. The Lobos have also had five players finish in double figures in the last two games.
ON RECORD WATCH
Following her eight three-pointers in Saturday’s game at Utah State, LaTascya Duff is officially on record watch for the program’s career three-point record. Duff sits with 216, two behind Amy Beggin for second and five behind Katie Montgomery’s 221.
In addition, Duff is two points from her 1,000th-career point at UNM.
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT
Since the Lobos last played the Aztecs, SDSU has gone 3-1 with wins over Wyoming (73-66), Fresno State (75-56) and San José State (59-39) and a loss to Boise State (62-57).
SDSU has three players in double figures in MW games, led by Asia Avinger at 12.3 ppg with Sophia Ramos closely behind at 12.2 ppg. Kim Villalobos is the third at 10.3 ppg. As a team, the Aztecs are averaging 66.4 ppg while allowing 58.3 ppg.
The Aztecs lead the conference in scoring defense in MW games as well as in assists per game (15.4) and turnover margin (+5.18). In addition, they are third in scoring margin at +8.09. SDSU is also second in defensive three-point field goal percentage at .309.
Individually, Avinger is third in the MW in MW games in assists per game (4.6) and second in steals per game (2.4).
Ramos, Villalobos, Yummy Morris and Abby Prohaska have started all 11 conference games with Avinger starting in 10.
Nationally, SDSU is 23rd in scoring defense and 24th in turnover margin.