ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The final Mountain West Player of the Week award of the season belongs to a Lobo, as LaTascya Duff was selected on Thursday following UNM’s win over Fresno State on Tuesday.
Duff earned the honor after a stellar offensive performance against the Bulldogs, shooting 8-10 from three-point range and 9-11 overall for a game-high 27 points. In addition, Duff tied for the team high with four assists and had three rebounds in the 88-68 victory to give UNM its sixth-straight win. Her eight three-pointers tied the program record for most three-pointers in a conference game, and was the second time this season that she made eight against a MW opponent.
In the second quarter, Duff went 4-4 from the floor, 3-3 from 3-point range to score 11 points and in the first two quarters, was 6-6 overall and 5-5 from three for 18 points.
When UNM trailed 32-20 in the second quarter, Duff assisted on LaTora Duff’s three-pointer that made it 32-23 and Paula Reus’ three-pointer that made it 32-26, while also making the three-pointer that tied the game at 32. The Lobo also hit another three-pointer that capped the 17-0 Lobo run and put UNM ahead 37-32.
Duff made two more three-pointers in the third, including one to close the quarter as time expired, and a final three-pointer in the fourth that put UNM up 76-63 with 5:28.
Tuesday was Duff’s third conference game with 20-plus points and the fourth-straight game scoring double figures, as well as the sixth time in seven games in double figures. Also of note, Duff went 1-1 from the free-throw line at Fresno State, the sixth consecutive game going perfect from the line and extended her streak to 25 consecutive made free throws. She has missed one free throw in the last eight games (32-33) and two free throws in the last 10 games (38-40).
The selection marks the third weekly conference honor for Duff and the first this year.