ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos host the Lopes on national television Saturday with tip set for 2:30 p.m. on FS1.
Saturday’s game features a pair of 4-3 teams in the Mountain West with UNM entering the game 12-6 on the season and Grand Canyon 5-12. The game will also be a battle on the boards with the Lobos leading in rebounding offense (41.2) and the Lopes leading in rebounding defense with opponents averaging 32.9 rebounds per game.
SERIES HISTORY
UNM and GCU have played once prior, a 92-72 win in the first round of the WNIT on March 16, 2022 in The Pit.
FAST START
UNM is outscoring opponents 293-232 (+61) in the first quarter, 334-269 (+65) in the second quarter and 627-501 (+126) in the first 20 minutes.
In the conference opener, the Lobos scored the first 14 points against Boise State with six different Lobos contributing to the points, and against Wyoming, the Lobos scored the first 10 points of the game. UNM scored the first five points and later built a nine-point lead in the first quarter at San Diego State. Further, UNM held Wyoming (5), Boise State (4), San José State (4) and Nevada (9) to single digits in the first quarter and held San José State (8) and Colorado State (2) to single digits in the second quarter.
WIN THE QUARTER
The second quarter is UNM’s largest quarter for point production, scoring 334 points, with the largest margin of +65. The Lobos have won the second quarter in nine games this season, scoring 20-plus points in seven games (twice with 28 points, twice with 22 points, twice with 24 and once with 20) and holding opponents to 16 points or fewer in nine.
Further, UNM has outscored its opponent in the first quarter 11 times (NAU, UNO, UTM, CSU, UA, UH, BSU, UW, SJSU, NEV, SDSU), the third quarter 10 times (UNO, NAU, NMSU, UTM, UA, UH, UNLV, SJSU, NEV, SDSU) and the fourth quarter 11 times (NAU, AT, UTM, UC, Chicago St., UH, BSU, UNLV, UW, SJSU, Colorado St.).
OWN THE BOARDS
The Lobos lead the MW in offensive rebounds per game (13.9), rebounding margin (+6.2), rebounding offense (41.2). Of note, the Lobos’ +6.2 rebounding margin is +2.3 better than the next team in the MW. UNM is tied for 55th in the NCAA in rebound margin, tied for 46th in rebounds per game, 71st in defensive rebounds per game (27.3) and tied for tied for 72nd in offensive rebounds per game.
UNM has outrebounded its opponent in 12 games and is 11-1 when doing so (San Diego State was lone loss when outrebounding opponent).
As a team, UNM had a season-high 58 against San José State with the largest rebounding margin against UT Martin (+35). Of note, the 58 rebounds are the most in a game amongst MW teams this season. UNM is led by Emma Najjuma, who has 114 rebounds.
HOW MUCH DO YOU BENCH?
On the season, the bench has scored 474 points, accounting for 37.4% of the points. UNM is 36th in the NCAA and leads the MW in bench points per game (26.3).
Laila Abdurraqib has led the bench in scoring in eight games, Nayli Padilla four times, Jessie Joaquim twice, Destinee Hooks, Kaia Foster, Joana Magalhães and Drew Jordon once.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
GCU is 4-3 in the Mountain West with wins over Nevada, Fresno State, Boise State and San José State and losses to Colorado State, San Diego State and UNLV.
The Lopes are averaging 65.3 points per game and allowing 69.6 points per game. GCU is led by Chloe Mann at 13.4 points per game and Julianna LaMendola at 10.1 points per game.
GCU leads the Mountain West in free throw percentage at 76.2%, and is 39th in the NCAA, with Mann leading the conference at 88.4% (61-69) and ranked 23rd in the NCAA in free throw percentage.
In conference games, the Lopes are third in scoring offense at 68.3 points per game while allowing 65.6 points per game. LaMendola leads the team with 12.6 points per game, and has scored in double figures in seven games. The Lopes also lead the conference in free throw shooting in MW games, shooting 80.6%, second in rebounding defense (33.3), third in assists (14.4) and tied for third in blocks per game (2.9). Mann is tied for second in assists per game at 3.7 with Anisa Jeffries tied for fourth in steals per game at 1.7.