Nunn hurt in UNM’s Pit romp
Sophomore injures knee; Sjerven has double-double
Sunday afternoon played out as a goodnews, bad-news scenario for the University of New Mexico women’s basketball team.
The positive was UNM’s bench players making the most of a chance to shine in an easy 87-47 victory over Northern New Mexico College. Freshman Hannah Sjerven posted a double-double with a team-leading 14 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks in 22 minutes.
Unfortunately for the Lobos (12-9, 7-3 Mountain West), bad news largely overshadowed the good.
Sophomore Jaisa Nunn went down with a right knee injury in the first quarter and did not return. Nunn’s leg appeared to buckle as she attempted to catch a high lead pass on a fast break. Nunn was helped off the court and taken up the Pit ramp on a golf cart.
“Preliminary results do not look good,” Lobo coach Mike Bradbury said after the game. “She’ll have an MRI at some point. That’s all I know right now.”
Nunn, a 6-foot-3 post, came into Sunday’s game averaging 10.5 points and 7.3 rebounds in 21 minutes per game. Her injury quieted an announced Pit crowd of 5,032 for most of
the first half.
But other players from both teams did their best to inject some enthusiasm into the makeup contest, scheduled after UNM’s Dec. 18 game against Eastern Illinois was canceled because of weather/travel issues.
The NAIA Eagles (11-15) appeared to enjoy playing in the Pit. Coach Tony Gallegos’ team has 13 native New Mexicans on its roster.
“Getting that chance to come play at the D-I level is great for these girls,” Gallegos said. “We could’ve hit some shots early, maybe kept it closer, but it was an opportunity to let our hair down and come show some people what we’ve got.”
Like UNM, which defeated Nevada 59-50 on Saturday night, the Eagles were playing for a second straight day. Not a problem, Gallegos said.
“We’re used to being cramped on a bus for 10 or 12 hours for road games,” he said. “Coming down here from Española, an hour and a half, was great.”
Nunn’s injury aside, Bradbury said the Lobos got what they wanted from the contest.
“We got some playing time for kids who haven’t had many minutes,” he said, “and they played really well, so that was good news.”
The list included freshman Brittany Panetti, who scored 12 points off the bench to equal the Sunday totals of starters Cherise Beynon and Alex Lapeyrolerie. Richelle van der Keijl finished with 10 points in 12 minutes of action.
But no one enjoyed the moment more than the 6-2 Sjerven, who had played just 12 minutes this season and had not scored. Teammates came off the bench several times to cheer baskets by Sjerven and Panetti.
“It makes us remember why we love basketball so much,” Sjerven said. “It feels really good to get that support from your teammates.”
Sjerven’s big day could serve as something of an audition if Nunn’s injury keeps her out for an extended period. Bradbury smiled and glanced at Sjerven when asked about her performance.
“Sometimes you create your own punishment,” he said. “Now, everyone will be asking why I don’t play her 35 minutes a game. Thanks a lot, Hannah.”
Bradbury thanked Northern New Mexico for taking the game on relatively short notice and said he intends to schedule the Eagles as an exhibition opponent in the future. Cheyenne Cordova and Ashley John led NNMC with 12 points apiece Sunday.