UNM women expecting physical game
UNLV handled Lobos last time
Talking about tonight’s matchup with UNLV required some careful phrasing from members of the University of New Mexico women’s basketball team.
That’s because the Lobos are expecting a physical battle.
UNM and UNLV have developed a fairly hot rivalry in recent seasons and the Lady Rebels (14-7, 5-4 Mountain West) had things their way in a 56-42 win in Las Vegas, Nev., on Jan. 11. To put it mildly, the Lobos (12-7, 7-3) felt they got pushed around.
“We need to be tougher and not back down,” junior Jayda Bovero said. “They kind of punched us in the face early and we had no response — punched figuratively, I mean. There were no real punches.”
The qualifier refers to
UNLV’s brawl earlier this season against Utah State, one that left two Rebels players suspended for UNM’s game at Cox Pavilion. Ironically, the suspensions (and two injuries) forced little-used Alyssa Anderson into UNLV’s starting lineup. Anderson went 6-for-7 from 3-point range and was the difference in her team’s victory.
“She’s made seven 3s (in Mountain West games) and six were against us,” Lobo coach Mike Bradbury said. “Those suspensions actually worked against us because UNLV went with four guards against us and we couldn’t match up. We definitely couldn’t figure out how to guard (Anderson).”
Good or bad, the Lobos will see a more typical UNLV lineup tonight. Posts Paris Strawther, Katie Powell and Jordyn Bell have since returned, making the Rebels’ linuep considerably taller and more physical.
The Lobos, meanwhile, will not be as tall or as deep as they were in round one against UNLV. Sophomore post Jaisa Nunn suffered a seasonending knee injury Sunday against Northern New Mexico, and Bradbury figures to adjust by going small.
The 5-foot-11 Bovero will move to forward and likely take most of the 6-3 Nunn’s minutes off the bench. Laneah Bryan will get extra minutes at guard, Bradbury said.
“It’s not going to change much of what we do,” Bradbury said. “We’ll be smaller when Jayda goes in for Richelle (van der Keijl) or KK (Kianna Keller), but it won’t be a drastic change. Jayda’s a good defender and rebounder.”
Bovero said she’s looking forward to the chance to play inside.
“I like getting in there and banging around,” she said. “I played some (power forward) in high school, so I have some experience. I’m looking forward to it.”
Tonight’s matchup is significant for the Lobos, who stand third in the MWC race just one-half game behind second-place Wyoming. The Rebels are tied with Boise State for fourth place but could gain a tiebreaker edge over UNM with a victory.
“It’s a big one, no question,” Bradbury said. “Hopefully, we’ll step up to the challenge better than we did (in Las Vegas).”
HEATED MOMENT: Despite his team’s victory over Nevada on Saturday night, Bradbury appeared to be on edge during his postgame media session. Asked about it, Bradbury blamed “outside interference” that he said would be “addressed immediately.”
Bradbury took longer than usual to arrive at the media session and was said to be having a conversation prior to leaving the Pit floor. He declined to give specifics Tuesday.
“The situation’s been taken care of,” he said. “It’s behind us.”
At Bradbury’s request UNM did not post video of Saturday’s postgame media conference in its website as it typically does, sports information director Frank Mercogliano said. Video is posted on the Mountain West Conference’s website.