16, going on 8?
Lobo women look to advance in WNIT tonight at home against TCU
Home has indeed been sweet for the University of New Mexico women’s basketball team this season.
The Lobos are 19-2 in Albuquerque with their two losses coming by a combined three points. Thus far, UNM’s comfort level has extended to postseason play, where it’s picked up home victories over Saint Mary’s and Rice in the first two rounds of the WNIT.
But Pit mystique and a pumped-up crowd may not be enough tonight when New Mexico (25-10) hosts former conference rival TCU in a WNIT third-round contest at Dream style Arena. It figures to be UNM’s stiffest test to date in the postseason, Lobos coach Mike Bradbury said.
“TCU plays extremely fast and can really shoot the 3,” Bradbury said. “Plus, they’ve
got size and talent inside. They’re balanced. They’re a handful.”
The Horned Frogs (21-12) are not likely to be fazed by playing the Pit. TCU has played in front of large, hostile crowds announced at 6,000 fans or more at Texas A&M, Texas, Baylor and Iowa State this season. Frogs coach Raegan Pebley also knows the terrain, having coached at the Pit during her tenure at Fresno State.
Does that mean UNM’s home court won’t be an advantage? Far from it.
“Our fans always get me going,” freshman Madi Washington said. “They bring a lot of energy and our whole team picks up on it. It’s a big advantage playing here.”
Washington helped ignite UNM’s crowd in Tuesday’s 93-73 win over Rice, hitting back-to-back first-quarter 3-pointers that sparked a 21-3 run. The Lobos led by a double-digit margin the rest of the game.
Washington finished with 11 points, part of a balanced UNM performance that overwhelmed Rice. Bradbury believes his team will need a similar outing to defeat TCU.
“We had some personnel advantages in the first two (WNIT) games,” he said. “We won’t really have those against TCU. If we get someone open, we need to hit the shot. One or two players won’t be able to carry us. We have to play well as a team.”
The situation is similar for the Frogs, who rely on balanced scoring for their success. Leading scorer Amy Okonkwo (14.8 points per game) comes off the bench and is one of six players with 20 or more 3-pointers for TCU.
“They have some really good shooters,” UNM senior Tesha Buck said. “It should be a fast, entertaining game for the fans, but we know we have to be locked in on the defensive end.”
Buck had a good night on both ends of the court against Rice, finishing with 18 points, four assists and five steals. The last of her four 3-pointers enabled Buck to become the first UNM women’s player to hit 100 3s in a season.
“I didn’t know that was 100,” Buck said, “but I knew I was somewhere close. My mom told me when I broke the previous record (82 by Abby Garchek in 1997-98), and my dad’s a big stats guy. They keep me informed about that stuff.”
Bradbury believes Buck’s shooting is a difference-maker.
“When we’ve got Jaisa (Nunn), Cherise (Beynon) and Tesha all scoring,” Bradbury said, “it makes us tough to stop because then other people will end up open and start scoring. Hopefully, all three will stay hot for a while.”
NOTES: UNM and TCU played together in the Western Athletic Conference (1997-99) and Mountain West (2006-12). The Frogs lead the all-time series 11-9 … Tonight’s winner will face the Michigan StateSouth Dakota winner in the WNIT quarterfinals.