UNM women expect battle at UNLV
Lobos believe Rebels tougher than record
The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team expects to have a fight on its hands tonight.
Yes, the Lobos will bring a 12-1 (2-0 Mountain West) record and an 11-game winning streak into UNLV’s Cox Pavilion. And yes, the Rebels are 2-11 (0-2 MWC) and have struggled with injuries and an ineffective offense.
But if tonight’s Mountain West matchup looks like a blowout on paper, UNM coach Mike Bradbury and his players expect a battle.
“UNLV finally has everyone back and they’re probably desperate for a win,” Bradbury said. “We’ll get their best shot, count on it.”
The Rebels have typically saved their best for UNM in recent seasons and the Lobos have been unable to weather it. UNLV has won five straight in the series and is the only MWC team Bradbury has not yet defeated.
Size and physical play have been the difference as the Rebels have often dominated the boards and forced UNM to play a rough, half-court style that favors UNLV.
“They have a lot of size and they’re so aggressive,” Lobo forward Antonia Anderson said. “If you’re not ready for it, they’ll just push you around.”
The Lobos insist they are prepared this time around.
The offseason additions of 6-foot-3 graduate transfer Nike McClure and 6-foot freshman Shai McGruder figure to help UNM match up with UNLV’s stout front line of 6-4 Katie Powell and 6-2 bookends Paris Strawther and Rodjanae Wade. Lobos Anderson and Jaisa Nunn say they’re glad to have the extra help.
“We can’t get out-toughed by (the Rebels),” Nunn said. “I think that’s happened in the past but my mindset is to get out front and bully them as much as they bully us. We have to hold our ground.”
UNLV has been unable to bully opponents this season with Powell and Strawther suffering injuries. Both returned to the lineup for last week’s Mountain West opener — a 52-49 loss at Colorado State which the Rebels led with 30 seconds remaining.
Wyoming dominated UNLV in Laramie, 90-62, on Saturday but Bradbury puts little significance in that result.
“Wyoming just shot the lights out,” Bradbury said, “and we play a completely different style. We have to rebound, which we haven’t done against UNLV in the past, and our posts have to play well. I think we match up with them a little better than we have, but we still have to come to play.”
Guard play carried UNM to a nail-biting 66-65 win at Nevada on Saturday, with junior point guard Aisia Robertson (21 points) and freshman Jayla Everett (16 points, six assists) leading the way. But freshman forward McGruder also provided a needed spark with nine points and four rebounds off the bench as both Nunn and McClure were in foul trouble.
“I was really happy to see Shai play like that against a big, physical team,” Bradbury said. “That gives us one more weapon inside and she can give people problems with her quickness.”
Bradbury hopes UNM’s influx of new players will prove helpful in a rivalry that’s leaned heavily toward UNLV in recent seasons. Neither Robertson, McClure nor any of the Lobos’ freshmen have faced the Rebels yet.
But New Mexico’s returning players say they are unusually motivated for this matchup.
“This is a rivalry game,” Anderson said. “We don’t like each other very much.”
Nunn just smiled when asked about the matchup.
“I’m really excited to play this game,” she said, “really excited.”