Lobos cruise past ENMU despite a load of whistles
Wednesday night’s exhibition game was not exactly the kind of show UNM women’s basketball coach Mike Bradbury had in mind.
Yes, Bradbury’s Lobos rolled to a 99-56 win over Eastern New Mexico at Dreamstyle Arena. And yes, there were some impressive performances — most notably an 18-point, 10-rebound effort by UNM’s Najala Howell.
But an endless chorus of whistles took much of the fun out of the contest. Officials called a combined 55 fouls, leading to 60 free throws and preventing Bradbury from employing some of his preferred player combinations.
“That plan was taken away in a matter of seconds,” Bradbury said, referring to whistles that sent UNM starters Jordan Hosey and Bride KennedyHopoate to the bench with two fouls each just 94 seconds into the action. “Preparation-wise, we might have gotten more out of a closed scrimmage.”
Still, the improvised game plan did produce some positives for the Lobos, who open the regular season at home against UC Riverside on Tuesday. Five players scored in double figures and all 12 Lobos in uniform contributed to the romp.
Jaedyn De La Cerda scored 15 points, Ahlise Hurst added
14 (both hit four 3-pointers), and Kennedy-Hopoate and Antonia Anderson chipped in 11 points apiece for UNM. Natalie DeLonge paced the Greyhounds with nine points and nine rebounds.
Anderson, who had eight boards, three assists and two blocks to go with her 11 points, shared Bradbury’s lukewarm assessment.
“It was all right,” she said, “not that great for us. Too many fouls and some bad turnovers. We’ve got things to work on before the games count.”
In terms of Wednesday’s outcome, Howell effectively put any doubts to rest early. The senior transfer from UTEP scored the game’s first six points and had 15 with 3:26 still to play in the first quarter. ENMU did not convert a field goal in the first quarter and trailed 31-6 before Jasmine Williams broke the drought with a put-back with 9:08 left in the second.
“That’s the point for everyone; be on the attack, be aggressive,” Howell said of her blistering start. “Just get out and play hard.”
Kennedy-Hopoate cashed in a put-back just ahead of the halftime buzzer to send the Lobos to intermission with a 52-22 lead. She also buried one of five UNM 3-pointers in the third quarter, helping the home team build its largest lead at 75-29.
Eastern, playing its third road game against a Division
I opponent in a five-day span, found some offensive rhythm in the late third and early fourth quarters. Hope Christian alum Alivia Lewis scored five of her eight points during a 7-0 Greyhounds run with 4:38 left.
But De La Cerda helped UNM finish with a flourish. The junior hit back-to-back 3s, followed them with a steal and fired a long pass to Shaiquel McGruder for a layup and a 94-48 lead. The Lobos finished with 21 assists on 33 made shots, getting a gamebest seven from Jayla Everett, who was the only UNM player not to score.
“Eastern New Mexico did some things that caused us problems,” Bradbury said. “Their post play is really good and they’ll win a lot of games again this year.”
Still, Bradbury seemed ready to move on to next week’s regular-season opener.
“The exhibition games are over,” he said. “I think we played hard enough and our players worked to their strengths. Next Tuesday we go for real.”