UNM to host SDSU
Team looking to get off to fast start today
Time to try something different.
After a disappointing first half of Mountain West Conference play, the UNM women’s basketball team tips off the second half today against San Diego State at the Pit. More of the same, the Lobos say, will not be good enough.
UNM (11-9, 4-5 Mountain West) has been plagued in recent weeks by slow starts and a sputtering offense. Both issues were glaring in back-toback losses to Boise State and UNLV.
Coach Yvonne Sanchez will attempt to address both by altering her starting lineup for today’s contest. Sophomore guard Jayda Bovero and freshman post Jaisa Nunn are slated to make their first career starts against the Aztecs (6-15, 1-9).
Sanchez has been reluctant to tinker with the lineup, hoping consistency would ultimately pay off. Circumstances have essentially forced her hand.
UNM fell behind Boise State 22-3 last week at the Pit, then managed just seven firstquarter points in Wednesday’s defeat UNLV. The Lobos are 10-1 when leading after one quarter this season, 1-8 when trailing.
“I don’t really like to change the lineup this late in the season,” Sanchez said, “but we need better starts and I have to try changing things up. Jayda and Jaisa have earned this opportunity. Hopefully, they’ll make the most of it.”
Bovero and Nunn will start in place of freshmen Jannon Otto and junior Whitney Johnson, respectively. Otto went 2-for-7 from the floor with one assist and three turnovers in UNM’s last two games, while Johnson was 0-for-9 shooting and failed to score.
Sanchez, however, made a point not to pin her team’s scoring woes on specific players. She merely hopes rotation changes will breed better offensive chemistry and improved confidence.
“Jannon and Whitney will both play,” Sanchez said, “and they might play a lot. But we’re nine games into conference and we haven’t been able to put a run together. We have to do what we can to get better.”
Sophomore guard Cherise Beynon agreed.
“It’s been very frustrating the last two games,” Beynon said. “We’ve had really bad starts and haven’t been able to overcome them. We need to start with better energy (today), especially playing at home.”
Energy has typically been Bovero’s calling card, and she’s coming off a productive outing at UNLV. The 5-foot11 sophomore scored just two points but grabbed six rebounds and had two assists and a steal in 21 minutes.
Nunn, meanwhile, racked up 14 points, nine rebounds, a block and an assist against the Rebels. The 6-3 freshman leads the Lobos in field goal percentage (59.6) and has developed into a reliable lowpost scoring option.
With Colorado State still undefeated and Fresno State (8-1) and Boise State (7-2) comfortably ahead of UNM in the standings, Sanchez conceded a regular-season title run is no longer realistic. Still, the Lobos have much to play for in the second half of MWC play.
“We’ve typically played well in the conference tournament,” she said, “but we have to go into it playing our best basketball. There’s nine games left for this team to
come together.”
PROMOTIONS: UNM will hold several promotions during today’s game. Lobo alumni will be honored at halftime, and the Albuquerque Cruisin’ Big Dogs senior women’s team will perform. Senior citizens and fans donating teddy bears to the “Be Kind Teddy Bear Drive” will receive $5 admission.
GREENWOOD: Junior Josie Greenwood will miss a third straight game with concussion symptoms. Greenwood hopes to be in uniform for Wednesday’s home game against Utah State.