UNM women are ready to run with SDSU
Lobos and Aztecs both prefer up-tempo offenses
From a slog to a sprint. That effectively sums up the University of New Mexico women’s basketball team’s two-game home stand.
UNM survived the slog portion Saturday, pulling away for a 70-58 victory over Colorado State at Dreamstyle Arena. Tonight comes the sprint, a matchup versus up-tempo San Diego State that will test the Lobos’ depth as much as Saturday’s game tested their patience.
“I expect a track meet,” UNM coach Mike Bradbury said. “San Diego State has a lot of good players and they want to play fast. It’s a totally different challenge for us. Colorado State shoots with two seconds left on the shot clock, San Diego State will shoot with two seconds off the clock.”
New Mexico (13-2, 3-1 Mountain West) also likes a fast style of basketball, and to this point of the season the Lobos have played a more effective brand than have the Aztecs (6-8, 1-2). UNM ranks second in the MWC in scoring at
76.3 points per game, while SDSU is fifth at 66.7 per contest.
Still, Bradbury and his players vividly remember last season’s lone meeting with San Diego State. UNM put up 89 points, and it wasn’t enough in a 97-89 loss at SDSU’s Viejas Arena.
“San Diego State doesn’t usually shoot a lot of 3s,” Bradbury said, “and they hit 12 against us. (Guard) Naje Murray killed us and they did pretty much whatever they wanted. That’s what I remember.”
Both teams have since changed personnel. UNM won’t have to deal with McKynzie Fort, who scored 32 points in last season’s meeting, and the Aztecs need not worry about Cherise Beynon, who scored 41.
But plenty of capable scorers will suit up for each side, which suits UNM defensive ace Nike McClure just fine.
“The faster the better, as far as I’m concerned,” McClure said. “San Diego State will be a test because they have strong, tough posts and they love to drive to the basket. But I like a game like this with lots of possessions and transition basketball. More chances for me to get stops and make something happen.”
McClure put up a strong all-around performance against Colorado State with six points, 12 rebounds, a steal and three blocks. The graduate transfer has often said she’s happy to do the “dirty work” and let her teammates score.
“I’ll never turn down a basket,” McClure said, “but playing defense, racking up rebounds and blocks, that’s my kind of game.”
McClure’s defensive assignments vary. She was matched up against CSU guard Lore Devos on Saturday but could spend more time defending the post against San Diego State. The Aztecs’ top scorers are guards Murray and Sophia Ramos, but SDSU is a solid rebounding team that can capitalize on second and third opportunities.
“Staying in front of their guards and rebounding are musts against (the Aztecs),” Bradbury said. “We didn’t do either of those things last year and they torched us.”
Lobo senior Jaisa Nunn, who was plagued by foul trouble in last season’s loss, hopes her team maintains the focus it had Saturday against CSU.
“We responded well coming off a loss,” Nunn said. “We have to be just as locked-in and determined coming off a win.”
FAMILIAR FACES: McClure has yet to face SDSU in a Lobo uniform, but she’s familiar with the Aztecs, who were one of several teams that recruited her when she opted to leave Washington State last spring.
The story will be similar for San Diego State freshman Jayden Perez, a Las Cruces native who attended Las Cruces High and later Oñate. UNM recruited Perez heavily prior to Bradbury’s arrival in Albuquerque.