Lobos win — and they’re coming home to play
Women to host CSU on Thursday, Friday
The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team took a page from the strength-in-numbers playbook Monday.
Yes, the Lobos’ defense got singed around the edges by Utah State’s Shyla Latone, who hit nine 3-pointers and scored a careerbest 33 points. But UNM’s offense was cooking on all burners in a 97-65 road victory over the Aggies in Logan, Utah.
The win, combined with a Colorado State loss at Air Force on Monday, means the Lobos’ first home games of the season will be meaningful. UNM will host CSU on Thursday and Friday at the Pit, it was announced Monday night, with a Mountain West regularseason title on the line. No fans will be permitted.
It’s fair to say the the Lobos will come in hot. LaTascya Duff continued her recent torrid stretch Monsday with 25 points, hitting 6-of-7 from 3-point range and getting plenty of help from her teammates. Jaedyn De La Cerda (22 points), Antonia Anderson (19) and Ahlise Hurst (11) contributed double-digit points for the Lobos (12-3, 9-3 Mountain West), who shot 55% from the field and simply overwhelmed USU (4-19, 2-16).
Other than Latone’s point total, UNM coach Mike Bradbury had few objections.
“We played really hard with a lot of excitement,” he said in a postgame phone interview. “Really, I thought everybody played well. Late in the season, that’s exactly what a coach likes to see.”
The rest of the week got more interesting for Bradbury’s team as Monday went on. Shortly after UNM’s victory, Air Force knocked off first-place Colorado State 75-68, allowing the secondplace Lobos to pull even in the loss column.
UNM and CSU (15-3, 11-3) had their February series postponed
after a positive COVID-19 test result within New Mexico’s travel party. The Mountain West recently rescheduled that series for March 3 and 5, but it was uncertain if the games would be played or where.
After discussions with MWC and CSU officials, UNM athletic director Eddie Nuñez confirmed the games will be played at the Pit but on Thursday and Friday. Game times will be announced Tuesday.
Bradbury and the Lobos were in the process of returning to Albuquerque when the games were announced. He said earlier that he planned to give his players a day off on Tuesday and then prepare for whatever the schedule held.
As for Monday, UNM’s coaches and players were more interested in enjoying their fifth win in six games. Regardless of when or where they play next, the Lobos expect to arrive with some momentum.
“I feel like we’re playing great,” Anderson said. “I mean, you never want someone to hit nine 3’s on you, so we can still be better. But I really like where our team is right now.”
Latone’s career day started early for USU. She drained three of her seven first-half 3-pointers in the first quarter as the Aggies built a 21-17 lead.
It wouldn’t last long. Corina Carter, Hurst and Duff combined to hit four 3’s during a 17-2 UNM run to start the second quarter. Despite Latone’s sizzling shooting, the Lobos led 48-37 by halftime and steadily pulled away from there.