LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) — The Mountain West's top two scoring offenses meet Monday, Jan. 3, as UNLV and New Mexico face off in Albuquerque. Tip off at The Pit is 6 p.m. PT.
The Lady Rebels score 74.9 points per game to lead the league while the Lobos average 74.6.
"Honestly, I hope it's a high scoring game," UNLV head coach
Lindy La Rocque said, "because that means we're making shots, they're making shots and it's going to be a fun game to watch."
New Mexico features five seniors in their starting lineup and presents challenges that UNLV will battle for the first time this season.
"They're really dangerous because they all shoot 3s well and they all have the green light to do so. More than a third of their scoring is from 3s and that's a huge number."
The Lobos rank 16th and 20th, respectively, in 3-point field goal percentage (.371) and 3-pointers made per game (9.1) among all Division I teams. Both figures top the Mountain West Conference.Â
"Defensively, New Mexico will be very aggressive and do a couple things we haven't seen—some hard hedges and I think they'll try to front our posts. Their post players lead them in steals, so they fill the passing lanes and really make you work on offense."
The game will be streamed live on the Mountain West Network. Live audio, featuring Wyatt Tomchek on play-by-play, can be heard at UNLVRebels.com.Â
Monday's game is the 64th between the two programs, the most the Lady Rebels have played against a single opponent.
All-time series: UNLV leads 37-26.
Streak: Lost 1. New Mexico and UNLV split its two meetings in Las Vegas last season.
First meeting: Jan. 20, 1975. UNLV won 71-64 in Las Vegas.
Last meeting: Jan. 17, 2021. New Mexico won 81-73 in Las Vegas.
Scouting New Mexico
- New Mexico has the most balanced scoring attack the UNLV has seen this season.Â
- Four Lobos average double figures while Preseason All-Mountain West Selection Antonia Anderson sits fifth with 9.6 points per game.
- With a starting lineup made entirely of seniors, the Lobos are also one of the most experienced teams in the Mountain West.
- 6-foot forward Shaiquel McGruder leads New Mexico with 14.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
- Senior guard Latascya Duff and twin sister Latora are the long-range threats, averaging 46 and 39 percent, respectively, from 3-point range while attempting six per game apiece.
- New Mexico is the Mountain West leader in field goal percentage (.464) and 3-point field goals made per game (9.1), ranking 20th nationally in the latter.
Lady Rebels' last time out: UNLV 66, Wyoming 60
- UNLV made 19 of 21 (.904) free throws, having averaged 69 percent prior to the game.
- Essence Booker hit 6-of-6 from the line over the final 25 seconds.
- Wyoming rallied from a 17-point deficit, but was stalled to just three field goals during the final 5 minutes.
- The Lady Rebels jumped to an 11-0 lead from tip off and shackled the Cowgirls' offense in the first half. Wyoming was held to 32 percent shooting and just one of 10 3-pointers over the first 20 minutes.Â
- UNLV forced 21 turnovers from a team that entered the game averaging 11.8, the 10th best mark in the nation.
- Justice Ethridge scored 7 of her 9 points in the first half with two periods of perfect shooting.Â
- UNLV led 29-19 at halftime.
Start me up
- UNLV's 10-3 start is the program's best in a decade since the 2011-12 team also started 10-3 and finished the season 22-11 (12-6 Mountain West).
- The 2003-04 Lady Rebels (26-8, 10-4 MW) reached 15-3 before suffering a fourth loss.
Setting records in the classroom
Next UNLV home game
- The Lady Rebels return home Jan. 13 to host Boise State for Nickelodeon Night at the Cox Pavilion. Tip off is 6:30 p.m.
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