by Riley Bauling
Daily Lobo
The UNM women's basketball team shellacked the Texas Southern Tigers 103-41 last night at The Pit to improve its record to 4-1 on the season.
The margin of victory was the most ever for a UNM women's basketball team and the 103 points scored is the second-highest total ever amassed by the Lobos.
The Tigers looked more like kittens as they tried to keep up with a much quicker and stronger Lobo team.
From the tip-off, the Lobos looked determined to get back on track after their 70-57 loss to the Villanova Wildcats in the championship game of the Holiday Inn Invitational Saturday.
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As the Lobos pounded the boards, out-rebounding the Tigers 50-29, they were able to cash in on some easy points under the basket.
UNM's post players had their way with the smaller Texas Southern lineup. Junior Lindsey Arndt had 15 points along with seven rebounds, while senior Melissa Forest added ten points and five boards.
However, the Lobos' offensive outbreak was in large part due to the firepower of three freshmen: Julie Briody, Fatima Maddox and Katie Montgomery.
Briody and Montgomery led all scorers with 17 points each. Maddox added 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Maddox said she was more concerned with getting the ball to teammates who were shooting well, rather than padding her scoring average.
"If I think someone is feeling it or shooting a little bit better than I am, then I'm going to try and get them the ball," she said. "If the drive is not wide open and my teammates are there waiting for my pass, then I am going to get it to them."
Head coach Don Flanagan said that the game helped his team, especially the freshmen.
"The main thing tonight was that I got to play a lot of people," he said. "They were able to get good minutes. I think it was beneficial for us to play a team like that."
The Lobos shot a torrid 63 percent from the field in the second half, including 57 percent from the three-point line.
Flanagan was pleased with the play of the freshmen on the squad.
"That was the first time I have seen freshmen recognize anybody other than themselves," he said. "They were trying to hit the open player and they all did a nice job."
UNM's defense need not go unmentioned as they forced the Tigers into shooting an appalling 25 percent from the field. The Lobos also forced 20 turnovers.
Although UNM played well, Flanagan said that he is still not sure what rotations are going to work for his team.
"We haven't had anybody, with the exception of a couple people, that have come and had great games every game," he said. "If you asked me who was starting, I would tell you I wasn't sure. No starting position is locked in for anybody."
The Lobos will look to improve their record to 5-1 Friday at The Pit against Tennessee State University. Tip-off will be at 8 p.m.
