by Tom Sena
Daily Lobo
The UNM women's basketball team came out on fire and coasted to a 76-42 victory over the San Diego State Aztecs Thursday night at The Pit.
The Lobos (11-6, 3-1) scored the first 21 points, including seven by senior forward Melissa Forest.
The Aztecs (6-11, 1-3) did not score until the 12:30 mark of the first half. After the Aztecs' Lindsey Casey hit a free throw to make the score 21-1, the Lobos went on a 13-0 run to take a 34-1 lead and put the game away. The teams traded baskets, and the Lobos led at halftime, 44-11.
"They maybe got flustered a little bit and starting rushing some stuff, and they started not crashing the boards, and we were just getting quick outlets and pushing the ball," Forest said.
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UNM head coach Don Flanagan said the Aztecs might have been a bit nervous because of their inexperience. San Diego State has two sophomores and two freshmen in its starting lineup.
UNM came into the game allowing only 50.7 points per game and holding its opponents to 32.7 percent shooting from the field, leading the nation in both categories. The Lobos improved on those numbers with a combination of stingy defense and cold shooting by the Aztecs.
San Diego State missed its first 21 shots from the field and hit four of 31, for 12.9 percent, in the first half. They did not hit a field goal until there was 6:11 left in the first half.
The Lobos had a balanced attack throughout the game with all 13 players scoring. Forest led the Lobos with 11 points in the game. Two other Lobos, Mandi Moore and Jenny Shetters, each had 10 points.
Flanagan said he was pleased because every player got significant playing time and contributed in some way. He said substituting often could help the team down the road.
"We have to do that until we can establish the fact of who will be able to help us in real important games and who will have a hard time in that situation," Flanagan said.
Next up for the Lobos are the UNLV Rebels. UNLV features the leading scorer in the Mountain West Conference, RanDee Henry.
Henry is averaging 19.4 points per game. UNLV also features the nation's second-leading rebounder, Sherry McCracklin, who is averaging 12.2 rebounds per game. The Rebels (15-2, 4-0) enter the game versus UNM having won 10 games in a row.
More than 17,300 tickets have been sold for Saturday night's game against UNLV.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
