by Riley Bauling
Daily Lobo
Katie Montgomery had no problem playing the spark-plug role in UNM's 60-47 win Saturday against the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
She just didn't know she was going to need gasoline, kerosene and any other flammable substance within reach to get the Lobos started.
It took UNM nearly 12 minutes for someone other than Montgomery to score, as she started the game out 3-of-6, while the rest of the team began the night 0-for-19.
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"I just try to do whatever I need to do, whatever coach asks me to do to help the team out," Montgomery said. "We definitely needed to hit a few shots to get going, and I was the one who happened to do that."
Montgomery's first three shots were all threes, and kept the Lobos from getting blown out in the first couple of minutes. UNLV started out the night on a 9-0 run, before Montgomery's hot hand brought the Lobos to within 11-9.
Those three three-pointers did as much for the Lobos on the scoreboard as it did for their psyche, Montgomery said.
"At the beginning of the game, I think we were just kind of rushing a little bit," she said. "We just weren't relaxed, and that's what we kind of needed to do. Once I started hitting a few shots, I think people got more relaxed and we were more confident in ourselves."
Confidence, however, didn't mean the Lobos' antics from the field were stopping anytime soon. UNM finished the game 17-of-60 for a frigid 28 percent.
That's why head coach Don Flanagan said Montgomery's role Saturday was to keep on firing as the rest of the Lobos continued their brickfest.
"She missed a three-point shot, went right back and shot another three-point shot," Flanagan said. "I think she shot three in one series and made one of them. She's got to shoot, and when she's open, she's got to shoot."
The way Montgomery was shooting, it's no wonder she kept getting the green light from Flanagan. She ended the game 5-of-10 from behind the three-point line and 6-of-12 from the field, including four free throws. Her 21 points led all scorers in the game and were more than 10 above her 10.8 average for the season.
Head coach Don Flanagan said if it weren't for Montgomery's long-range prowess in the first 12 minutes, the Lobos would have spent the whole game trying to light a fire with damp wood. It also didn't hurt that the Lobos out-rebounded the Runnin' Rebels 19-to-8 on the offensive glass, he said.
"That's probably the game right there - the offensive boards," Flanagan said. "And of course Katie's three-point shooting, which was outstanding."
