by David J. Chavez
Daily Lobo
The UNM women's basketball team won by at least 30 points for the second time in as
many games.
The Lobos beat the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs 68-34 Sunday at The Pit to go
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2-0 in exhibition games.
Head coach Don Flanagan said the final score doesn't tell the whole story about UNM's performance.
"I realize we won by a pretty good margin, but at the same time, we should have played much better," he said. "Way too many offensive rebounds - they get 14, and we get nine. They had more chances at getting offensive rebounds, but we got to keep people off the glass."
Both teams started the game with poor shooting and turnovers. In the first half, the teams combined for 15 field goals and 25 turnovers.
The Mountain Lions held the Lobos to 16 points in the first 13 minutes of play. Colorado Springs cut UNM's lead to nine at 20-11 with 3:03 left in the first half. The Lobos then went on a late run for a 26-13 cushion at halftime.
In the second half, Flanagan made a roster change and started freshman Amy Beggin instead of junior Brandi Kimble at guard.
Beggin was surprised to get the start in the second half but understood why Flanagan decided to call on her, she said.
"Brandi, Katie and Julie have been playing so well, but he just wanted for someone to pick it up a little on defense, so that's what I was in there for," she said.
The Lobos seized control of the game after intermission.
With 16:07 left, the Lobos pulled ahead by 18 points. In the next eight minutes, UNM went on an 18-2 run to take a
56-24 lead.
The Lobos shot 66 percent from the field in the second half, compared to 33 percent in the first half. UNM also shot better in the second half from beyond the arc, going 5-for-8 from 3-point land after starting out
1-for-9.
Flanagan said the team lost its composure in parts of the game.
"We have some very good
competition coming up," he said. "It will be twice as much pressure as what we had tonight, and we didn't do a very good job against pressure. So that will be one of the things that we will continue to work on."
The Lobos played tough defense, forcing 26 turnovers. They held the Mountain Lions to a dismal 21 percent shooting from the field.
UNM wasn't immune to sloppy ballhandling, as it had
20 turnovers in the game.
Three Lobos scored in double figures. Senior Katie Montgomery finished with a game-high 18 points and three assists. Junior forward Dionne Marsh chipped in 14 points, including 10 first-half points, while senior Julie Briody contributed 12 points.
Montgomery said going on the road for the next few games will be a good experience for
the team.
"It's going to be tough. We play some tough competition right off the bat, and then we come back and we play Texas here," she said. "It's going be good for us and the freshman to go right on the road and play some good competition right away."
Women's
basketball
vs. Florida
Atlantic
Friday, 1:30 p.m.
Tempe, Ariz.
