It was just a couple years ago that the UNM women's basketball team was unstoppable at home, especially against conference opponents.
In fact, the 2005-06 senior class dominated the Mountain West Conference, not losing a single conference game in their four years as Lobo basketball players.
Fast-forward to this season, and UNM's fortunes at The Pit against conference foes have been flipped upside down.
The Lobos started 7-0 at home this season but have lost all three of their MWC games in The Pit.
After Saturday's frustrating 41-38 loss to BYU at home, UNM is 10-9 overall and 2-4 in conference play, earning road victories at San Diego State and Air Force.
UNM head coach Don Flanagan said the team has executed well on the road but can't seem to jell at home.
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"We've been doing pretty well, actually," he said. "The last few games away, we're fluid. We're moving. We're setting screens. We're cutting. Soon as we get home, it seems like they just get stationary, and they're a little bit nervous or anxious."
Offensive struggles have been the main factor in UNM's recent home skid. The Lobos averaged just 50 points per game in the three-game home losing streak.
Taking better care of the ball is near the top of the list in priorities for UNM.
In the three conference losses, the Lobos have committed 45 turnovers compared to dishing out 36 assists.
Sophomore guard Amy Beggin is counted on to do the majority of the ball-handling and running the offense, as well as being one of the team's main scoring options.
In Saturday's loss to BYU, Beggin had four assists and no turnovers but finished 0-of-12 from the field. She finished with four points off of free throws.
Flanagan said Beggin may have struggled shooting Saturday because of fatigue. Beggin, who normally racks up a lot of minutes, played the entire game against BYU.
Flanagan said he left her in the entire time because he doesn't have another option he can trust to control the ball.
In the closing seconds of Saturday's loss, Beggin had a chance to redeem herself with a game-tying 3-point attempt, but the shot bounced off the rim and sealed the Cougars' win.
Flanagan said Beggin is the kind of player that won't let Saturday's performance affect the rest of her season.
He said he would trust her to take that shot again.
"I appreciate Amy's toughness for taking that last shot, because she had a good look at it," Flanagan said. "She took it like she meant it, and we just didn't get it to go down. Many, many times I felt we had opportunities for possession, and the ball just seemed to bounce their way."
Senior Dionne Marsh knows what it was like when everything seemed to go UNM's way at home. She played a major part in the 2005-06 team's success.
Marsh said every program has its struggles, and the home losing streak is something the Lobos just need to work through.
"Every team has its ups and downs. No team is going to be great their whole careers or the whole time," she said. "You know, I'm sure every school in NCAA history has had up and down years. We still have a long way to go."
