Head coach Yvonne Sanchez said New Mexico took a hit without the team’s starting center, but that the depth inside will overcome Ebony Walker’s presence down low.
That depth came through in the Lobos’ exhibition game Sunday.
UNM outscored Eastern New Mexico 42-8 in the paint despite losing Walker to a suspension after her being charged with domestic violence on Nov. 4. Sanchez said, following UNM’s 61-49 victory over Eastern New Mexico, that it was a refreshing change of pace after a hectic week.
“It was an emotional week for everybody,” she said. “It was good to get on the basketball court and just play.”
Three of New Mexico’s post players scored in double digits, including junior forward Khadijah Shumpert’s 12 boards and 10 points.
“We wanted to get the ball inside,” Sanchez said. “We feel that we are strong in the post and we’re deep in the post.”
Sanchez said the Lobos expect great things out of the post play, and that Shumpert is a consistent double-double player inside the paint.
“I think tonight opened our eyes on how hard it is to get it inside,” Shumpert said. “Especially with a team that is a lot smaller than us, we need to keep looking inside.”
Junior guard Bryce Owens said the team should have beaten ENMU by a lot more than the final score indicated.
Owens said the team adjusted to the loss of Walker well, given such a short time to overcome.
“I think our posts adjusted well, our guards adjusted well,” Owens said. “Missing Ebony (Walker) is a loss for us right now.”
One of the things Owens said was a big part of missing UNM’s center was the need to pick up the slack on getting boards. UNM out-rebounded the Aztecs 41-29 while collecting 18 offensive boards.
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Despite playing so well inside and rebounding well, the Lobos allowed the Aztecs to shoot 5 of 10 from behind the 3-point arc in the first half alone. Sanchez said the team got an earful from her, which led to better shot defense in the second half.
“That was the biggest thing for me,” Sanchez said. “We need to do better in transition defense. That was probably the worst part of our game today.”
A big problem for New Mexico was stopping the Aztec point guard Tori Tucker. Tucker had a game-high 21 points on 7-13 shooting. New Mexico’s second half adjustment allowed just six points on two three-pointers.
The Lobos were not terrific from the charity stripe, either, which Sanchez said she attributed to nerves.
In the win, the Lobos shot 7 of 20 from the free throw line and just 2 of 13 from beyond the arc, which Sanchez said will improve throughout the season.
UNM opens the regular season Friday at the Maggie Dixon Classic in Chicago. The Lobos will play three games in three days: Texas-Pan American on Friday, Texas A&M on Saturday and DePaul on Sunday.
“It was a good exhibition game,” Sanchez said. “It was good to get this done with before we head out to Chicago next weekend.”
Liam Cary-Eaves is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Liam_CE.
