New Mexico will begin 2016 with a tough test against Fresno State on Saturday.
For the first home conference game, head coach Yvonne Sanchez made clear that her squad needs to pick up wins at WisePies Arena if they want a shot at a Mountain West title.
“If you want to win a conference championship, you have to win you’re conference games at home,” Sanchez said.
The Lobos split the two game series a year ago, but Sanchez said she knows New Mexico (8-4, 1-0 MW) is going to need to keep a watchful eye on senior guard Shauqunna Collins. She is one of three Fresno State players averaging double-digit scoring and will pose for major problems if the Lobos cannot contain her.
Sanchez said the Bulldogs (5-7, 1-0 MW) are an overall balanced team and have the ability to beat teams in a variety of ways.
“Playing against a very good Fresno State team who has given us trouble in the past,” Sanchez said. “They’ve got shooters, they’ve got rebounders. They’ve got post players and a very good guard.”
With the possible absence of Jaisa Nunn, who Sanchez still lists as day-to-day, UNM’s play down low will have its hands full with Faz Davalos. Not only is Davalos leading her team with 12.9 points per contest, she is also the Mountain West leader in rebounds, averaging 10.2 points per game.
Although Davalos has a knack for finding the ball off the glass, UNM as a team ranks third in the conference with a +4.9 rebounding margin while Fresno State ranks seventh with +1.4.
New Mexico plays a style of team rebounding, without any particular player dominating on the boards. This is due in part because senior forward Khadijah Shumpert requires quite a bit of attention in the post, something Sanchez said works in her team’s favor.
“Kahdijah has been getting everyone’s attention, and rightfully so because she’s one of the best players,” Sanchez said. “She has to work through that stuff and continue to play through it.”
Sanchez said if Shumpert garners extra help down low, it opens up a wide range of other weapons for UNM’s offense by opening up lanes for the team’s guards and whoever else is complimenting Shumpert down low.
Even with all the added pressure put on Shumpert, she still is averaging team highs in rebounds per game (6.6) and leads the Lobos with 14.1 points per contest.
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UNM’s first game of the new year is following Wednesday night’s battle against a banged up Nevada squad on the road.
Sanchez has said multiple times that her squad cannot look past any team in conference simply because they have a poor record. Before her team started MW play, Sanchez said any team in the Mountain West has the ability to come out with a win.
“They did a terrific job stepping up and making plays, making shots, and believing in each other,” Sanchez said. “I thought our team grew up during that game.”
UNM’s head coach has made it a point to emphasize the need to get better every day. That will hold true as the New Mexico tips off against the Bulldogs at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Liam Cary-Eaves is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers volleyball, women’s basketball, baseball, and beach volleyball. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Liam_CE.
