The UNM women's basketball team will take on the New Mexico State Aggies for the second time this season when the teams meet Wednesday in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
UNM (2-3) throttled New Mexico State (4-2) in the second game of the season, taking an 84-55 blowout victory at WisePies Arena.
Lobo junior guard Alex Lapeyrolerie was a big factor in the team's win over the Aggies, scoring 22 points in just 30 minutes off the bench — five of her seven made shots came from beyond the arc.
UNM dominated that game in the post with its two tallest players — 6’5” Richelle van der Keijl and 6’4” Kianna Keller — using their size to outplay the Aggies on both ends of the floor.
Van der Keijl had a double-double, bringing in 19 points and a season-high 20 rebounds. Keller was a shot-blocking machine, rejecting a game-high four shots on the night.
Lobo guard Cherise Beynon didn't impose her presence as a scoring threat against the Aggies, as she scored just five points. But she dished out a game-high and school record-tying 15 assists. It matched a mark that was set back in 1987.
For the Aggies, size — or lack thereof — again presents the biggest challenge for the team. New Mexico State’s tallest player, Tyesha Taylor stands at 6-feet-4-inches. She was able to bring down seven rebounds last time against the Lobos.
Lapeyrolerie acknowledged that New Mexico needs to be prepared when the teams square off for round two, as the Aggies have likely made adjustments and will be looking to protect their home court.
“You know, we executed the gameplan perfectly today as team,” Lapeyrolerie said after the first meeting. “It's like coach Mike (Bradbury) said, ‘That game is not going to be the same as this one, because they're going to put up a real fight.’”
The squads have gone in opposite directions since that matchup. The Lobos haven’t won a game since, while the Aggies enter Wednesday on the heels of a two-game winning streak.
UNM’s most recent loss was a 79-67 defeat at the hands of St. Joseph’s in the Thanksgiving Tournament, while New Mexico State is riding high after drilling Northern New Mexico, 94-37.
Wednesday’s matchup tips off at 5:30 p.m.
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Matthew Narvaiz is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers women's basketball. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @matt_narvaiz
