The New Mexico women's basketball team started 3-0 in the Mountain West for the first time since the 2008-09 season and will try for four straight conference wins as it travels to Nevada.
Last season, New Mexico (7-6, 3-0 MW) swept Nevada (6-8, 0-3 MW). In its first matchup last season, the Lobos escaped with a 51-47 win in Reno, Nevada. And then followed it up by dominating the Wolfpack in WisePies Arena aka The Pit, 66-42.
The Lobos enter Saturday’s matchup on a
The Wolfpack have been struggling in conference play, going winless in their first three appearances. The team’s last loss came on Jan. 4 to San Diego State 83-78 – a team the Lobos annihilated at WisePies Arena by 43 points to close out 2016.
In the Lobos’ most recent game against Utah State, three Lobos scored in double digits in the likes of Cherise Beynon (23), Jaisa Nunn (22) and Richelle van der Keijl (18).
Van der Keijl, alongside her 18 point performance, tallied 12 rebounds against an aggressive Utah State defense. It marked her fourth double-double on the season.
Nevada has palpable rebounders in sophomore
Rebounding will likely be a big factor in deciding whether the Lobos can pick up another win.
Van der Keijl has made her presence felt on the boards throughout the season. She's averaging 10.0 rebounds per game, which ranks second in the Mountain West. Beynon is second on the Lobos in rebounding, averaging 7.8 rebounds per game and Kianna Keller ranks third for the Lobos, bringing in 7.6 rebounds per game.
The Lobos, as a team, are averaging 47.2 rebounds per game to Nevada’s 42.5.
Beynon has made herself a scoring threat for the Lobos, too. In Mountain West play thus far, Beynon has put up 20 points against Fresno State, 23 points against San Diego State and 23 points against Utah State, which averages out to 22 points per game.
Alongside averaging double digits in rebounds, van der Keijl is averaging 14.9 points per game. Her field goal percentage is out-of-this-world, too, as she hits 61 percent of her shots – second best in the Mountain West.
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Nevada presents a scoring threat of its own in senior Stephanie
Despite not winning a game in conference, the Wolfpack are second in the Mountain West in points per game (71.6) with the Lobos (71.5) right behind in that category.
Tip-off for this game is set for 5 p.m. MST and is set to be broadcasted on the Mountain West Network.
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
