MAINIAC
02-04-2008, 07:55 AM
Monday, February 4, 2008
Fans Spark Lobo Women
By Ken Sickenger
Journal Staff Writer
The Pit was back to its old, raucous ways Saturday night, which came as welcome news to the home team.
A season-best crowd of 11,942 loudly cheered on the University of New Mexico's 94-64 women's basketball win over UNLV. The fans fed off the Lobos' strong play while spurring them to even greater efforts.
The Pit's reciprocal environment had been missing of late as UNM had dropped its first three Mountain West Conference home games. Lobo coach Don Flanagan knew his team needed to get its home-court advantage back "This win is big not only for the team, but it's big for the fans," Flanagan said afterward. "... They felt good about us again and I think they came and saw an excellent game."
The fans certainly saw several Lobos put forth standout efforts. Guards Amy Beggin (26 points), Brandi Kimble (22) and Geronika Jackson (eight) had career scoring highs. As a team, UNM topped 90 points for the first time since 2005.
Forward Dionne Marsh scored 22 points and moved into third place on UNM's career scoring list.
"I can't remember the last time we had three players hit 20 points," Flanagan said. "Just to have three players hit double figures is good, and we had four." Post Angela Hartill was the fourth, chipping in 10 points off the bench.
It was a badly needed win for New Mexico (11-9 overall, 3-4 MWC), which climbed within two games of second place in the league standings after Brigham Young upset 15th-ranked Wyoming on Saturday. The Lobos visit Colorado State and Wyoming in the next six days.
UNM is 2-1 and has played relatively well in its first three MWC road games. Until Saturday night, the Lobos had struggled both to score and to win at the Pit.
"It really felt good just to win a game, especially at home," Beggin said.
Lobo fans seemed to sense that their team needed a boost and responded to every positive. Beggin, Marsh and Kimble received standing ovations when they went to the bench in the fourth quarter. All 13 players in uniform saw action and all were greeted warmly.
"(University president David Schmidly) came in the locker room after the game and was really proud of the players," Flanagan said. "He's very supportive of athletics and I appreciate him coming in."
The feel-good atmosphere was not only a product of UNM's win but how it was achieved. The Lobos responded to a week devoted to improved offense by more than doubling their point total from the previous week's loss to BYU.
UNM also got a spark from the seldom-used Jackson, who provided Beggin with a ball-handling break, nailed a pair of 3-pointers and looked assertive at the 3-guard spot "Geronika Jackson, who has not played a lot, played real well," Flanagan said.
All positives aside, Saturday's win came against a UNLV team that is 6-14 and struggling. New Mexico will need to maintain its newfound momentum long term if it's to start climbing the MWC standings. Still, the home win was a start. "I definitely think it's something we can build on," Beggin said.
MARSH'S MARCH: With her career point total at 1,684, Marsh is beginning to look like a serious threat to become New Mexico's career scoring leader. She needs 112 points to catch Jordan Adams for second place and trails career leader Abby Garchek by 152.
"It feels pretty good," Marsh said of moving past Alison Foote for third place, "but that's something I have to not focus on so much. People were talking about how many points I needed and everything. I just need to relax and play, not worry about that."
Up Next
Wednesday: New Mexico at Colorado State, 7 p.m. Radio: KNML-AM (610)
Fans Spark Lobo Women
By Ken Sickenger
Journal Staff Writer
The Pit was back to its old, raucous ways Saturday night, which came as welcome news to the home team.
A season-best crowd of 11,942 loudly cheered on the University of New Mexico's 94-64 women's basketball win over UNLV. The fans fed off the Lobos' strong play while spurring them to even greater efforts.
The Pit's reciprocal environment had been missing of late as UNM had dropped its first three Mountain West Conference home games. Lobo coach Don Flanagan knew his team needed to get its home-court advantage back "This win is big not only for the team, but it's big for the fans," Flanagan said afterward. "... They felt good about us again and I think they came and saw an excellent game."
The fans certainly saw several Lobos put forth standout efforts. Guards Amy Beggin (26 points), Brandi Kimble (22) and Geronika Jackson (eight) had career scoring highs. As a team, UNM topped 90 points for the first time since 2005.
Forward Dionne Marsh scored 22 points and moved into third place on UNM's career scoring list.
"I can't remember the last time we had three players hit 20 points," Flanagan said. "Just to have three players hit double figures is good, and we had four." Post Angela Hartill was the fourth, chipping in 10 points off the bench.
It was a badly needed win for New Mexico (11-9 overall, 3-4 MWC), which climbed within two games of second place in the league standings after Brigham Young upset 15th-ranked Wyoming on Saturday. The Lobos visit Colorado State and Wyoming in the next six days.
UNM is 2-1 and has played relatively well in its first three MWC road games. Until Saturday night, the Lobos had struggled both to score and to win at the Pit.
"It really felt good just to win a game, especially at home," Beggin said.
Lobo fans seemed to sense that their team needed a boost and responded to every positive. Beggin, Marsh and Kimble received standing ovations when they went to the bench in the fourth quarter. All 13 players in uniform saw action and all were greeted warmly.
"(University president David Schmidly) came in the locker room after the game and was really proud of the players," Flanagan said. "He's very supportive of athletics and I appreciate him coming in."
The feel-good atmosphere was not only a product of UNM's win but how it was achieved. The Lobos responded to a week devoted to improved offense by more than doubling their point total from the previous week's loss to BYU.
UNM also got a spark from the seldom-used Jackson, who provided Beggin with a ball-handling break, nailed a pair of 3-pointers and looked assertive at the 3-guard spot "Geronika Jackson, who has not played a lot, played real well," Flanagan said.
All positives aside, Saturday's win came against a UNLV team that is 6-14 and struggling. New Mexico will need to maintain its newfound momentum long term if it's to start climbing the MWC standings. Still, the home win was a start. "I definitely think it's something we can build on," Beggin said.
MARSH'S MARCH: With her career point total at 1,684, Marsh is beginning to look like a serious threat to become New Mexico's career scoring leader. She needs 112 points to catch Jordan Adams for second place and trails career leader Abby Garchek by 152.
"It feels pretty good," Marsh said of moving past Alison Foote for third place, "but that's something I have to not focus on so much. People were talking about how many points I needed and everything. I just need to relax and play, not worry about that."
Up Next
Wednesday: New Mexico at Colorado State, 7 p.m. Radio: KNML-AM (610)