By Jose Trujillo (@jAy_Ay_T ):
Coming off two straight road losses, San Jose State is back at home versus New Mexico this afternoon.
Getting back on the winning track will be no easy task for the Spartans (4-10, 1-2 MW), as the Lobos (15-1, 3-0 MW) have lost only once this season, at Oklahoma, and are undefeated in conference play.
Expect to see a lot of shots and points put up, as this matchup pins two of the highest scoring and fast paced teams in the conference.
So far, New Mexico is the only team in the conference to take over 1,000 field goal attempts. It’s 86.6 points per game and 43 percent shooting percentage bests the Mountain West.
The Spartans rank third in the conference averaging 70.6 points a game, and are in second behind the Lobos in three-point field goal makes with 119.
The offensive-driven teams also give up the most points. San Jose State allows opponents to score 84.1 points a game and New Mexico sits at 71.2.
On the court, SJSU will have to keeps tabs on several Lobos players. One of them senior point guard Cherise Beynon who is averaging 15.4 points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals per game. She can really impact the game in more than one area.
San Jose State will also have its hands full down low with the double-double machine Jaisa Nunn. The 6-foot-3 center is putting up 14.3 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.
Tesha Buck is another Lobo to look out for, as she has already sank 55 threes on 112 attempts, good for 49 percent on the year.
For the Spartans, Taylor Turney leads the team in scoring at 13.7 points per game and with four assist per game. Right behind Turney in scoring is Myzanique Ladd. The senior guard is averaging 12.1 points and leads the team in rebounds with seven a game.
Two players the Spartans could really use a spark from is senior forward Hallie Gennett. Coming off the bench, Gennett has struggled to find the basket shooting only 29 percent on the season.
Analyss Benally is another player the Spartans need to start making shots. In 95 attempts, Benally has made 30 which puts her at 31 percent for the year.
To come out victorious will require players to step up, and have the best defensive performance of the season for the Spartans. It will take a true team effort.
Tip-off from The Event Center is at 2 p.m.