LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The New Mexico Highlands University basketball teams close out their four game home stand this weekend when they host Fort Lewis College and Adams State University this Friday and Saturday (Jan. 10-11). Tip-off for the women's games is scheduled for 6 p.m. with the men following 20 minutes after.
There are multiple ways you can follow all the action this weekend. Every game will be streamed on the America One network by clicking
here. Live Stats for each of the women's games are available by clicking
here while live stats for the men's games are available by clicking
here. Finally, you can follow us on twitter
@NMHUCOWBOYS. Also, you can follow us on Instagram:
NMHUAthletics.
Follow all the Cowboys/Cowgirls Action on Social Media
The New Mexico Highlands athletics department is pleased to announce the addition of two new avenues to follow the Cowboys and Cowgirls. Unable to make it to the game and watch love stats on the computer? You can follow live, in-game updates for ALL athletic teams at
@NMHUCOWBOYS. Also, follow
NMHUAthletics on Instagram for behind-the-scenes photos of ALL athletic teams.
Finally, all game notes and recaps will be posted the
New Mexico Highlands University facebook page.
Cass Honored as RMAC Athlete of the Month
New Mexico Highlands University senior men's basketball player
Mannie Cass has been named the December Male Athlete of the Month, announced the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference offices on Tuesday (Jan. 7).
Cass had a stellar month of December, averaging 24.2 points – while hitting double-digit scoring in five of six games -, 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. He broke his career best in points twice, both in double overtime thrillers that the Cowboys won by two points.
To read more, click
here.
Smith Doubles Up as RMAC Defensive Player of the Week
New Mexico Highlands University senior
China Smith captured her second Defensive Player of the Week award of the season, announced Monday (Jan. 6) by the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Smith helped the Cowgirls snap a four-game skid with solid play this past weekend, grabbing 26 rebounds, seven steals, three assists and two blocks against only one turnover.
To read more, click
here.
Rounding Back in to Form
Senior women's basketball player
Alyssa Lopez, a preseason RMAC All-Conference selection, missed the first two games of the season. Through her first seven games of the season in 2013, Lopez was averaging 5.3 points with only one double-digit scoring effort. Since the calendar has turned to 2014, Lopez has become a force for the Cowgirls.
Through her first seven games, Lopez scored 37 total points. She scored that many in her last two games against Metro State and Regis combined. She tallied a then-season high 17 points in the Cowgirls 72-70 win over Metro State on Jan. 3. She followed that up with a season-best 20 points in Highlands 80-73 loss against Regis on Jan 4.
Lopez has moved up to third on the team with 8.2 points per game.
To read more about the Cowgirls 72-70 win over Metro State, click
here.
To read more about the Cowgirls 80-73 loss to Regis, click
here.
Where Did You Come From?
Cowboys' senior guard
Stuart Sullivan started the season by reaching double-digits in scoring in 5-of-6 games to begin the season. However, he failed to score at least 10 in the next five games. In the last three contests, in which the men's basketball team holds a 2-1 record, Sullivan has scored at least 16 points and has become the third Cowboy to average double-digit points on the season.
In Highlands 82-71 win at CSU-Pueblo Dec. 21, Sullivan had a then-season high 18 points on 7-10 shooting (70 percent), including a 4-7 (57.1 percent) mark from beyond the arc. While he ONLY scored 16 points in the Cowboys loss to Metro State on Jan. 3, Sullivan recorded a career-best 31 points in Highlands 75-73 win over Regis the next night. Sullivan scored 15 of the Cowboys first 16 points in the game and hit 6-8 (75 percent) from beyond the arc in the contest. Sullivan completed what proved to be the game-winning three-point play with eight seconds left.
To read more about the Cowboys 86-55 loss to # 5 Metro State, click
here.
To read more about the Cowboys 75-73 win over Regis, click
here.
Scouting Fort Lewis Men's Basketball
It may be another run-and-gun game on a Friday night when New Mexico Highlands University (7-5, 4-4 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) hosts Fort Lewis (8-3, 5-2) Jan. 10. The Skyhawks are seventh in the nation with 91.8 points per game. However, Highlands may be able to keep up if it is hitting shots as Fort Lewis does allow 78.8 points per game. There is also the potential of a lot of rejection Friday night as the Skyhawks send back 5.8 shots per game (11th in the nation) compared to Highlands 5.4 blocks per game (20th in the nation). Also, if senior
Stuart Sullivan is able to get hot from three-point range (in the last three games, he is 12-20 from beyond the arc) along with the rest of the team, the Skyhawks could be in for a long night. For Lewis is in the bottom third in the nation in three-point field goal defense, allowing teams to hit 37.1 percent.
Nick Tomsick leads Fort Lewis and is 17th in the nation with 22.2 points per game. Alex Herrera is not far behind, averaging 19.5 points per game (62nd in the nation). Herrera also leads the nation with 4.75 blocks per game.
Scouting Adams State Men's Basketball
It will be two rivals that meet up on the court when Highlands battles Adams State (enters the weekend 6-4, 3-4 RMAC). It will be another game of up-and-down basketball as the Grizzlies are ninth in the nation with 91.4 points per game. However, the Adams State defense ranks even worse than Fort Lewis as the Grizzlies let up 82.8 points per game (261st in the nation). While the Cowboys may find it tough sledding in the key with the blocked shots of Fort Lewis, Highlands will have to watch their back pockets on Saturday. Adams State is ninth in the nation with more than 10 steals per game. The Cowboys also need to make sure they are hitting their free throws (70.2 percent, 137th in the nation) as Adams State commits more than 25 fouls per game (286th out of 305 teams in the nation).
Adams State does not have anybody who is among the best in the nation in any statistical category save Lee Lark who is 84th in the nation with 1.9 steals per game. However, six different Grizzlies average double-digit points. Julian Scott averages 12.5 points per game with Mikey Hope closely behind with 12.4 points per game. Juwann Buchanan and Bruno Machado both average 12.0 points per game.
Scouting Fort Lewis Women's Basketball
The Fort Lewis women's basketball team (7-4, 4-3 RMAC) looks to solidify its RMAC Tournament hopes when it takes on the Cowgirls Friday night (Jan. 10) at 6 p.m. The Skyhawks rank in the middle of the NCAA in most statistical categories and are 99th in field goal percentage (41.7 percent). Senior
Alyssa Lopez and sophomore
Jenny Johnson could potentially have a big night from beyond the arc as Fort Lewis allows its opponents to make 33.8 percent of its three-pointers (237th in the nation).
Fort Lewis throws at teams a three-headed monster in scoring in Erika Richards (16.0 points per game), Ashley Kuchar (15.4 points per game) and Christie Groh (14.5 points per game). Erin Curry helps the Skyhawks' offense tick, ranking 12th in the nation with a 2.5 assist-turnover ratio.
Scouting Adams State Women's Basketball
It could potentially be a battle with huge RMAC Tournament implications when the Cowgirls battle Adams State (entering weekend 6-6, 2-5 RMAC). The Grizzlies like to slow the game down as they score only 56.5 points per game (276th in the nation). However, Adams State has a stingy defense that allows only 61.8 points per game (49th in the nation). The Grizzlies slowdown play is evident as Adams State is 39th in the nation with just under 15 turnovers a game. Highlands could have a big night on the glass as it is 106th in the nation with 2.5 more rebounds than its opponents per game, compared to Adams State ranking 224th in the nation, being out-rebounded by more than three boards per game.
Only two players average double-digits for the season for the Grizzlies. Mariah Gonzales contributes 10.4 points per game and is also 65th in the nation with 2.54 steals per game. Emilie Klint adds 10.3 points per game.
Next Up
The New Mexico Highlands basketball teams hit the road for the first time in 2014 when they travel to the plains states to take on Chadron State on Friday (Jan. 16) and Black Hills State Saturday (Jan. 17). Both men's games are scheduled for 8 p.m. while the women's games are scheduled for 6 p.m. against Chadron State and 5:30 p.m. against Black Hills State.
