ALAMOSA and
DURANGO, Colo. – The New Mexico Highlands men's (10-9, 7-8 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) and women's (9-10, 5-10 RMAC) basketball teams look to climb back in the thick of the conference tournament race this weekend when it takes on Adams State on Friday (Feb. 7) and Fort Lewis Saturday (Feb. 8).
Cannot attend the games this weekend? Both the men's and women's games against Adams State will be broadcast by clicking
here. Live stats for the women's game against the Grizzlies will be located
here, while live stats for the men's game will be located
here.
For Saturday's games against the Skyhawks, live video is available by clicking
here. Live stats for the women's game will be located
here while live stats for the men's game is located
here.
Men's Basketball
The New Mexico Highlands men's team returns to action this weekend and are on the outside looking in for the 2014 RMAC Tournament. The Cowboys are in a tie with Colorado Mesa, who currently has the tiebreaker over Highlands thanks to an 81-62 win on Dec. 13, 2013.
The Cowboys also welcome back senior
Lavell McDade after nearly a two-month hiatus. In the last three games, McDade has reached double-digit scoring. He scored 10 in points in the win over Western New Mexico and increased that to 14 in a loss to CSU-Pueblo. Coming off the bench in their most recent game, McDade scored 28 points to help the Cowboys put together a furious rally attempt against UC-Colorado State. He had 24 points in the second half alone, including 11 points in the last six minutes.
Also against UC-Colorado Springs, senior
Mannie Cass recorded his third double-double of the season, all double-doubles occurring in the last five games. Coming into the new year with no more than six rebounds in a game, Cass has a minimum of seven boards in his last five games. Cass is averaging nine rebounds a contest in those games, taking over the team lead in that category.
Scouting Adams State
Revenge may be on the mind of the Grizzlies as Adams State (12-6, 8-6 RMAC) led on Jan. 11 by seven points with 2:46 remaining and four under 20 seconds left. However, the Cowboys scored the games' final seven points to pull off the 90-87 win.
To read more about Highlands' victory, click
here.
Like Fort Lewis, the Cowboys will be facing a high-scoring offense but a sub-par defense. Adams State leads the conference and is fourth in the nation with 91.6 points per game. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies are 255th in the nation by allowing 82.3 points per game. Adams State also is very adept at picking its opponents pocket as it is sixth in the nation in steals per game (10.5) and fourth in the nation with a 5.4 turnover margin. Highlands forced 17 Grizzly turnovers in the first meeting.
Unlike Fort Lewis, Adams State uses balanced scoring as five players average double-digit scoring. Bruno Machado leads the way with 12 points per game, followed by Juwann Buchanan adds 11.2 points per game. Mike Hemsley contributes 5.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
Scouting Fort Lewis
New Mexico Highlands will be taking on Fort Lewis (12-6, 9-5 RMAC) for the second time in a month Saturday, shooting only 58.8 percent (10-17) from the charity stripe in an 82-69 loss on Jan. 10. The Skyhawks led by as much as 15 in the second half while Highlands held an early five-point lead.
To read more about the loss to Fort Lewis from Jan. 10, read
here.
The Skyhawks and Cowboys could be in for a high-scoring affair as both teams are in the top third in the country in scoring. Fort Lewis is 11th nationally with 88.3 points per game, but counters by being 220th in the nation by allowing 78.3 points per game.
In fact, defense is not a strong suit in the RMAC as 12-of-14 teams in the conference are 193rd in or worse in the nation in scoring defense.
The game could also be a block party inside as Highlands leads the conference and Fort Lewis is second in the RMAC with 5.1 and 4.7 blocks per game, respectively. The Skyhawks' Alex Herrera leads the conference and is second in the nation with 3.83 blocks per game. Cass is third in the conference and 83rd in the nation with 1.53 blocks per game.
Two players average 19+ points per game while no one else averages double-digits. Nick Tomsick is 35th in the nation with 20.4 points per game while Alex Herrera – who leads the team and is 33rd in the nation with 9.3 points per game – adds 19.1 points per game.
Women's Basketball
The women's basketball team earned an all-important sweep when it host Fort Lewis and Adams State on Jan. 10-11. The Cowgirls will be looking to do the same as they sit one game-back from being in a tie for the final spot in the conference tournament.
Senior
China Smith just finished an eight-game month of January where she recorded a double-double in five of eight games, reaching double-digits in points seven times and double-digits in rebounds six times. Smith is now 14th in the nation in rebounds (10.7) and 17th in the nation with nine double-doubles on the season. Smith remains one of only two players in the conference who averages a double-double.
Highlands is 77th in the nation with 6.1 three-pointers a game, but only hits 29.3 percentage of its triples. In the weekend against For Lewis and Adams State the first time, the Cowgirls hit 14-40 (35.0 percent) from downtown.
Scouting Adams State
In the first meeting between Highlands and Adams State (7-12, 3-11 RMAC), the Cowgirls scored only five seconds into the contest and never surrendered the lead in an 82-60 victory, its biggest win in the conference this season. The Cowgirls spread their scoring around as junior
Anngelina Sanchez came off the bench for 17 points. Senior
Alyssia Lopez and Smith both had 13 while classmate
TJ Manson added 10 points.
Smith completed the double-double with 12 rebounds.
To read more about the Cowgirls win over Adams State, click
here.
Adams State will not score many points as it is last in the conference and 284th (out of 287 teams) with 54.1 points per game. However, the Grizzlies battle as they are fourth in the conference and 75th in the nation by allowing only 64.2 points per game. Adams State is in the bottom third of the country in most team statistics, but it is hard to turnover as the Grizzlies are 48th in the nation with only 14.9 miscues per game.
Mariah Gonzalez makes the Grizzlies tick as she leads the team with 10.6 points per game. She also contributes 3.4 assists and 2.61 steals per game and leads the team with 6.1 rebounds per game.
Scouting Fort Lewis
Highlands trailed by as much as 12 in the first half in the first meeting of the year against Fort Lewis (11-7, 8-6 RMAC), but the Cowgirls battled back and led by one at the break and by as much as 15 in the second half en route to a 74-63 win.
To read more about Highlands win over Fort Lewis, click
here.
A key for Highlands will be to disrupt the passing lanes. Fort Lewis averages an assist on 64.7 percent of its baskets and is 69th in the nation, hitting 42.6 of its shots. Highlands may be able to get an edge as Fort Lewis is averaging more turnovers than its opponents for the year.
Three players average more than 14 points per game with a fourth adding 9.6 points. No one else has more than 5.8 points per game. Erika Richards paces the Skyhawks with 16.0 points per game while Ashley Kuchar contributes 15.3 points and 4.5 assists (50th in the nation) per game. Christie Groh adds 14.2 points and a team-best 6.0 rebounds per game.
Next Up
The New Mexico Highlands basketball teams wrap up regular season road play next weekend (Feb. 14-15) when they take on Colorado Mesa and Western State.
