Feb. 8, 2010

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. --- The New Mexico women's basketball team will try to keep its three-game winning streak alive Wednesday against UNLV. The Lobos will host the Rebels in The Pit starting at 7 p.m. MT. New Mexico enters Wednesday's game with a 14-7 overall mark and is tied for second in the league standings at 6-3. UNLV is 10-13 on the year and 3-6 in league play. The game will be broadcast live on 610 AM The Sports Animal. GameTracker and live video streaming will be available on GoLobos.com.

The Lobos are coming off a 65-58 victory over San Diego State Saturday in Viejas Arena. With the victory, New Mexico has now won three straight over the conference leaders marking the first time in school history the Lobos have accomplished the feat. UNM has scored 60 points or more in the last six games and have a 5-1 record during the streak. The Lobos are now 77-5 when scoring 60 or more points since the 2006-07 season.

Senior Georonika Jackson was named the MWC Co-Player of the Week Monday. Jackson along with Utah's Kalee Whipple received the weekly honors. It was the first time in Jackson's career she was named a MWC Player of the Week. Jackson scored a season-high 14 points at SDSU Saturday and helped UNM sweep its third-straight conference leader. New Mexico has won back-to-back Player of the Week honors after Amy Beggin received the award last week.

The Lobos are tied for second in the league standings with BYU and San Diego State. TCU currently leads the conference by one game heading into the week.

Sophomore Lauren Taylor returned to action Saturday at SDSU. Taylor played 12 minutes scoring two points and pulling down four rebounds. Saturday was Taylor first game back after a six-game layoff due to a knee injury.

Senior Amy Beggin is leading New Mexico in scoring with 13.5 points per game. Beggin had all six of her points at the free throw line Saturday but has been the leader of this squad for three years.

In the last game for New Mexico, the Lobos defeated San Diego State, 65-58, snapping a three-game skid with the Aztecs. Four Lobos reached double figures including 14 points by seniors Eileen Weissmann and Georonika Jackson. Jackson reached double figures for the third time this season and Weissmann has notched back-to-back double digit games. Junior Jessica Kielpinski added 13 points while sophomore Sara Halasz had 12. New Mexico shot 46.8 percent from the field and made 19-of-24 free throws. The Lobos outrebounded SDSU, 31-20.

The Lobos return home Wednesday and hope to improve on their 9-4 home record. UNM has won three straight conference games in The Pit including a 60-53 upset over No. 20 TCU in the last game.

New Mexico trails the all-time series with UNLV 17-22 but has won five of the last six meetings. The Lobos have won 11-of-15 games played in The Pit. Don Flanagan is 15-16 all-time against the Rebels. UNM has won seven straight at home against UNLV and haven't lost to the Rebels in The Pit since Jan. 6, 2002, 62-53.

The Lobos beat UNLV 63-54 earlier this year in Las Vegas. Junior Jessica Kielpinski had a career day against the Rebels. Kielpinski recorded her first career double-double at UNLV with a career-high 18 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore Lauren Taylor came off the bench and scored 11 points. The Lobos were outrebounded at UNLV 40-36 but outshot the Rebels from the field and at the free throw line. UNLV hit seven 3-pointers in the game. Erica Helms had 17 points for the Rebels while Kelli Thompson added 10.

Probable Starters	HT	Position	Season Statistics
Amy Beggin	5-6	Guard	13.5 Pts. -- 4.1 Rebs.
Eileen Weissmann	6-0	Wing	6.6 Pts. -- 3.4 Rebs.
Sara Halasz	5-11	Guard	9.7 Pts. -- 4.8 Rebs.
Amanda Best	6-0	Guard	8.8 Pts. -- 5.0 Rebs.
Jessica Kielpinski	6-1	Post	7.7 Pts. -- 6.1 Rebs.

Off The NM Bench	HT	Position	Season Statistics
Lauren Taylor	6-0	Guard	10.5 Pts. -- 2.8 Rebs.
Nikki Nelson	5-5	Guard	1.7 Pts. -- 0.7 Rebs.
Jourdan Erskine	6-0	Guard	0.9 Pts. -- 0.2 Rebs.
Georonika Jackson	5-11	Guard	5.3 Pts. -- 1.8 Rebs.
Porche Torrance	6-1	Wing	3.5 Pts. -- 3.0 Rebs.
Caroline Durbin	6-0	Guard	1.1 Pts. -- 1.1 Rebs.
Valerie Kast	6-6	Post	3.9 Pts. -- 1.4 Rebs.
Jordan Unverzagt	6-2	Post	0.0 Pts. -- 0.3 Rebs.
Emily Stark	6-5	Post	0.3 Pts. -- 0.2 Rebs.

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The last meeting between UNM and UNLV in The Pit was a blowout. The Lobos routed the Rebels 75-49 and hit nine 3-pointers in the contest. Amy Beggin and Eileen Weissmann led the way with 13 points each while Amanda Adamson had 10. The Lobos shot 40.6 percent from the field compared to 33.3 percent for UNLV.

The Rebels are 10-13 on the year and 3-6 in league play. Erica Helms is leading the team in scoring with 13.6 points per game. Helms had 17 points in the previous meeting in Las Vegas. She has hit 43 3-pointers this season and ranks second on the team behind Kelli Thompson with 48. Thompson is averaging 13.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. The Rebels have five players averaging over 5.0 points per game.

UNLV has won two of its last three games but feel at BYU Saturday. The Rebels dropped a 76-60 decision against the Cougars in Provo. Helms led the way with 19 points while Thompson had 14. Jamie Smith pulled down 12 rebounds and is leading UNM on the glass with 9.9 rebounds per game. Smith had 10 rebounds in the last game against UNM.

Second-year head coach Kathy Olivier leads the Rebels.

After Wednesday's game, UNM will host Utah Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast locally on My50-TV. It will also be Pink Zone and Youth Day in The Pit. Fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness.

Lobos Women's Basketball

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