Nov. 7, 2009

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. --- The New Mexico women's basketball team will host Eastern New Mexico Monday in exhibition action inside The Pit at 7 p.m. The game will be the only exhibition contest for the Lobos during the preseason and will lead up to next Friday's season opener against Northern Colorado at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on 610 AM The Sports Animal and video streamed on GoLobos.com.

WHEN: Monday, Nov. 9
WHERE: The Pit / Bob King Court
TIME: 7 p.m. MT
ONLINE: Gametracker and Video Streaming on GoLobos.com
MEDIA: 610 AM KNML The Sports Animal

UNM returns a wealth of talent from last year's squad that went 25-11 and reached the Elite Eight of the WNIT. Four seniors in Amy Beggin, Eileen Weissmann, Valerie Kast and Georonika Jackson lead the Lobos into the 2009-10 season. Beggin is an early All-America candidate and returns after having one of the best seasons in school history where she averaged over 15 points per game.

The Lobos have 10 returning letterwinners, five newcomers and are poised for an outstanding year. Load at the guard position this year, Flanagan will have his hands full finding the right combinations. Depth and experience are strengths but players must take advantage of opportunities if not in the starting rotation. Three starters are back including Beggin, Weissmann and junior Amanda Best. Best led UNM in rebound last year and is looking to improve on the offensive end.

Flanagan, who is a true teacher, always has well disciplined teams that rank among the nation's best in defense. Flanagan is in his 15th season at New Mexico and enters the year with a career record of 308-137 and has led UNM to 12 consecutive postseasons.

Exhibition Action --- New Mexico is 23-4 all-time in exhibition games under head coach Don Flanagan. UNM has won 21 of its last 22 preseason contests and last beat Eastern New Mexico in exhibition action on Nov. 4, 2007, 98-66 inside The Pit.

Exhibition Break Down Under Flanagan

1995 - Perth Breakers 99, UNM 55
1995 - Women's Armed Forces 68, UNM 67
1996 - UNM 63, Mexican Univ. All-Stars 53
1996 - UNM 71, Central Texas AAU 50
1997 - Houston Flight 65, UNM 57
1997 - UNM 70, Slovan Bratislava 63
1998 - UNM 81, Houston Flight 60
1998 - UNM 75, Uppsala 39
1999 - UNM 68, Texlon Turtnov 47
1999 - UNM 88, Houston 64
2000 - UNM 65, Lokomotiva 57
2000 - UNM 89, Houston Flight 85
2001 - UNM 84, Houston Flight 80
2001 - UNM 85, Denmark Select 44
2002 - UNM 94, Houston Flight 50
2003 - UNM 67, West Coast All-Stars 56
2003 - UNM 78, Houston Flight 76
2004 - UNM 85, West Coast All-Stars 55
2004 - UNM 72, Houston Flight 57
2005 - UNM 75, Fort Lewis 48
2005 - UNM 77, Metro State 50
2006 - UNM 68, CU-Colorado Springs 34
2006 - UNM 82, Vanguard 43
2007 - China 67, UNM 61
2007 - UNM 98, Eastern New Mexico 66
2008 - UNM 83, Melbourne 41
2008 - UNM 60, Alaska-Anchorage 49

UNM Welcomes Five Newcomers --- New Mexico women's basketball has five newcomers on the roster this year in Caroline Durbin, Jourdan Erskine, Chinyere Nnaji, Emily Stark and Jordan Unverzagt. All five bring loads of talent and could be contributors this season. Through the preseason, their work ethic and ability to adjust to Flanagan's style of play has been exciting.

Season Opener --- UNM will open the 2009-10 season Friday against Northern Colorado at 7 p.m. MT inside The Pit. The Lobos will host the Bears as part of the Preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament. UNM has three guaranteed home WNIT games to start the season. The second round game is set for Sunday at 2 p.m. while the third round game is Wednesday at 7 p.m. If UNM were to go undefeated through the first three rounds it would advance to the finals.