The UNM women's basketball team will be facing some tough competition when ninth-ranked Texas Tech University and Oregon State University visit The Pit this weekend.
It will be revenge time for the Lobos against both teams because they both beat UNM last season. The Lobos lost to Oregon State 75-64 and were destroyed by Texas Tech 80-56. Both games were on the road so the Lobos hope the friendly confines of The Pit will make a difference.
The Lobos (4-1) have been playing well by putting together a three-game winning streak, and will be looking to extend their winning ways Friday against Texas Tech (2-1).
Head coach Don Flanagan says that Texas Tech will be a good test for his team at this point in the season.
"Every year they are a team that goes to the NCAA Tournament; they recruit some of the best players in Texas," he said. "They have a great deal of confidence, and they should, because they have been very successful."
UNM has yet to beat the Red Raiders in nine meetings. Texas Tech junior Plenette Pierson will be the player the Lobos will have to watch. Pierson averages 16.7 points a game to go along with 7.7 rebounds, which leads the team. She had a strong game against the Lobos last year, scoring 24 points and pulling down seven rebounds.
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However, the Lobos are coming off of a 75-67 win over the University of Arizona on Tuesday.
Flanagan says the game against Arizona gave the team exactly what it needed - confidence.
"The most important thing it did was clue the younger players and also our older players that we are good enough to beat good teams, and to not lose confidence in your ability," he said. "I really feel it was a confidence game."
The Lobos play Oregon State on Sunday to end the three-game homestand.
The Beavers (2-2) have been picked to finish seventh in the Pac-10 conference this season. Senior Felicia Ragland leads the Beavers' attack.
Oregon State and Texas Tech battled it out two weeks ago and the Red Raiders survived, earning in a 64-60 victory. Ragland almost single-handedly pulled off the near upset with her four 3-pointers in the game's final 62 seconds. The five-foot-nine guard posts an average of 16.8 points and seven rebounds a game.
Oregon State might pose some problems in the middle for the Lobos because of its height in the frontcourt. Senior 6-foot, 3-inch forward Ericka Cook and 6-foot, 5-inch sophomore center Brina Chaney are combining for 16 points and 12 rebounds an outing. The Beavers, who lead the all-time series 3-0, beat the Lobos last season 75-64 behind the play of Ragland.
"Oregon State is a very good team; they have an All-American player, potentially an All-American guard, so we are going to have to watch her," Flanagan said. "They are going to be an outstanding team to play, making it two tough games here in The Pit."
The Lobos play against the Red Raiders at 7 p.m. Friday and the Beavers at 1 p.m. Sunday.
