UNM seizes MWC title

The UNM women's basketball team came from behind to beat the CSU Rams 59-52 on Saturday at The Pit and became co-Mountain West Conference Champions.

The Lobos share the title with the Utah Utes.

UNM has not won a women's basketball title since the 1998-99 season.

After last year's departures of Jordan Adams and Chelsea Grear, this season was intended to be a rebuilding year for the Lobos, and the likelihood of them going as far as they did last season was slim.

But the Lobos did rebuild - during the offseason - and have exceeded last season's record.

"Did I expect to be 12-2 in conference?" junior guard Mandi Moore said. "No, but I thought we'd do well. I know the potential of this team, and I know we can go far. It's a different team from last year, but that doesn't mean it's not as good."

With three freshmen who quickly became stars, Fatima Maddox, Julie Briody and Katie Montgomery and returning players who matured into leaders including Moore, Melissa Forest, Lindsey Arndt and Abbie Letz, the Lobos have become exceptionally team-oriented.

Head coach Don Flanagan said winning the title was truly a reflection of teamwork and strong effort.

"Statistically, we're not near the top at all," Flanagan said. "Well, in defense we are. In fact, we're the best in the nation. But we just have enough players - and it seems to be a different one every night - that we can overcome obstacles."

Although Utah shares a piece of the conference title, the Lobos will go into this week's MWC Tournament as the No. 1 seed. UNM remains undefeated in conference play at The Pit.

Flanagan said that is a record he is very proud of.

"We haven't had many teams who have done this," he said. "Six years ago we were 12-2 in the WAC. And that was a veteran team, not a young team like this."

Forest remained consistent in Saturday's game not only under the basket, but also from deep. Forest had four rebounds, three points and a block before the Rams even knew what hit them.

It didn't take long for CSU to adjust though, and Joy Jenkins went on her own 11-point run near the end of the first period. The Lobos did not score for nine minutes and were down 28-17 at halftime.

Letz, who struggled in the first half, was key in the second, drawing several clutch 3-pointers, including one to tie the game at 47 with 4:30 remaining. Flanagan said after Letz got hot, UNM finally started to execute.

"We tried every offense we had," he said. "We tried every defense we had, and nothing was working for a period of time. Finally (CSU) started missing some."

With the Lobos up by two and 1:34 left to play, Moore went to the line. She nailed six of UNM's last eight points from the stripe.

Flanagan said at the beginning of the season, UNM would have to win the conference to have a prayer of getting into the Big Dance. But he said it is still too soon to tell if the Lobos will be back in The Pit on March 20 for the first round of the NCAA tournament.

For now, he said he wants to take it one game at a time.

The Lobos will play the No. 8 Air Force Falcons on Wednesday to kick off the MWC tournament in Denver. Tipoff at the Pepsi Center will be at noon.