Lobos open weekend tournament with four losses

New Mexico will take a break from playing ranked opponents in search of its first win of the 2014 campaign.

After three consecutive games against top-25 teams, the Lobos (0-4) will face off against Boston University (2-2) on Friday night at 7 p.m. to open its annual Thanksgiving Tournament. Stephen F. Austin and UC Riverside will also make the trip to Albuquerque to compete in the tournament.

UNM will play the winner of Stephen F. Austin and UC Riverside on Saturday. The Ladyjacks and the Highlanders will face each other Friday.

“Nobody wants to start 0-4. We certainly didn’t,” Sanchez said. “Obviously we want to get in the win column. It’s time.”

Sanchez said the team continues to focus on free throws, which have plagued the squad early in the season. UNM went 7 for 16 from the line against No. 5 Stanford. The lousy shooting, especially late in the game, played a pivotal role in the 70-65 loss.

In the four games the Lobos have played, they are shooting almost 54 percent from the line, almost 10 percentage points lower than their opponents, who are shooting 63.6 percent. In practice, Sanchez said the Lobos shoot free throws after sprints, when they’re tired and focus on their shooting from the charity stripe on light workout days.

A lot of teams typically shy away from indulging in such a tough schedule, especially after finishing ninth in the conference and a first-round exit from the Mountain West tournament last year.

“They’ve embraced the schedule,” Sanchez said. “You play very good teams and you learn from it.”

Just because New Mexico is not playing a ranked opponent, Sanchez said the team cannot sleep on any of the matchups they will encounter this weekend.

Junior forward Khadijah Shumpert will have her hands full on Friday, as she will likely be facing off against Boston forward Meghan Green. The sophomore is close to averaging a double-double with 16.5 points a game and 9.8 rebounds per contest.

Green’s 54.3 percent shooting from the field is nothing to take lightly, but the 66.7 percent shooting from behind the arc will be a point of concern for the Lobos who struggle contesting the outside shot.

Sanchez said the Lobos have scouted the six-foot forward who can shoot like a guard. While UNM is hopeful Alexa Chavez is back to provide depth down low, Sanchez said she is confident that Shumpert will be able to handle the task of containing Green.

“Everything you want in a leader, Khadijah brings,” Sanchez said. “I expect her to be one of the best players on the floor.”

Shumpert’s early stats are nothing to scoff at either. Although Shumpert said she hadn’t thought of herself as a scorer until recently, the big presence in the post is the team’s leading scorer (51) and the leading rebounder (33).

“I’ve never really seen myself as a scorer,” Shumpert said. “I definitely see myself as someone the girls listen to.”

Sanchez said she embraces hosting the holiday tournament because the team and their families all come together for a Thanksgiving meal at her house. Shumpert will be providing the sweet potato pie, her grandmother’s recipe.

“I love the Thanksgiving tournament just because we get to play at home,” Shumpert said. “My family, who is coming all the way from Minnesota, they get to see two games all in a weekend.”

Liam Cary-Eaves is the assistant sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Liam_CE.