Saturday started off with watching some NWSL, where unfortunately, my favorite player, Olivia Moultrie, was eliminated from the playoffs. I was distracted from the game while flipping around. On a Mexican station, they were showing Scooby Doo in space against Alien. They were all on a moon city. Hijinks ensued. (Should I say “Hi-jinkies ensued,” perhaps?) I had to see how that one ended.
I’ve mentioned Roni’s Mac Bar before. I went there for lunch. The place was full and standing room only. I had to wait like 20 minutes for my order and had to take it home, but the barbeque brisket mac and cheese was worth the wait. I listened to Aggie Football playing at Tennessee while eating. It was an unsurprising 42-9 loss in front of 101k, but the Aggies did cover and made a couple of interceptions. The team was missing kicker Ryan Hawk and quarterback Logan Fife wasn’t left in to play the whole game. The Volunteers were playing with their third string by the fourth quarter.
I did divert away for a bit to listen to a UTEP postgame show. They had two events finishing at about the same time. Their fans were reeling and tilted from a Football loss to Missouri State and a Men’s Basketball loss to Utah State. One caller was really envious of the Aggies’ teams. This guy needs to hit refresh on the browser. The hosts and another caller were praising the UTEP Volleyball team for this season’s run. They’re going to the NCAA Tournament.
In the evening, Aggie Men’s Basketball was playing UNM here. The Lobos lost Coach Richard Pitino after the NCAA Tournament, so I wasn’t sure how good their team is this season. Juice Mims was back with the Aggies, so they were at full strength. PA Ed was not there at the Pan-Am Center. The other PA, whose name I still don’t know, was doing a great job. He was actually praised by a caller after the game. (Broadcasters Jeff Matthews and Anita Skipper don’t know his name either.) There was a disturbing, “Let’s go Lobos!” chant before game, but most of the 8,100 fans were for the Aggies.
The Aggies went up 10 points early, but the Lobos came back and tied it at 27 at the half. The Lobos went up early in the second half, but Jemel Jones and Mims brought the Aggies back and eventually into the lead. The refs were getting overly involved in the game late. With a minute left and a 4-point Aggie lead, the Lobo’s star player, Deyton Albury, fouled out. He didn’t even realize it and was in shock. Juice blocked a 3 at the end and the Aggies closed it out, 76-68. In the postgame, I felt a bit better that Matthews was also having trouble with Anthony Wrzeszcz’s name. Anthony led the Aggies in scoring.
This brings us to Sunday and my Rendezvous with Destiny with Whataburger. I was going to be using that free Whataburger coupon I was given at Aggie Men’s Basketball on Tuesday. It was delicious, one of the best hamburgers ever. You know it’s a good sign for a restaurant when you see two of their employees eating there.
I got to the Pan-Center a half-hour before the game and there was already good crowd there. Mia Fox and Jacqueline Corcoran were there representing Aggie Volleyball and looking casually glamorous. Several other members would come in later. Jack Nixon came in and had a word with Pistol Pete. He sat down at his usual spot at the Scorer’s Table. I did not see Mrs. Hubbard, but I saw a picture later that she was. PA Ed was still not here. I wonder if he’s sick. The other PA did a good job anyway.
The Aggies were on court warming up. They finished the session making a circle and clapping rapidly. The team exited down the tunnel yelling. Imani Warren stayed behind and took a few more foul shots. The UNM Lobos then came out of the tunnel howling. They had a section of fans behind their bench. One of their assistant coaches was really attractive. We need to recruit her.
There was a definite energy in the crowd. Attendance would be 1,408. It was a “White Out” game like last night. A lot of fans were wearing black 88 Aggie jerseys, which were a giveaway I missed out on. (I also missed out on a commemorative towel giveaway.) Emma Christiano led the Aggies back out on to the court. Coach Adams was wearing a white jacket with a sparkling “A” on the back. The Lobos were in cherry. The Aggies were wearing grey. I guess nobody wants to wear white for home games anymore. Emma would be starting, along with both Lucia’s (Yenes and Lara).
First Quarter
I missed one free throw on today’s scorecard. That was a reasonably nice comeback, after going 0 for 4 on Tuesday’s scorecards. Right off the tip, the ball went out-of-bounds. The Refs had a couple of minutes of confusion determining possession or who was defending which basket. The Aggies and Lobos missed their first couple of shots. The Aggies forced a shot clock violation on the Lobos’ second trip.
The Roadrunner Revue Band was super into it cheering and chanting, along with the crowd. Emma lost a rebound. She chased down the Lobo she lost the ball to and disrupted a layup and caused a turnover. Emma then made a jumper and had a steal. It was 2-4 Lobos with 7’ left in the quarter. Lucia L. missed two free throws after getting fouled, but got the rebound and made a layup. It was tied at 4 with 6’ left.
Emma made a bad pass, but the interception didn’t result in points. Both teams were really cold shooting. Emma took a charge in the lane and stuck her hand in for a steal. Imani tried for a layup off the turnover, but it was broken up. Lucia tried to get it in under the basket, but was fouled. She made the throws to put the Aggies up, 7-4, with 4’ left.
Emma wrestled for a tie up and Lucia stole the ball away, however the Aggies didn’t score and the Lobos made an easy layup. I’m sorry if this is sounding like “The Emma Show.” It’s just that nobody else was doing much. 9-7 Aggies with 1’ left. Marta Guilera came in. She got a rebound and was then fouled hard to the court. Marta converted on her free throws. The Lobos were fouled back and likewise converted to tie it at 9. Kiera Hudson came in and won a tie up with a much taller player. Lucia L. got an open jumper to fall, the Aggies’ first. It was 11-10 Aggies after 10 minutes.
Second Quarter
Simba Cam was activated. “Show us your babies!” said the PA. A girl behind me shouted, “I don’t have a baby!” I have no count on the number of beers she’d had during the game. If that number was zero, I really feel embarrassed for her.
Emma was on bench at this time. She was talking to the Coach. Like the other games when Emma was playing, she talking to the Coach Adams in every stoppage. The Lobos started with a layup. Lobo Alyssa Hargrove made a steal off of Kiera and made a layup. Anna Csenyi came back with a jumper. It was 11-14 Lobos and it finally looked like both teams had gotten over whatever stage fright they had.
Well, that was true for the Lobos, at least. Hargrove made a 3 and Destinee Hooks made a 3 on the Lobos’ next trip. Suddenly, it was 13-22 Lobos and the Aggies called a quick timeout. The Cheerleaders came out for a souvenir toss to the crowd. This included a cowboy hat that was given to a little boy.
Kiera and Emma were put on the floor together. Nayli Padilla hit the Lobo’s third 3 in a row. They finally missed on their next trip. Lucia had a fast break. She dribbled behind her back through the defenders. She made a pass behind her back to Imani under the basket, who then missed the layup. The crowd collectively groaned. It just wasn’t going to be the Aggies’ day. An Aggie fan behind me was booing and heckling in anger.
The Aggies started making a stand on defense. Lucia made a block on the Lobos’ next trip. Nikki Stanic and Iyana Beh came in. Perhaps the Coach was hoping somebody would have the touch. Lucia grabbed a rebound. Anna took a massive charge and went down. She was okay. Emma put in a jumper off the glass, 15-38 with 1’ left in the half. Nayli came right back with another 3 and Tyler added another before time expired. 15-38 Lobos.
I have to complain a bit about UNM Coach Bradbury. He was standing on the sideline waving his arms into the court like a sixth man on defense there by the end. Though it would have made no difference in the score, the Refs probably should have given him a warning.
Halftime
There was a “Grand in the Stand” giveaway for the students to start halftime. I saw the Hot Marketing Girl signing up for it before the game. A fairly happy student won it. A Mariachi band came out with Folklorico dancers for a performance. They were wonderful. It didn’t hurt that they began by playing the Aggie fight song. This was actually the highlight of game.
I took a quick trip to the bathroom. When I came back, a fan next to me asked if I’d gone off to talk to the team. “No, I just told the halftime performers they did a great job.” He also asked how many points had scored in the second quarter. It was 4. You can sum the first half up quickly. The Aggies couldn’t shoot from any range. I blamed a force field over the south goal. Maybe they’d be better shooting at the other goal.
Third Quarter
The second half began with another weird delay by the refs. Thankfully, these incidents were the only two bad calls I noticed during the game. Loes Rozing was fouled and converted on two free throws for the Aggies to start play. The Lobos committed two more fouls right after. This was the new strategy: get the Lobos to all foul out.
Loes then found Lucia L. for a layup. Emma put in another jumper. Cacia Antonio made another 3 for the Lobos and it was 21-48 UNM with 5’ left. Emma took a hard charge in the lane and her and the Lobo player went down. At 21-51 Lobos with 4’ left, the Aggies took a timeout.
The Lobos dropped in two more 3’s and the Aggies took another timeout, 21-57 Lobos with 3’ left. Some of the crowd was deserting. You couldn’t blame them. There was an announcement about the upcoming Volleyball tournament. The team started smiling and waving, but they didn’t put them on camera. Emma found Marta for a layup. Marta also made a couple of free throws. Most of the starters were just back in, except for Emma, who was yelling encouragement from the bench. 25-61 Lobos.
Fourth Quarter
The head ref chatted with a couple of fans on sidelines. I wonder what that conversation was about. Nayli began the fourth quarter with another 3 for the Lobos. Lucia came back with a Eurostep and her first field goal. Anna put in the Aggies’ first 3 after that. 30-68 UNM 6’ left in the game.
Emma made a couple of steals. She was also stripped of the ball and committed a foul to prevent a layup. Then, Emma made a rebound trying to guard under the basket. A Lobo player went down hard on the play and got the foul call. I think she actually slipped and hit her head on the court. 34-70 UNM 4’ left.
It was the Aggie starters versus the Lobo bench, though Nayli hit her fourth 3. That was the Lobos’ tenth 3. Lucia made a bounce pass to Lucia L. for a layup. Loes put in the second Aggie 3. 41-75 UNM 1’ left. Emma made a jumper, tried to take another charge, and then put in another jumper. The horn blessedly sounded. 45-77 Lobos final.
Lobos went up into the crowd and took a picture with their fans. The Aggies went around courtside, thoroughly dejected. They got a lot of hugs from the fans on court. Emma was just about mobbed. Thank you to the Lobos and their fans for not being obnoxious in this blowout, unlike UTEP (10-11-25). This was almost a “disappointing” victory for the Lobos for being so easy. In front of a home crowd, this kind of win would have been awesome.
That wasn’t humiliating as much as it was pathetic. I don’t know how much to attribute the Lobos’ defense and how much to the Aggies shooting so badly and also getting so many unlucky bounces. I guess it was mostly the defense, but it seems unlikely that the entire Aggie team was that cold. I was told the Aggies actually hung with #18 USC for half of the game. The Lobos could not have been playing better than USC.
The Lobos shot 53%, 45% on 3’s (10 made 3’s by 6 different players to 2 for the Aggies), and 64% free throws (not great, but who cares today?). Nayli Padilla had 14 points with 4 3’s, Destinee Hooks had 10 points. At least the Aggies held her under her average of 17 points. Cacia Antonio had 10 points and 7 rebounds and Clarrissa Craig had 8 points and 8 rebounds.
The Aggies shot 27%, 14% on 3’s, and 75% on free throws (swell, but who cares today?). Lucia Yenes led with 11 points and 8 rebounds. Emma Christiano had 10 points. Emma is pass first, but she should not be shy about taking open shots after today. Lucia Lara had 8 points and 7 rebounds. Imani Warren had 0 points. Keira Hudson had 0 points. Nikki Stanic had 0 points. I think I’ve made my point. Imani actually gets a pass here. I think she’s playing hurt.
Okay, let’s all just forget about this one and carry on like it never happened. For my part, I’m exhausted from my week off and going to all of these Aggie games. It’s been too emotional. I’ll have a month off from the games, at least. I’m not sure what’s going to happen at work for me in that time, but I have some more time off coming to look forward to.
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