I don’t know what’s a worse sign. Starting off an Aggie post with a picture of
a Lobo player, or pulling into the parking lot of the Pan-Am Center and seeing nothing but Lobo fans there. Take your pick. What’s frightening was that their chartered
bus hadn’t even pulled up yet. The Lobo
fans had even come early. Ron wanted to
make sure to get the giveaway hat (of which, he already gotten one), so
we’d come early too. He was afraid
they’d get all of them.
Outside the ticket office, we met the ever friendly and effusive
Aggie Marketing Director, Nicole. Ron expressed concerned about all the Lobo
fans, but Nicole was glad they were coming, because they were buying
tickets. (Not to mention, they charge
extra for rivalry games.) She was a bit
bummed over the Aggie Men’s current
score against Arizona in
Tucson. They were down 20 at the
half. As busy as she is, I was amazed
she was keeping up with the out-of-town game.
(I’d forgotten about the game and had only tuned in for a couple of
minutes, right before Ron had picked me up.)
Inside, we received our hats. (Honestly, I have pile of hats at home. I gave this one away at work.) The stunning Emerson was there, but I chatted
for a moment with her co-worker, who I recognized as the “Softball PA,” who’s
also been doing some Pan-Am games. I
tried to get his name and asked twice.
It was something like, “Seer.”
Crap. Anyway, I got to tell him
he was doing a good job. He wasn’t doing
the announcing today. They had regular PA Ed for this big rivalry game.
The Lobos were warming up on court, as the Visitor’s
section filled up behind their bench. One
of their assistant coaches out there was rather attractive, Laneah Bryan. I immediately picked out one of the players, Jaedyn de la Cerda, who’d torched the
Aggies so badly last year (12-15-18). She’s also really cute (as seen up at the top).
Holy crap! Over at
the Lobo bench was Taylor Swift! Apparently her current album is flopping so
bad, she’s decided to switch careers and become a Lobo Assistant Coach under
the pseudonym, “Valerie King.” I hate her even more now! Still, Ron was right; I did want to go
down and meet her. (To set her straight
in her social and political beliefs, of course.) [Okay, given she was across the court and my
vision isn’t that sharp, there’s a possibility that it wasn’t her, but I’m
pretty sure it was. If this, “Valerie
King,” is an actual different person, she’s gone to some lengths to do her
hair, makeup, and wardrobe just like Tay.]
When the teams weren’t on court, a couple of staffers took
care of the toddler that I think is Coach
Atkinson’s son. They were playing
ball with him, I’m guessing under the coach’s instructions. It’s never too early to start training. When both teams were practicing, Aaliyah Prince and Lobo Jayla Everett met briefly at halfcourt
and slapped hands. I guess they know
each other. Jaedyn went over and gave
the refs a sweet smile and a handshake when they came out.
Listening over the radio I’d brought, the Aggie Men lost 83-53 to the Wildcats right before this
game started. That game didn’t seem take
very long. Brooke Salas was nowhere to be seen. I was hoping she was still in town and
that the coach might try to sneak her into the game. Her and Jaedyn had a little personal rivalry
going in their last meeting to see who would be the high-scorer. (Even in the loss, Brooke still had the most
points.) I’m sure Brooke would have been
game for a rematch.
Thankfully, there ended up being more Aggie fans than Lobo
fans present here. The Lobo fans were
louder though. The Roadrunner Revue band played the obscure 80’s classic, Word Up.
I wonder how that happened. Where
would they have even heard the song? I
got ready to hear Taylor sing the Anthem, but she blew it off! I cannot believe how anti-American she’s
become. What has happened to America’s
Sweetheart? Just as well. If she had sang it, she probably would have
taken a knee.
First Half
It all started so well.
Aaliyah Prince made a
steal. She was tripped and took a hard
fall, but got the bunny. Soufia Inoussa hit a three. I have the words, “Blistering action,”
written as an excuse for not being able to take notes while standing. The Lobo fans were also standing. We were both waiting for the Lobos to score,
but for different reasons. Gia Pack picked up her first foul. Nana
Sule got a pair of rebounds. Gia missed
a three, but Soufia got the rebound and the basket.
There were no scoreboard stats, so thank goodness for the
radio call. (What is up with the
scoreboard operator this year?) Gia got
an assist to Prince for a layup. Timeout
Lobos. It was 12-2 Aggies, after only a
bit more than two minutes of play.
Everyone got to sit after about ten minutes. Ron pegged the turning point of this game to
the timeout. Taylor sany an
inspirational little ditty for the team after Coach Bradbury finished yelling at them. Najala
Howell, who I remember from UTEP’s
team, was now playing for the Lobos, though she’s not a graduate transfer. The Lobos also had a broadcaster there for
the team. I’m in no hurry to get back to
the coverage.
Nana got three rebounds on one possession, but no
points. Gia missed another three. Her and Prince came out early after picking
up a couple of fouls. Amanda Soderqvist came in and hit a
three right off the bench. It was 15-2
Aggies with five minutes left in the first quarter. It was nice of the Lobos to spot the Aggies a
double-digit lead while they were getting warmed up.
Then the wheels came off for the Aggies. Jaedyn got a shot and a foul. Given all the fouls, Coach Atkinson must have
told the team to play hard. Right after
that Micayla Buckner got a
technical. It seemed that a Lobo player
had precipitated it, but a double technical wasn’t called. The Lobos went in the bonus with the next
foul. Jayla hurt her wrist on her
shooting hand on the play. She took the
shots anyway, made one, and then came out.
Prince had to come out again after getting called for making
a hard charge. It was 15-10 Aggies with
the Lobos on an 8-point run. Jaedyn then
got two layups and a foul shot to put UNM up 17-16. With 1:30 left, Gia made an assist to Adrianna Henderson. Gia wasn’t scoring, but was getting assists
and rebounds, so she was still playing hard.
Coach Bradbury screamed to hold for the last shot, but the Lobos fouled
and turned it over. 19-17 Aggies after ten minutes.
Second Quarter
Dino
Dash
was replaced with Dino Free Throws. They apparently didn’t think this one
through. The contestant couldn’t shoot
in the costume and had little chance to succeed. The Roadrunner Revue played a Taylor Swift
song. It was either a troll or a
tribute. Tay pretended not to notice
either way.
Gia missed her first shot and bumped Jaedyn to pick up her
second foul. These two were guarding
each other most of the time, though Gia was taller. Amanda came in for her. Prince was also still out. Without Gia, the Lobos got a couple of
offensive rebounds and got a basket.
They were trying, but missing on several three-point attempts.
UNM took the lead, 24-20.
Prince came back in and got a steal and a layup. It was 26-20 Lobos with under five minutes. During a timeout, the Lobo fans were trying
to cheer over our Cheerleaders. Lobo Corina Carter nearly got a steal out of
the timeout. Prince fouled her and went
back to the bench. Jaedyn was fouled to
put the Lobos into the bonus again.
28-20 Lobos with under four minutes left. Soufia took a shot. The ball hung on the rim for a moment and then
fell off. Amanda hit another three. Ahlise
Hurst answered with the first Lobo three.
31-23 Lobos with under two minutes left.
Shania Harper got a
steal. Soufia missed the layup off it,
but made a jumper. Hurst made another
three.
The Sundancers
were escorting a troop of kids in for halftime on one end of the court. Lobo Antonia
Anderson got a block. At the buzzer,
Jaedyn drained her first three at the buzzer.
She stood there for a second to admire it. It was 40-25
Lobos at the half. Aggies fans were
like, “What the F just happened?” Lobos
fans answered, “You just got schooled.”
Halftime
Taylor Swift did not perform at halftime. That b*tch!
What a snub to myself and Aggie fans and even the crummy Lobo fans
here. The band even knows a couple of
her songs. Does she really think she’s
fooling anybody with this whole, “Assistant Coach,” bit? It’s unlikely she could perform live without
embarrassing herself anyway. (Sniff.
I’m still disappointed.) The
little kids did something out on court.
Whatever.
When I left to go to the bathroom (and to see if anyone
was selling Lobo gear in the concourse to change into), I saw Volleyball Coach Mike Jordan sitting by
the aisle. I couldn’t resist congratulating
him on his great season and wishing him luck in the WAC Tournament. I also asked
about Cat Kelly and her injury. He didn’t sound hopeful. I said something nice about Brigette Lowe filling in for her and
the coach was noncommittal. When I came
back, I told Ron about seeing him. He
went to go pay his respects as well.
PA Ed and Pistol
Pete were chatting on the sidelines.
Two icons. The video board showed
a clip from Ferris Buhler’s Day Off,
where he was singing the Beatles’ Twist and Shout at the parade. The Revue then played, Hey (or whatever that song is called). The section of Lobo fans were cheering along
with it.
Third Quarter
Gia got an assist to Adenike
Aderinto to start. The Aggies went
to a high pressure defense. Soufia
knocked a ball away and Prince got a layup.
40-32 Lobos with 8 minutes left.
The Lobo fans were standing again, waiting for the first UNM score. On the radio, Adam mentioned that Prince had
11 points in 9 minutes of play.
The Lobos got a steal and a layup. Gia made her first shot of the game. There was a Lobo turnover. It was the fourth travel call of the game on Bride Kennedy-Hope. The coach sat her down. Nike broke up a home run throw across the
court. Gia earned two free throws on a
very hard foul. She made them. The Lobos made another turnover. Taylor Swift became very upset and started
yelling at the team, like she thinks she’s an actual coach.
Nike got a bank shot under the basket to make it 44-37
with four minutes left. After over 10
fouls in the first half, the Aggies had their first foul of the second halfway
through the quarter. The coach must have
told them to chill on the overly physical play.
The Revue played another Taylor Swift song. They were taunting her.
Jaedyn got her first points of the half out of the
timeout. Gia was hammered again driving
the lane and got two more free throws. Gia
then hit a three, but Anderson got two jumpers in the meantime. 52-42 Lobos, 2:30 left. Gia was fouled again and made the free
throws, but the Lobos kept scoring. Give
Gia a Purple Heart, as she took yet another trip to the nail. She made 8 free throws in a row for the
quarter.
Harper out-boxed the Lobos for a rebound. Coach Bradbury bumped one of the refs
complaining, but she didn’t call him for it.
Amanda hit another three to make it 59-49 with 30 seconds left. Prince was fouled and made her shots. There was Hurst again with a three at the
buzzer. 62-51 Lobos.
Fourth Quarter
One of the Cheerleader girls started salsa dancing while
being held up by one of the guys. It was
a brave maneuver. Hurst picked up where
she left off with another three to start the fourth. Prince hit a jumper coming back, but Jaedyn
then put in a three. Hurst made another
three. The Lobo fans were going
wild. Timeout Aggies.
Hurst hit another three for her fourth in a row. She must be living right. 74-53 Lobos.
Gia hit a jumper. Hurst finally
missed, but the Lobos stuck it in on a putback.
Gia hit a three. This would be
great if it were still the first quarter.
The officials stopped play to check the time, as if anyone wanted this
one to go any longer.
Jaedyn had another three.
At some point, you just have to admire the show. Prince had a steal and a layup. Amanda hit another three. I think the Aggies have found an outside
shooter. 79-63 Lobos, four minutes left. Soufia passed to Nike under the basket for
two. Hey, I’m on the last page of the
notebook I started with this fall. Good
timing. Late, we had the unlikely combo
of Prince passing to Amanda for a layup on a fast break. The crowd and the band cheered that one. Hurst made another three. Why not?
Gia missed a last-second three to end the game. 86-67
Lobos final.
What’s really scary is that the Lobos are without their
best player, Aisia Robertson. They lost her going into the Mountain West Tournament and for the NIT
Tournament last season. I’d wondered
what happened to them, as they were eliminated in both in the first round. She may be back when the Aggies visit
Albuquerque next month.
Jaedyn
de la Cerda finished with 26 points. She played up to the Lobo fans in the stands
as the team was leaving. I’m told she’s
just a bench player, scoring in single-digits for the games where the Lobos
aren’t playing the Aggies. Jaedyn is
clearly on a mission whenever she plays NMSU for some reason. Ahlise
Hurst had 22 points off of 7 three-pointers and a free throw. Whew!
That’s some damage. I missed a
couple of baskets on the scorecard today, but can you blame me?
Coach Atkinson was oddly low key in the postgame
interview. The Lobos have absolutely had
her team’s number during her tenure. Adam Young on the radio thought this
was probably the best team the Women would be facing all year. (They also went on to destroy UTEP a couple
of days later.)
Gia
Pack
led the Aggies with 18 points. They were
all in the second half, which was essentially garbage time by that point. 8 were off of free throws. It’s good she got her shot back from losing
it against UTEP, but it was too little, too late. Aaliyah
Prince had 17, which wasn’t far off from the minutes she played. I think the Aggies might have at least made
it close if those two had been playing more, but all the fouls in the first
half ruined that. Losing Gia and Prince
at the same time, killed the offense. Amanda Soderqvist was a bright spot
with 14 points on 4 threes.
I tried to get Taylor Swift’s autograph in the Lobo locker
room, but was forcibly removed. “All
right for you! We are never, ever
getting back together, Tay!” While being
ejected, I pointed at Jaedyn and tossed her my number. Miming a phone with my hand, I mouthed out,
“Call me, maybe?” Awkwardly, I ran into
the Aggie team outside of the locker room, who saw the whole event. “What!” I said and stormed off.
Well I never! What
a terrible experience! Outside, me and
Ron (who was pretending he didn’t know me) saw the charter bus for the Lobo
fans waiting them. Even with all of the
fouls and points, the game took under two hours. I had hoped to see the end of the NASCAR Championship race. Our first stop for dinner was nearby Raising Canes, but it was closed for
some sort of accident cleanup inside. We
settled on 5 Guys, but by the time
we got to my apartment, Kyle Busch
had already won. I didn’t even turn the
TV on. Shoot, we could have gone
anywhere for dinner, if I wasn’t going get to see the race. Disappointment abounds.
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