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UNM Women's Basketball: Aggies have minds on ending skid against rival Lobos

By Iliana Limón
Tuesday, December 19, 2006

It would be the highlight of New Mexico State senior guard Cecilia Russell-Nava's career.

Every Aggie longs to beat the Lobos.

For Russell-Nava and the New Mexico State (4-6) women's basketball team, knocking off No. 23 University of New Mexico (8-2) when they visit Las Cruces tonight would be more than just a sweet rivalry win.

It's about pride.

It's about ending a 21-game losing streak the Aggies sheepishly track very closely.

It's about taking a major step while turning around the New Mexico State program.

"You want to be on the team that finally ends the streak," Russell-Nava said. "They're a very good team and they've earned everything they've got, but I just want to beat them before I go.

"I'm sure their seniors feel pressure to keep the streak going, but I don't think it can feel as bad as it does on our end."

Two of the past three losses have been especially painful for Russell-Nava, a team leader for the Aggies who is averaging 13.6 points per game this season.

New Mexico State pushed UNM to triple overtime in Las Cruces last year, before falling 79-77.

Russell-Nava led the Aggies with 18 points, but it wasn't enough for a win.

"That one hurt so bad," she said. "We had them. We knew we should have won that game. I'd rather lose by 30 than come so close and lose like that. It gave us confidence that we could play with anyone, but it still really, really hurt."

On second thought, those 30-point losses don't feel so good either.

Russell-Nava and forward Sherell Neal lead the Aggies with 13 points apiece, but New Mexico State fell 81-47 to the Lobos in The Pit on Dec. 2. It was the biggest blowout during UNM's winning streak against the Aggies.

"They got us good," Russel-Nava said. "You can afford to have some droughts or make some mistakes against good teams, but you can't do that against great teams. They are a great team and they stepped up for that game. It was ugly."

She said the key to the Aggies' success tonight will be slowing junior forward Dionne Marsh inside and closing out on UNM's perimeter shooters like senior guards Katie Montgomery and Julie Briody, who went 7-of-12 from 3-point range against the Aggies earlier this season.

It also would help if Russell-Nava could get hot from 3-point range, unloading her unconventional shot on UNM.

"We have been winning a lot more of our close games this year and have won with two buzzer beaters," she said. "If we can stay close, I definitely think we'll win this time around. Our team has gotten a lot more confident from winning more of the close games this year."

So what would it mean if the Aggies finally ended the streak and beat the Lobos?

"It's almost too big to describe," Russell-Nava said. "We know they're very good, but we're not a bad team. It would feel great and give us confidence as we go through the rest of our schedule. And it would definitely make my year."