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The Lobos' roster should not grow before next season.

The University of New Mexico women's basketball team had one extra scholarship available for the 2007-08 freshman class when center Morgan Saso opted to transfer, but it appears no one will take her place.

"It's really late in the process to go back out and offer a scholarship to someone, so I don't think we're going to end up using it," UNM coach Don Flanagan said.

Flanagan said he had targeted one player who had the talent to make an immediate impact on the team and was still available, but he wasn't banking on her commitment.

"I think we're in good shape for next year, and I'm very happy with the group we have coming in," he said.

NCAA rules ban Flanagan from speaking about recruits until they have signed letters of intent to play for the school.

Flanagan and his assistant coaches apparently had been keeping a low profile during their last-minute recruiting push. Several Amateur Athletic Union coaches who have worked with the program in the past told The Tribune they had no idea UNM had an extra scholarship available for next season.

Aztec High star Patricia Malouff, who was rumored to be to walking on at UNM and a candidate to snag Saso's scholarship next season, signed a letter of intent earlier this month to play for Eastern New Mexico University.

Chelsea Shock, the Aztec girls basketball coach, said Malouff was happy with her decision and wasn't looking to get out of her letter of intent.

"She's excited about going to Eastern, and I don't think anything will change that," Shock said.

The Lobos won't be hurting for bodies, but they will be light on experience next season.

In addition to the five freshmen, UNM will have six sophomores on the roster. Of those players, only sophomore-to-be point guard Amy Beggin logged double-digit minutes.

"It's definitely going to be an interesting year, and we can certainly use all the preparation time we can get," Flanagan said.

The freshmen are slated to be on campus in June and join the rest of the current Lobos for summer school and individual workouts.

Nikki Nelson and Amanda Best, both guards from Washington state, are making arrangements with their high schools to leave a few days before their academic year ends in order to start summer school on time at UNM.

Shell headed to SMU: Morgan Shell, a 5-foot-11 junior guard from west Texas, spurned the Lobos and orally committed to Southern Methodist University.

Shell averaged about 20 points and seven rebounds per game at Marble Falls High in Marble Falls, Texas. She made an unofficial visit to UNM in January, watching the Lobos Pack The Pit win over UNLV. She was offered a scholarship but said after the visit she was evaluating a lot of schools and keeping her options open.

Kelsey Ansley, one of Shell's high school teammates, will be a freshman on the Lobos' roster in the fall. But Ansley said during previous interviews with The Tribune she would never pressure Shell to follow her to Albuquerque.

Ricky Romero, who coached Shell on the Lubbock Lady Hawks club team, said distance likely played a big role in Shell's decision.

"I think she really liked the idea of playing about two hours away from home," he said.