Kitty Clark Fritz/Special to the Tribune

Lobos point guard Amy Beggin jumps into the arms of teammate Angela Hartill after a basket against UNLV. The Lobos blew out the Rebels 94-64 Saturday, led by Beggin's career-high 26 points.

Kitty Clark Fritz/Special to the Tribune

Amy Beggin waits to be sent back into the game by UNM head coach Don Flanagan. Beggin played 37 minutes against UNLV on Saturday. There have been 11 games where Beggin has played the full 40 minutes. In the past 12 games, Beggin has averaged 39.2 minutes.

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In many ways, Amy Beggin is exactly the type of Lobo The Pit needs.

She has the smile, the charisma, the heart, the hustle and the energy to bring Lobos fans to their feet in support of another University of New Mexico Pit darling.

There even might be more than a few Beggin critics finally willing to admit she has the right stuff in the talent department, too.

Beggin kind of gets to you, kind of wears you down, much like she does to the opponent she is guarding.

It's not that Beggin "wows" you at a glance. When she first stepped onto The Pit floor, you kind of wondered what Lobos women's basketball coach Don Flanagan was thinking when he threw a scholarship in the direction of this 5-foot-6 guard.

Kind of the same thing you might have thought several years back when Mandi Moore, one of the best Lobos ever, showed up in The Pit.

"Amy has all the things you want," Flanagan said. "She's easy to coach, works hard, always positive, enjoys the game, loves to practice, loves to play and doesn't like to lose.

"I have very few complaints about her."

While Beggin's athleticism might not be exceptional, she is an exceptional athlete - 14 varsity letters in high school.

Beggin gets it done and usually gets it done at a higher energy level than anyone else on the court.

"I think the thing that got me interested in her more than anything else was that energy," Flanagan said. "Usually, high-energy players become good college players.

"You always look for athleticism, quickness, height, knowledge of the game, but effort also gets my attention."

It's probably best for Beggin that she does possess camel-like endurance.

She isn't just Flanagan's general on the floor. She's his workhorse.

There have been 11 games where Beggin has played the full 40 minutes. In the past 12 games, Beggin has averaged 39.2 minutes.

Going into Wednesday's game at Colorado State, Beggin has played 127 more minutes than senior Dionne Marsh and 132 more minutes than senior Brandi Kimble.

"Right now, I'm using all her energy, and maybe I'm overusing it," Flanagan said. "She might be more efficient, more effective, if I could cut her minutes by six or eight.

"But I can't afford to do that right now."

Flanagan can't afford to make that cut, because Beggin is too important to a UNM team still fighting to establish its offensive identity.

He did manage to give Beggin three minutes on the bench Saturday in UNM's 94-64 blowout of UNLV - a game in which Beggin scored a career-high 26 points.

Flanagan might even be able to rest Beggin a bit at Fort Collins against a 2-18 Rams team that has lost 11 straight. But UNM is at Wyoming on Sunday, and the Lobos will need all their big guns on the floor.

And - surprise - Beggin is a big gun.

"I didn't think I would be asked to score that much this year," Beggin, UNM's No. 2 scorer with a 13.2 points per game average, said.

"But I don't feel pressured. A lot of times I just have the ball in my hands at the end of the shot clock, so that means I take the shot."

Said Flanagan: "I don't try to put pressure on her to score, but I think she feels it. I've never had a scoring point guard since I've been here, but we need her to score this year.

"I'm sure she is aware of that need and knows that is a responsibility she has to assume."

Of course, there are other responsibilities that come with the point - like the need to lead.

Flanagan said this year Beggin is a "background" leader because she is only a sophomore and because there are two proven seniors in Marsh and Kimble.

But Flanagan said he expects Beggin to turn a bit nastier in 2008-09.

"Mandi (Moore) was demanding and didn't tolerate a lot of things," Flanagan said. "Amy hasn't gotten to that point yet but she's that type, and I think she is biding her time until next year."

It's difficult to see Beggin turning into a Moore-type leader. Beggin is more of a happy face with a positive message and a pat on the rear. Moore had a scowl that would freeze teammates while it demanded 100 percent effort. Or else.

But Beggin likes to win. If that means turning into Beggin the Brat, so be it.

"It's not really my character to get into people's faces, but whatever it takes to win," she said. "If that's what I have to start doing, then that's what I'll do.

"I should be a more experienced player next year and that probably will change how I lead, too."

Beggin already is in her second role as a Lobo. As a freshman, she came off the bench to relieve and rest Katie Montgomery, especially during press situations.

This year she is leader, scorer, Flanagan's workhorse. A do-it-all at full speed.