Ledes from the Land of Enchantment

Point Guard Duff has had one case so far as a team MVP for Lobos

UNM’s LaTora Duff, left, is guarded by Soufia Inoussa of New Mexico during Sunday’s game at the Pan Am Center in Las Cruces. Duff, in a mask for having been elbowed in the face in a previous game, starred as the Lobos rallied to win 73-66.

LaTora Duff didn’t make too much headline news for the University of New Mexico women’s basketball team last season.

She was the only full-time competitor who didn’t earn some sort of All-Mountain West honor after the Lobos won the regular season championship. It wasn’t exactly a minor thing. In her first season as the UNM Starting Point Guardian since moving from Shelton State Community College, Alabama, Duff’s numbers were solid but not spectacular. Her twin sister, LaTascya, named MWC Sixth Person of the Year, released other eye-catching statistics.

A lot is different this season.

In 11 games, LaTora can make a strong case for the team MVP for the 8-3 Lobos visiting number 6 in Arizona on Sunday. The 5-foot-7 senior has improved her game in every area and has had a memorable 40-minute feat that helped the UNM achieve a dramatic 73-66 win over rivals New Mexico State on Sunday in Las Cruces to achieve. The Lobos were 14 points behind in the fourth quarter.

LaTora wore a clear plastic mask to protect her face, scored 24 points, hitting 5-of-8 out of 3-point range, and racking up four rebounds, five assists and two steals. She had been kicked from UNM’s previous game against NMSU less than 48 hours earlier after pulling a stray elbow on her nose. On Saturday, Lobos coach Mike Bradbury described Duff’s availability for Sunday as a game-time decision.

“Your toughness is beyond question,” said Bradbury. “I asked Tora on Sunday how long she could walk and she said, ‘The whole game.’ I said, ‘Great, let’s plan this.’ I didn’t really expect it to last 40 minutes, but it was outstanding. “

Sunday was perhaps Duff’s best lobo, but it wasn’t her only standout appearance this season. She had 17 points, 12 assists, eight rebounds and four blocks (all career highs at the time) in a win over Grambling State.

Duff has also developed a presence in the square that directs traffic and keeps the UNM’s fast-paced offensive going.

“I think she’s really growing as a leader,” said Senior Jaedyn De La Cerda. “If we know our staff and what we do as a team, Tora has been great this year.”

LaTora played with an injured right hand for much of last season, which she admits has interfered with her shooting. But she spent the off-season working hard to improve her shooting and build chemistry with her teammates. She has achieved a sizzling 24-out-of-54 from the 3-point range (44.4%) for the Lobos this season – two threes more than she achieved in the entire 2020-21 season.

“I just trusted the process and focused on my work,” said LaTora, “but it feels good. I’ve learned a lot over the last year and things are very different now. Playing in front of fans just gives you a boost and makes you want to work even harder. “

LaTora averages 13.1 points per game (second on the team, 10th in the league), compared to 8.0 points per game in 2020-21. But while she’s been looking for her own shot more often, her assist numbers have also increased. She ranks first in the MWC and 27th nationwide with 5.5 assists per game, and her 61 assists are the third best in the nation. It ranks second in Mountain West and 44th nationwide for assist-to-turnover ratio (2.54)

“I think she’s a lot better all around this year,” said Bradbury. “She understands our offensive better, shoots better and simply plays more confidently – everything you need from a point guard.”

Despite her strong performance on Sunday, LaTora rejected the suggestion that she play better in a mask. She wore the face shield in the pit during practice on Wednesday and has not yet been released to play without it.

When asked if wearing respirators made adjustment easier in the past year, LaTora grinned.

“Maybe,” she said, “but I still hate that mask.”

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