.... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... ....
LaTascya Duff, left, and sister LaTora Duff are shown working out at a UNM practice last November. LaTascya Duff will undergo surgery soon and may miss the start of the 2021-22 season. (Courtesy of UNM)
The good news for University of New Mexico women’s basketball fans is the season does not tip off in July. If it did, coach Mike Bradbury would be in a bind.
Between players recovering from surgery, another scheduled for surgery and a trio of not-yet-on-campus Europeans, the Lobos have quite a few more questions than answers regarding the 2021-22 season. Just two returning starters, forward Shaiquel McGruder and point guard LaTora Duff, have been full participants in UNM’s summer workouts.
.... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... ....
The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team may carry two noteworthy roster distinctions into the 2021-22 season.
The Lobos could have one of the nation’s most experienced starting lineups – and still rank as one of the youngest teams.
UNM officially got younger Tuesday, announcing the additions of two international players who will be freshmen next season. The Lobos added guards Zeyno Isil Seren, a 5-foot-10 guard from Ankara, Turkey, and Rebeka Renczes, a 5-7 point guard from Szekszgard, Hungary, bringing next season’s roster to 12 players.
Zeyno Isil Seren
Rebeka Renczes
The group includes five seniors (Antonia Anderson, Jaedyn De La Cerda, Shaiquel McGruder, LaTora and LaTascya Duff), all of whom may start. The remaining players are two relatively inexperienced sophomores (Kath van Bennekom and Nevaeh Parkinson) and five incoming freshmen.
Bill Ferrara
Bill Ferrara is looking forward to a true homecoming but says he’ll miss the home-court advantage he enjoyed for the last four years.
Ferrara is leaving his post as University of New Mexico women’s basketball assistant coach to become associate head coach at St. John’s University. Ferrara and St. John’s announced the move Monday via social media.
It’s a step up the professional ladder for Ferrara, who has long sought to become a head coach. He said adding the “associate head coach” title was a significant factor in his decision.
......................
“I’ve turned down a lot of Power 5 assistant jobs over the last four years,” Ferrara said. “Working here with (head coach Mike Bradbury) has been everything I could’ve asked for and more. But having that title is important to my career and New York is home.”