New Mexico Women Draw Record 18,018

New Mexico played in front of a crowd of more than 18,000 on Saturday in defeating Texas El Paso, 64-61, at Albuquerque.

The New Mexico women, that is.

The sellout crowd of 18,018, drawn by an annual Pack-the-Pit promotion, set a Western Athletic Conference record.

“As a kid going to Lobo men’s basketball games, that’s all you dream about is having 18,000 people come to your game,” said Katie Kern, who led the Lady Lobos with 18 points. “That was amazing. Our fans were awesome. They were behind us the whole game. They realized we were having a little trouble, and they’d get behind us on defense.”

Said Coach Don Flanagan, whose team is 14-3 overall and 5-0 in the WAC: “Someday I hope to have 18,000 fans here without any promotion.”