Basketball Recap: Sandia Picks Up 19th Straight Win at Home

Matadors

Margin (Wins)

12/04/24 @ Atrisco Heritage Academy	67
02/05/25 @ Santa Fe	58
01/29/25 vs Manzano	55
01/31/25 vs Eldorado	53
01/24/25 @ Capital	51

Sandia came tearing into Tuesday's game with eight straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 32.4 points), and they left with even more momentum. They took their match with ease, bagging a 77-31 victory over the Capital Jaguars. The Matadors have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won 16 contests by 22 points or more this season.

Sandia got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Sydney Benally out in front who went 8-for-17 on her way to 16 points in addition to eight boards and five steals. Benally is on a roll when it comes to steals, as she's now grabbed two or more in each of the last seven games she's played. Another player making a difference was Hope Giddings, who went 9-for-17 en route to 19 points and six steals.

Sandia smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 14 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least eight offensive boards in eight consecutive games.

When it comes to explaining why Capital lost, don't look at Annica Montoya. Despite the final result, she posted seven points.

Sandia's victory was their 19th straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 22-1. The wins came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 69.8 points over those games. As for Capital, they have been struggling recently as they've lost six of their last seven matches. That's put a noticeable dent in their 7-16 record this season.

Sandia wasted no time getting back out on the court and has already played their next contest, a 76-24 win against Manzano on the 13th. As for Capital, they also didn't take long to hit the court again: they've already played their next game, a 60-20 defeat against La Cueva on the 13th.