Cumber Earns MW Freshman of the Week

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Following the first week of the 2021-22 women’s basketball season, New Mexico freshman Viané Cumber has earned the inaugural Mountain West Freshman of the Week honor on Monday.

The distinction comes after Cumber led all scorers with 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting and 3-for-5 from three-point range in her first collegiate start on Friday against Northern New Mexico. The guard was also credited with four rebounds, an assist and two steals.

Cumber took over midway through the first quarter, accounting for eight straight Lobo points, making three consecutive shots on back-to-back threes and a layup as UNM built its lead in the first quarter, going a perfect 3-for-3 and 2-for-2 from three while also having a steal and an assist against Northern New Mexico. In the third quarter, Cumber went 2-for-3 with a fast-break layup and created the steal that led to a fast-break layup on the next possession.

The Albuquerque native added a layup and a final three in the fourth quarter while grabbing four defensive rebounds.

Her first collegiate basket occurred in the second quarter against Lamar on a jumper that extended the Lobo lead to seven and collected three rebounds.

On the week, Cumber averaged 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game as the Lobos went 2-0 with a 96-40 win over Northern New Mexico and a 71-54 win over Lamar.

Cumber and the Lobos return to The Pit on Tuesday night to face Prairie View A&M at 7 p.m. before heading on the road for the first time this season to play Houston on Saturday.