Lobos Picked Sixth in MW Preseason Poll

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— UNM was picked to finish sixth in the Preseason Mountain West Poll released on Wednesday by the conference office.

The Lobos received 168 points, finishing behind San Diego State (183), Boise State (201), Wyoming (237), Colorado State (245) and UNLV (284), respectively. The Lobos also were projected 40 points above the next team in Air Force.

New Mexico returns three players who saw significant playing time last season in juniors Viané Cumber, Paula Reus and Aniyah Augmon, with Cumber and Reus sharing time as a starter.

Cumber has played in 51 games in her two years at UNM and made 15 starts last season, 11 coming in conference, and averaged 9.2 ppg and 25.2 minutes per game last season. The Albuquerque native made 39 three-pointers in conference last season, averaging 2.2 per game and had the second-highest made three-pointers among conference players on the season with 73, averaging 2.2 per game.

As a sophomore, she scored in double figures in nine MW games with 12 games making multiple three-pointers and five MW games with four or more three-pointers. The Lobo shot 43.0% from the floor last season, 40.6% from 3-point range and averaged 9.2 ppg and 22.9 mpg and made a jump from her freshman to sophomore season, going from 67 points her first year to 305 her second year, in field goals made (from 25 to 107) and in 3-pointers, going from 15 to 73. She also made a jump in rebounds (from 29 to 95), assists (5 to 30) and in steals (from 5 to 17).

Reus has played in 67 games in her two years at UNM with 24 starts, 22 coming last season. As a sophomore, the Lobo averaged 8.0 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, shooting 44.8% from the floor and averaged 24.8 minutes per game. In conference, the Lobo averaged 8.0 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, shot 48.1% and scored in double figures in seven games against MW opponents.

On the season, the Palma de Mallorca, Spain, native scored in double figures in 13 games with one double-double against New Mexico State, had at least one steal in 17 games and was third on the team in rebounds (141) and second in blocks (14).

Augmon has appeared in 64 games in her two seasons with three starts, averaging 7.1 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game as a sophomore, while shooting 44.0% from the floor and averaging 21.2 minutes per game.

The Lobo guard scored in double figures in eight games with three double-doubles (UNLV, Utah State and Air Force) with her first career double-double at UNLV with 18 points and 10 rebounds. In addition, she had four games with 10-plus rebounds, led the team in rebounding in five games and tied for the team high in one, and led the team in scoring in two games and tied for the team high in one.

She set career highs in points (18 at UNLV), rebounds (13 at Utah State), assists (six at Washington), made field goals (seven against San Diego State), made three-pointers (three at UNLV), made free throws (eight at Nevada) and scored 219 points on the season, over four times the amount of points she scored her freshman season and doubled her total rebounds from her freshman season with 135.

In addition, the Lobos also return three players who redshirted a season ago in redshirt-sophomore Mackenzie Curtis and redshirt-freshmen Natalia Chavez and Hannah Robbins, with Robbins earning Preseason Freshman of the Year last season before deciding to redshirt, and Jaelyn Bates and Hulda Joaquim, who saw time off of the bench a season ago.

The Lobos added six players who will be making their first appearances in the Cherry and Silver: three players from the transfer portal in Charlotte Kohl (a center from Mississippi State), Nyah Wilson (a guard from Syracuse) and Nahawa Diarra Berthe (a guard from Odessa College) as well as three freshmen in Paris Lauro, Gianna McManaman and Lara Langermann.

UNM opens the regular season at home on Nov. 6 against Texas Southern with conference play starting at Nevada on Dec. 30. UNM will have 18 regular season home games, nine in conference.

Season tickets are currently on sale at golobos.com/tickets with single game tickets going on sale Oct. 16.

2023-24 MOUNTAIN WEST PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

2023-24 PRESEASON ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST TEAM

Preseason Player of the Year
McKenna Hofschild, Gr., G, Colorado State

Preseason Newcomer of the Year
Jackie Carman, Gr., G, Colorado State

Preseason Co-Freshman of the Year
Trinity Zamora, G, San Diego State
Amarachi Kimpson, G, UNLV