Cumber Scores Career High in Loss to Montana State
CANCUN, Mexico— Viané Cumber scored a game- and career-high 24 points behind a career-high eight three-pointers as the Lobos fell 75-57 to open the Cancun Challenge on Thursday night.
The Lobos got out to a hot start as Cumber opened the scoring with three three-pointers, her fourth time this season with three or more three-pointers in a game and for the 18th time in her career. An Aniyah Augmon floater made it 11-2 a little more than 2:30 into the game and Cumber added her fourth three-pointer as UNM built a 10-point lead of 16-6 at the midway point.
Montana State chipped away at the UNM lead with a 5-0 run before Cumber hit her fifth three-pointer to end the run and stretch the lead back to eight. However, the Bobcats pulled within three at 20-17 with UNM holding a three-point lead of 23-20 at the end of the first.
Cumber made five three pointers in the first quarter while also having one of UNM’s three steals.
The Bobcats scored the first seven points of the second quarter to take their first lead of the game, although a Lara Langermann three-point play pulled the Lobos with one and an Augmon drive to the basket gave UNM back the lead at 28-27. A Bobcat three changed the lead for the third time in the quarter at 30-28 and following a Bobcat layup, Cumber’s sixth three-pointer of the game brought UNM back within one at 32-31. However, the Lobos trailed 36-31 at the break, the first time the Lobos trailed at the half this season.
Montana State extended its lead to 13 to start the third quarter before UNM went on a 5-2 run capped by Cumber’s career-high seventh three-pointer to get UNM within single digits at 48-39, as well as the Lobo junior’s second game this season with 20-plus points.
Trailing 53-39 at the end of the third, the Lobos opened the fourth with a 7-2 run in the first two minutes behind a Paula Reus three-pointer and driving layups by Augmon and Nyah Wilson to get it back to a nine-point deficit. The Bobcats built the margin back up to 12 before a Wilson layup and Cumber’s eighth three-pointer made it a seven-point game at 62-55 with 4:31 left. It was the closest the Lobos would get for the remainder of the contest as Montana State closed with a 13-2 run for the final score.
Augmon added six points in the fourth quarter to finish with 11 points, the fourth time this season reaching double figures for the Lobo point guard. She also contributed five assists, six rebounds and was credited with two of UNM’s nine steals in the game. It was the third game this season with multiple steals for Augmon and the 15th time in her career.
The Lobos (4-1) close out the Cancun Challenge Friday at 4:30 p.m. MT against Georgia Tech on FloHoops.