ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos have one final exhibition before the season starts, set to face Western Colorado on Saturday at 2 p.m. in The Pit.
UNM defeated New Mexico Highlands in its first exhibition last Sunday with both exhibitions in preparation for the season opener on Nov. 4 against Northern Arizona.
For Western Colorado, Saturday will be its first competition this season before the Mountaineers open up their season on Nov. 8 against Texas Woman’s University. Out of the RMAC, WCU went 7-20 last season, 5-17 in conference and was picked to finish 10th in the preseason RMAC poll.
While coming off a 21-11 overall record and a 12-6 record in conference, the Lobos present a new look this season with 10 newcomers comprised of six transfers and four freshmen.
The Lobos last played Western Colorado in an exhibition on Oct. 31, 2021, a 94-53 Lobo win, in which Viané Cumber scored 12 points on 4-4 shooting from three-point range in her first game as a Lobo.
UNM returns one starter from a season ago in Viané Cumber, who was recently named to the Preseason All-Mountain West Team. The Lobo senior averaged 11.4 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per game, both career bests, as well as had a career-best 39 assists, 22 steals and five blocks. Entering their sophomore seasons, Lara Langermann and Paris Lauro return after making 32 appearances with six starts and 22 appearances, respectively. Hulda Joaquim begins her third year with the Lobos and played in 31 games last year for a combined 44 games during her Lobo career.
Joining the Lobos in the offseason were 10 newcomers with four freshmen in Reza Po, Joana Magalhães, Nayli Padilla and Lilli Hakkarainen. The Lobos are a relatively young team with eight of the 14 underclassmen, however, of the 14, eight also bring Division I collegiate experience with the addition of transfers Drew Jordon (Wagner), Clarissa Craig (Cincinnati), Amhyia Moreland (San José State) and Alyssa Hargrove (Austin Peay) to compliment the four Lobo returners.
Tickets for the 2024-25 season can be purchased at golobos.com/tickets.