Double-Doubles by Cumber and Joaquim Pace Lobos Past Eagles
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Behind two double-doubles in a 23-point and 12-rebound performance from Viané Cumber that included seven three-pointers and a 12-point and 10-rebound performance from Hulda Joaquim, the Lobos defeated Morehead State 66-56 on Thursday night.
Cumber was one point and one three-pointer shy of matching her career highs in both categories, but was her fourth double-double, as well as the fourth time with 10-plus rebounds and seventh time scoring 20-plus points. For Joaquim, it was her career high in points and the third time with double-digit rebounds as a Lobo, recording her first career double-double.
Additionally, with her seven three-pointers, Cumber has 167 career three-pointers, moving into seventh all-time in program history.
Alyssa Hargrove finished in double figures for the second time this season, scoring 11 points to go with two blocks, three assists and a steal.
As a team, the Lobos led for 39:33 and defensively, created eight steals with Lara Langermann, Cumber and Joana Magalhães each tallying two, and 10 blocks with Joaquim, Destinee Hooks and Hargrove each finishing with two. Seven different Lobos accounted for at least one block.
Cumber’s three-point barrage started on the first UNM possession to put UNM up 3-2, with the lead extending to 5-2 on a Hooks midrange shot.
The Eagles pulled within one at 9-8 before a Hargrove three and two Lydie Mwamba three-pointers pushed the lead to 10 at 18-8. A Cumber layup pushed the lead to 11 with less than two minutes remaining as UNM led 24-15 at the end of the first with Mwamba accounting for eight points on 2-2 shooting from three and two free throws.
Four Hargrove points to start the second quarter extended the margin to 13, which the Eagles answered with eight consecutive points. A Cumber three-pointer ended the MSU run, with the lead reaching 14 on three consecutive Joaquim layups in what amounted to a 9-0 run over the final 4:49 of the quarter and a 6:42 MSU scoring drought.
The Lobos led 37-23 at the half with Cumber, Joaquim and Mwamba all at eight points. Cumber had seven rebounds, two steals and two assists through the first two quarters.
Cumber opened the scoring in the third quarter on a three-pointer to give her 11 points to reach double figures and recorded her 10th rebound at the 6:20 mark of the third quarter. The Lobos scored the first five points of the quarter to extend the lead to 19, while the Eagles were held without a point until the 2:39 mark of the quarter, which came on a free throw. A layup by Hooks and two Reza Po free throws pushed the lead past the 20-point mark at 22 points (46-24) before the Eagles scored the next six points to close the quarter with the Lobos in front 46-30.
UNM held Morehead State to seven points in the third quarter after holding the Eagles to eight points in the second quarter.
The fourth quarter began like the third with another Cumber three-pointer, her fourth of the game, followed by a fast-break layup by Joaquim to give her 10 points and another three-pointer by Cumber to give her 17 points in the game and stretched the lead to its largest margin of 24 at 54-30 with 8:07 to play. Two final Cumber three-pointers pushed the Lobo senior past the 20-point mark with Joaquim adding a final layup with 2:57 to play to give her 12 points. The Eagles used a 10-0 run to close within 11 at 65-54 with under a minute to play with a Hargrove free throw providing the final point for UNM. MSU closed the scoring with a jumper with 34 seconds remaining for the final score.
Cumber went 4-4 from three-point range in the fourth quarter and went 5-5 in the final two quarters while bringing down five rebounds. Joaquim had seven rebounds in the final two quarters to go with four points.
UNM (1-1) heads on the road for its first road game of the season against Texas Tech on Tuesday.