Hooks and Cumber Reach Double Figures in Loss to Gonzaga

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Led by 24 points from Destinee Hooks and four three-pointers and 16 points from Viané Cumber, the Lobos hung tough with Gonzaga through three quarters before ultimately falling 81-68 on Sunday.

It was Hooks third game with 20-plus points this season and the fourth time leading UNM in scoring, while for Cumber, it was the sixth time that she reached double figures and the fifth time finishing with multiple three-pointers this season. Additionally, Cumber was credited with a game-high four steals, tying her career high done in 2022.

UNM did outscore Gonzaga 38-30 in the paint, 9-2 in fast-break points, 13-9 in turnovers and 17-12 in bench points.

Each team scored on its opening possession, but the Bulldogs got out to an early 12-6 lead, causing a Lobo timeout less than three minutes in. GU stretched the margin to nine before a 7-2 Lobo run behind a Lara Langermann three, reverse layup from Hooks and driving layup from Langermann made it a four-point game at 19-15 with 3:43 left in the opening quarter.

The Lobos held Gonzaga without a field goal for 2:50, while closing on a 5-0 run with a Cumber three with 17 seconds left to make it a two-point game at the end of the first, 22-20.

UNM shot 45.0% in the opening quarter with 14 points coming in the paint.

After GU stretched the lead back to five to open the second on a three-pointer, UNM answered with a run to tie the game at 25 on a Hooks free throw, but Gonzaga went on a 4-0 run to go back in front. The Bulldogs went ahead by seven at 34-27 with Lydie Mwamba making a driving layup to make it a five-point game, and later, a three-pointer by Hooks with 1:25 left brought UNM back within a possession at 36-34. Gonzaga made the final basket of the quarter for the 38-34 score with Hooks leading the Lobos with 10 points, her fifth time this season reaching double figures.

Through the first two quarters, UNM led in paint points 20-16, 3-0 in fast-break points, 13-2 in bench points & 9-2 in point off turnovers.

A UNM 4-0 run to start the third on an Alyssa Hargrove steal and fast-break layup followed by a Hargrove block and layup by Hooks tied the game at 38 with a jumper by Hooks again tying the game at 40. UNM pulled within one on a Cumber corner three to make it 44-43 and again on a driving layup from Hooks that made it 46-45. However, GU went on a 4-0 run to go back in front by five with 4:08 left in the quarter, to which a Langermann jumper ended the run and brought it back to a one-possession game. Two Cumber three-pointers, with the last coming as the clock was expiring made it a 57-53 score with Gonzaga in front after three.

Cumber had nine points on 3-3 shooting from three-point range to lead the Lobos, with the Lobos shooting 50.0% as a team.

A Hulda Joaquim layup with 8:23 on the clock brought UNM within five in the fourth, however, GU’s lead grew to 11 midway through the fourth quarter. The Lobos were able to whittle it down to six on a Hargrove three-pointer and layup from Hooks off of an Amhyia Moreland steal with 3:51 remaining in the contest, but it was the closest UNM was able to get as Gonzaga closed with the final five points of the game for the 81-68 final.

Hooks closed with eight points in the final quarter to give her 14 points in the final two quarters.

Hargrove finished with five points, four assists, three steals, three rebounds and two blocks, leading the Lobos in blocks, tied for the lead in assists and second in steals. It was her third consecutive game with three or more steals, her third game this season with two blocks and tied her season high in assists.

UNM (3-3) hosts UC Irvine at home on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m.