Hooks Scores Game-High 27 in Loss to Lady Rebels
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Tied at 58 heading into the fourth quarter of Sunday’s MW game against UNLV in a battle of the last unbeaten teams in conference, the Lobos led by five following a three by Destinee Hooks with 6:30 remaining, but a 17-0 run by the Lady Rebels was the difference in the 88-73 loss.
Hooks finished with a game-high 27 points, 11 of which came in the fourth quarter and 19 in the final two quarters, and was one of three Lobos to reach double figures. Joana Magalhães scored a season-high 16 points to go with a season- and team-high seven rebounds and Alyssa Hargrove scored 13 points. It was the third time in conference in double figures for Magalhães, the second-straight game with 20 or more points for Hooks and sixth time on the season with 20 or more points, and the ninth time in double figures for Hargrove.
The Lobos got out to a fast start against the Lady Rebels, scoring on their opening possession on a layup by Magalhães with Amhyia Moreland making it 4-0 on the following Lobos possession. UNLV missed its first five shot with UNM leading 9-2 in the first 3:48. A Magalhães basket made it 11-4, with UNLV cutting the lead to 13-10. A 4-0 run on baskets by Hargrove and Viané Cumber restored the seven-point margin, however, UNLV cut the gap back to one possession at 19-17 with 1:35 left in the quarter. A Lara Langermann layup closed the scoring for the Lobos before UNLV scored the final four points to tie the game at 19 at the end of the first.
UNM shot 56.3 % in the first with Cumber leading with five points and Hargrove and Magalhães with four points each.
Magalhães opened the second with a layup to give UNM the lead back, but UNLV used a 6-0 run to take its first lead. The Lady Rebels stretched the deficit to 33-27, outscoring UNM 14-8 in the first 5:27 of the quarter with two free throws by Magalhães pulling UNM within four. An and-one by Hooks brought UNM within three at 35-32 with 4:10 remaining, with UNM missing its next three shots before UNLV hit a corner three to go back in front six.
UNM trailed 40-33 at the half, the first time trailing at half against a MW opponent this season. UNM was outshooting UNLV 46.7% to 40.5% from the floor in the first 20 minutes, but UNLV went 7-7 from the line compared to 4-5 from the line for UNM and had a 9-0 advantage in second-chance points against the Lobos.
A three by UNLV to start the third pushed the deficit to double digits, reaching 11 points two minutes in. A Hargrove and-one brought the lead back to eight at 46-38 and started a 7-0 run that included two more Hargrove free throws and a Magalhães basket to make it a four-point game. After a UNLV basket ended the run, Hooks hit a three to make it a three-point game and at the three-minute mark, a Hargrove free throw brought UNM back within one at 52-51. A Hooks and-one capped a 6-0 Lobo run and gave UNM the 54-52 lead with Hooks adding a final basket with four seconds left to tie the game at 58 at the end of the third.
UNM outscored UNLV 25-18 in the third quarter behind 12-16 shooting at the free-throw line. Hooks and Magalhães finished the quarter with eight points each and Hargrove scored seven.
Getting the ball to start the fourth, a Paris Lauro basket put the Lobos back in front, and after UNLV tied it up on its first possession of the quarter, two free throws and a jumper by Hooks gave UNM a 64-60 lead. The Lady Rebels tied the game back up at 64, however another basket by Lauro following an offensive rebound followed by a Hooks three made it 69-64. Two UNLV threes put the visitors up by one with 5:44 left, which stretched to an 17-0 run in which UNLV went 5-5 from three-point range to put the Lobos in an 81-69 deficit. Hooks closed the scoring for the Lobos with a jumper with 59 seconds on the clock, but the Lady Rebels scored the final five points for the final score.
UNLV went 5-8 from three-point range and 11-15 from the floor to outscore UNM 30-15 in the quarter, with Hooks accounting for 11 of the 15 UNM points and Lauro the other four.
The Lobos (11-7, 4-1 MW) have their first bye of the schedule on Wednesday before heading to Colorado State on Saturday.