Lobos Set Season Highs in 101-79 Win at Utah State
LOGAN, Utah— UNM had four players score in double figures with two scoring 20 or more points, as the Lobos scored a season-high 101 points in a 101-79 win Tuesday night in Logan. It was the seventh time in the last eight games in the series in which UNM reached 90 points and the second time scoring over 100 in that span, and the 16th consecutive win over the Aggies in the series.
The Lobos scored 53 points in the final 20 minutes (the second time doing so this season, the other against South Carolina State on Nov. 20) and led for 36:41, never trailing by more than three in the opening quarter.
For the second-straight game, UNM had two finish with 20 or more points, led by Viané Cumber, who tied her career high with 25 points (as well as scoring 25 in consecutive games) behind five three-pointers and recorded a career-high six assists. Of her 25 points, 13 came in the third quarter and 22 came in the final 20 minutes.
Alyssa Hargove added a season-high 20 points on 8-9 shooting to go with a career-high nine assists and brought down eight rebounds and recorded four steals. It was the 10th time this season recording three or more steals and the fifth time in conference play. Joana Magalhães scored 17 points with six rebounds, four assists and a season-high four steals, which was the third consecutive game scoring in double figures for the Lobo freshman. Destinee Hooks rounded out the double-digit Lobos with 15 points and distributed four assists, tying her season high.
As a team, the Lobos shot a season-high 58.1%, making a season-high 36 baskets and making a season-high 12 three-pointers with Cumber making five, Hooks making three, Hargrove with two and Magalhães and Drew Jordon making one apiece. In addition, UNM finished with a season-high 26 assists on the 36 made baskets and shot over 53.0% in all four quarters. Of note, the 26 assists were the most for the Lobos since having 25 in the Feb. 25, 2023 game against Utah State.
UNM outrebounded USU 43-25, had the edge in points in the paint (48-20), fast-break points (14-5) and points off turnovers (22-19), as well as steals (12-10) and assists (26-15). It was the ninth time this season with double-digit steals for UNM.
Each team scored on its first two possessions with identical layups and three-pointers, with one more tie at seven on a jumper by Hooks that started an 11-0 Lobo run 4:24 into the game. Following an Aggie three-pointer to end the run, an Amhyia Moreland offensive rebound and layup started a new UNM run of 8-0 that included a three-pointer by Jordon and Cumber to stretch the lead to 14 with 3:36 left in the quarter. Utah State went on a 6-0 run behind two three-pointers before Magalhães closed the quarter scoring on a layup with UNM leading 26-16 through the first quarter.
The Lobos shot 64.7% with four three-pointers in the first, led by Hooks and Magalhães scoring seven apiece, and had six steals with Magalhães credited with three and Cumber leading with three assists.
A 6-0 run by Utah State cut the lead to six at 28-22, however, two free throws from Magalhães and a Hargrove three built the lead back up to double digits at 33-22. The Aggies twice pulled within six midway through the second quarter, with Magalhães and Hargrove again stepping up for the Lobos on free throws and a Hargrove steal and layup. Hulda Joaquim extended the lead to 12, with the lead reaching 15 points on a Moreland layup before USU closed the quarter with the final five points for the 48-38 halftime score.
UNM was shooting 60.0% through the first two quarters with Magalhães and Hooks already in double digits at the break with Hooks at 12 and Magalhães at 11, and half of UNM’s points coming in the paint.
After a Cumber three in the third quarter made it 56-45, USU went on a 9-2 run to cut the margin to four with 6:05 on the clock. Cumber and Hargrove scored on three consecutive Lobo possessions to push the lead back to 10, with the Lobos ultimately going on a 20-7 run over 5:12 to take a 78-61 lead on a Hargrove three off of a Joaquim offensive rebound with 53 seconds remaining in the quarter.
The Lobos shot 57.1%, scoring 30 points in the quarter with Hargrove and Cumber scoring 13 points each, which included three, three-pointers for Cumber and 5-6 shooting for Hargrove.
USU got as close as 13 a minute into the fourth quarter before baskets from Cumber and Magalhães extended the margin back to 17, with the lead reaching 21 with 4:44 left on a Cumber three-pointer. A three-pointer by Hooks with 4:18 left gave UNM 92 points and Joaquim closed with the final four points on two free throws and a layup off of a Hargrove steal to put the Lobos over 100 points. Joaquim finished with eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds, as well as two assists (tying her season high) and a steal.
With the win, UNM improves to 13-7 on the season, 6-1 in the Mountain West and 4-0 in MW road games. The Lobos return home to face Fresno State on Saturday at 2 p.m.