Lobos at Home Against Bulldogs Saturday
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos return home following a two-game road stint to host Fresno State on Saturday at 2 p.m.
UNM enters Saturday 13-7 on the season, 6-1 in conference play, with Fresno State 12-8 on the season, 3-4 in conference play.
SERIES HISTORY
The Lobos are 19-16 all-time against Fresno State, 11-4 in games played at home. UNM has won the last three games in the series and four of the last five. The last time the two teams met in Albuquerque, the Lobos won 84-77 with four players finishing in double figures, including 16 points from Vianè Cumber behind three, three-pointers and a game-high five assists. As a team, UNM shot 51.9%, led for 36:11 and by as many as 14 in the fourth quarter, with a 16-2 edge in fast-break points and an 18-5 edge in points off of turnovers.
Coach Mike Bradbury is 10-6 against Fresno State, 5-1 in home games.
SCORING 101
In New Mexico’s win at Utah State, the Lobos set several season highs, including a season-high 101 points.
Among the season highs, UNM shot a season-high 58.1% and made a season-best 36 baskets, including a season-high 12 three-pointers. Of the 36 baskets, the Lobos finished with a season-high 26 assists. The 26 assists were the most since the Lobos had 25 against Utah State on Feb. 25, 2023. UNM also scored a season-high 53 points in the final 20 minutes after scoring a season-high 48 points in the first 20 minutes. The 101 points were the most scored in a game since UNM scored 111 against Utah State on Feb. 25, 2023 and marked the seventh time in the last eight games in the series in which the Lobos scored over 90 points.
On an individual level, Alyssa Hargrove scored a season-high 20 points on a season-high eight made baskets, shooting a season-best 8-9 (.889), and had a career-high nine assists. Joana Magalhães had a season-high four steals and Drew Jordon scored a season-high six points, making her first three-pointer of the season. Vianè Cumber tied her season- and career-high with 25 points, scoring 25 points in consecutive games and was credited with a career-high six assists.
LEAD THE WAY
UNM has entered the fourth quarter with the lead in 15 games which includes six Mountain West games (NAU, Morehead State, Western New Mexico, South Carolina State, UC Irvine, North Texas, at New Mexico State, Pepperdine, Sacramento State, at Air Force, Nevada, San Diego State, Wyoming, Colorado State and Utah State). In those 15 games, UNM outscored opponents 294-210 in the first quarter and 245-203 in the second quarter (539-413 in the first 20 minutes), 288-240 in the third quarter and 292-285 in the fourth (580-525 in the last 20 minutes). UNM is 13-2 this season when taking a lead into the final quarter, 6-0 in MW games.
The Lobos have led for the majority of the game in 13 games, leading 34:12 and by as many as 13 against NAU but lost the lead and the game late. Against Morehead State, the Lobos led 39:33 and by as many as 24 in the fourth, but the lead was cut down to 10 in the 66-56 final. They only trailed for 3:47 (3:30 vs. NAU, 0:17 vs. MSU) in the first two games of the season. Against Western New Mexico, UNM led by as many as 29 and for 36:38 and UNM never trailed against South Carolina State and led by as many as 43. Against UNT, the Lobos led for 39:27 and never trailed, leading by as many as 19 in the second quarter. In the game against Pepperdine, UNM led for 34:10 and by as many as 30. Against Sacramento State, the Lobos never trailed, leading for 38:30 and by as many as 18 in the third quarter. In the MW opener against Air Force, UNM used a 10-0 run to close the first quarter and led for the entire second quarter and second half, in what amounted to 34:21 of the game. Much like the Air Force game, the Lobos used a 10-0 run in the first quarter to pull away and started the second quarter on a 10-2 run, leading for all but 46 seconds in the game against the Wolf Pack. UNM led for 37:36 against Nevada and by as many as 12 in the second quarter and against SDSU, UNM led for 36:07 and by as many as 13. Against Wyoming, UNM led for 27:14 and by as many as eight. At Colorado State, UNM led for 37:06 and by as many as 18 and at Utah State, led for 36:41 and by as many as 22.
In the seven MW games, UNM has led for 222:18 and trailed for only 45:13 and hasn’t trailed by more than five in six games (occurring in the first quarter in all six games). In the UNLV game, UNM trailed by its largest margin at 15 and for its largest time of 23:41. UNM has led after the first, second and third quarters in six MW games and was tied after the first and third against UNLV.
On the season, UNM is outscoring its opponents 399-308 in the first quarter (+91). The Lobos are outscoring opponents by 310-290 in the second (+20), 385-349 (+36) in the third, but trailing 393-374 (-19) in the fourth. UNM holds a 1468-1340 (+128) edge in overall points.
In addition, the Lobos have led for a total of 523:59 this season, leading after the first quarter in 15 games (exception was Gonzaga and at NMSU; tied against Pepperdine, Abilene Christian and UNLV), and trailed for a total of 215:24, with the largest time trailing coming against Gonzaga of 39:13. UNM never trailed in the game against South Carolina State, North Texas and Sacramento State, but also never led against Gonzaga although tying the game three times.
3-4 INSTANT IMPACT
Alyssa Hargrove has reached double digits in 10 games as a Lobo, averaging 8.8 ppg on the season. Additionally, she is averaging 3.8 apg, 2.4 spg, 3.2 rpg, and 0.9 bpg in 29.7 mpg, while shooting 40.8% from the floor and 44.2% from three with two three-pointers in eight games. In the game at Colorado State, Hargrove set a career high in rebounds (nine) to go with a game-high six assists, a team-high three steals and scored six points. This season she has also set a career high in blocks (three versus Abilene Christian) and assists (nine against Utah State). She also had a season-high 20 points at Utah State on a season-high eight made baskets and had four steals and eight rebounds.
Hargrove currently leads the team in steals (47) and assists (75), is third in made three-pointers (23), second in blocks (18) and third in scoring with a steal in 18 games and a block in 12. The Ohio native has 21 more steals than the next Lobo and 25 more assists than the next Lobo. Hargrove is second in the conference in steals per game and 40th in steals in the NCAA. She is also third in the MW in assists per game.
In MW games, Hargrove is averaging 7.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.3 spg in 31.5 mpg. She is tied for second in assists and second in MW games.
Destinee Hooks has been a consistent scorer for the Lobos, reaching double figures in the last seven games and 18 games overall, and has scored 20-plus points in six games. She has also led the Lobos in scoring in 10 games.
In MW games, Hooks is averaging 18.0 ppg (tied for fourth in the MW), shooting 48.1%. Additionally, Hooks recorded at least 15 points and a steal in the first five conference games this season. The only MW players to start a campaign with a longer streak in conference play are Utah’s Morgan Warburton in 2008 (first seven games) and Fresno State’s KiKi Moore in 2013 (first seven games).
Hooks currently leads the Lobos in scoring at 17.3 ppg and second in made free throws (48) and three-pointers (28). Additionally, she is fourth in the MW in scoring and is third in field goal percentage (.491) and currently 27th in the NCAA in field goals (135), 42nd in points (346) and 71st in points per game.
20 POINT CLUB
UNM has had a player score 20-plus points in 11 games this season and had two players finish with 20 or more for the first time at Colorado State and followed it up in the next game at Utah State. Destinee Hooks has scored 20-plus points six times (21 vs. Northern Arizona, 28 at Texas Tech, 24 vs. Gonzaga, 27 at New Mexico State, 20 against Wyoming and 27 against UNLV) and Viané Cumber five times (scored 23 against Morehead State, 25 against Sacramento State, 20 at Air Force, 25 at Colorado State and 25 at Utah State).
Cumber and Joana Magalhães (20 points) both reached 20 points at CSU, the first time with 20 points for Magalhães as a Lobo, and the first time with two in a game since Jan. 24, 2024 against Fresno State. UNM had two in consecutive games with Cumber (25) and Alyssa Hargrove (a season-high 20 points) at Utah State.
MOUNTAIN OF STATS
Among the Mountain West teams, the Lobos rank in the top three in seven categories, first in two and second in four.
The Lobos lead the conference in rebounding margin (+4.6) and rebounds per game (38.5). UNM is second in scoring offense (73.4), field goal percentage (.449), blocks per game (4.2), and defensive rebounds per game (27.7). UNM is also third in steals per game (9.0).
UNM’s 10 blocks against Morehead State are tied for the second most in a game by a MW team this season. UNM’s 26 assists at Utah State are tied for the most by a MW team this season and the 101 points at Utah State are the second most scored by a MW team this season.
On an individual level, Viané Cumber leads the conference in free throw percentage (.968), three-point field goal percentage (.367), three-pointers per game (2.6), and in made three-pointers with 51. She’s also third in minutes played (33.4) and fifth in defensive rebounds per game (5.6) as well as in field goal percentage (.432), and sixth in scoring (16.4). Cumber’s seven three-pointers against Morehead State are the most made by a MW player this season with her 14 three-point attempts at Utah State also the most. Destinee Hooks is fourth in the conference in points per game at 17.3 and third in field goal percentage (.491). Hooks’ 11 made field goals in the game at Texas Tech tied for the most by a MW player.
Alyssa Hargrove is third in the conference in assists per game (3.8), second in steals per game (2.4) and seventh in assist/turnover ratio (1.3). Amhyia Moreland is fourth in blocks per game (1.4) and Hulda Joaquim is sixth in rebounds per game (7.1) and fourth in offensive rebounds per game (3.1).
Against MW opponents, the Lobos are ranked second in scoring (76.0), field goal percentage defense (.399), steals per game (8.1), rebounds per game (37.9) and in defensive rebounds per game (27.9). Hooks is tied for fourth in points per game (18.0) with Cumber sixth (17.1) and Hooks seventh in field goal percentage (.481). Cumber leads the conference in free throw percentage (.968) and is tied for second in three-pointers made per game (2.3). Joaquim is second in offensive rebounds (3.1) and tied for sixth in rebounds per game (7.1). Hargrove is second in steals (2.6) and tied for third in assists per game (3.3).
The 36 made baskets against Utah State are the most by a MW team in a conference game this season as were the 26 assists in the game.
ABOUT FRESNO STATE
The Bulldogs are coming off of two losses against Air Force (65-36) and UNLV (73-48), which broke a three-game win streak. Fresno State is averaging 62.5 points per game, led by two in double figures in Mia Jacobs (18.2 ppg) and Mariah Elohim (10.5 ppg). Opponents are averaging 63.9 points per game and are outshooting Fresno State 40.8%-38.1% as well as outrebounding the Bulldogs 37.3-34.1. The Bulldogs are third in the MW and 45th in the NCAA in three-pointers per game with 8.0 and are second in the MW in free-throw percentage (74.7%).
In conference games, the Bulldogs are scoring 59.3 points per game while allowing 66.3 points per game, and are led by three in double figures. Jacobs is averaging 18.0 points per game with Elohim at 11.6 ppg and Kylee Fox at 10.3 ppg. On the boards, FS is being outrebounded 35.4-29.3, but Jacobs is leading the team with 7.4 rebounds per game.
Fresno State has started the same five in all seven conference games in Jacobs, Elohim, Fox, Saga Ukkonen and Maria Konstantinidou.