Lobos Host Broncos Thursday
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—The Lobos return to The Pit for the second meeting of the season against Boise State, set for Thursday night at 7 p.m.
UNM enters the game at 13-12 on the season, 6-6 in conference, 9-8 at home. Boise State is 15-10 on the season, 5-7 in conference and 1-5 on the road. Both teams enter the game on a losing streak with the Broncos having lost their last three games and the Lobos their last five.
SERIES HISTORY
The Lobos are 10-18 all-time against Boise State after the Broncos winning the first game of the season 89-80 in Boise on Jan. 28. UNM led 54-43 at the half with Viané Cumber scored a game-high 23 points behind six three-pointers, one of three Lobos to finish in double figures in the game. Hulda Joaquim finished with 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds and Destinee Hooks scored 10 points.
UNM led 30-20 at the end of the first quarter and 54-43 at the half before BSU outscored UNM 28-10 in the third quarter to lead 71-64 at the end of the quarter.
Boise State has won the last four games in the series. Coach Bradbury is 5-10 against the Broncos, but 4-2 at home.
MOUNTAIN OF STATS
Among the Mountain West teams, the Lobos rank in the top three in six categories: second in three and third in three.
The Lobos are second in the conference in scoring (71.4), blocks per game (4.0) and defensive rebounds per game (27.2). The Lobos are third in field goal percentage (.433), rebounds per game (37.7) and steals per game (8.6).
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. The 15 made three-pointers at UNLV is tied for the most by a MW team this season, but the most against a MW opponent.
On an individual level, Viané Cumber leads the conference in free throw percentage (.929), three-point field goal percentage (.376), three-pointers per game (2.7), and in made three-pointers with 67, nine more than the next MW player. She’s also third in minutes played (33.2), sixth in defensive rebounds per game (5.2) as well as fifth in field goal percentage (.425), and sixth in scoring (15.8). 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. Her six at Boise State is tied for the second most three-pointers. Destinee Hooks is fourth in the conference in points per game at 16.5 and third in field goal percentage (.472). Hooks’ 11 made field goals in the game at Texas Tech are tied for the second most by a MW player.
Alyssa Hargrove is third in the conference in assists per game (4.0), second in steals per game (2.3) and sixth in assist/turnover ratio (1.4). Amhyia Moreland is fourth in blocks per game (1.4) and Hulda Joaquim is sixth in rebounds per game (7.0) and fourth in offensive rebounds per game (3.1).
Against MW opponents, the Lobos are second in steals per game (7.7) and in three-pointers per game (8.0). UNM is third in scoring (70.8) and assists per game (14.0) and defensive rebounds per game (26.8). Hooks is seventh in points per game (1601) with Cumber eighth (15.6) and Hooks sixth in field goal percentage (.446). Cumber leads the conference in three-pointers made per game (2.7) and in made three-pointers (32) and is second in three-point percentage (.386) and third in free-throw percentage (.897). Joaquim is second in the MW in offensive rebounds (3.2) and eighth in rebounds per game (7.0). Hargrove is third in assists per game (4.4) and tied for third in steals per game (2.3).
The 36 made baskets against Utah State are tied for the most by a MW team in a conference game this season with the 26 assists in the game the most.
GOOD THINGS COME IN THREES
UNM has had three players finish in double figures in 12 games.
Up until the San Diego State game on Feb. 1, the Lobos have had three different players lead the team in scoring in a game, with Destinee Hooks leading the team in 12 (NAU, Texas Tech, Western New Mexico, Gonzaga, UC Irvine, at New Mexico State, Nevada, San Diego State, Wyoming, UNLV twice and Colorado State). Viané Cumber has led in nine (Morehead State, New Mexico State, Sacramento State, Abilene Christian, Air Force, Colorado State, Utah State, Fresno State and Boise State) and Hulda Joaquim in one (South Carolina State). Cumber and Hooks shared the team lead against North Texas and Joaquim and Hooks shared the team high in scoring against Pepperdine. Nayli Padilla joined the list after leading the Lobos with 12 points against the Aztecs.
Further, the trio of Hooks, Cumber and Alyssa Hargrove have all scored in double figures in the same game in seven games (NAU, Texas Tech, UC Irvine, New Mexico State, San Diego State, Utah State and at UNLV).
QUITE THE STEAL
The Lobos have created six or more steals in 19 games and 10 or more steals in nine this season, including a season-high 15 against North Texas, 13 in two games, 12 against Pepperdine, Abilene Christian and Utah State, 11 at Air Force and at San Diego and 10 against New Mexico State. UNM is averaging 8.6 steals per game and 7.7 steals per game in conference games. The Lobos are third in the conference in steals per game overall and second in steals per game in MW games.
Alyssa Hargrove leads the team in steals with 57 (2.3 per game), following three or more steals in 11 games with five against North Texas, New Mexico State and at UNLV, four against Western New Mexico, Air Force and Utah State, and three against South Carolina State, Nevada, Gonzaga, San Diego State and Colorado State. She’s recorded a steal in 22 games and multiple steals in 15. Hargrove led the team in steals against NAU, TTU, WNMU, North Texas, New Mexico State, Air Force, Nevada, Colorado State and UNLV, and tied for the team lead against South Carolina State, San Diego State (both games), Utah State and Colorado State (second game). Hargrove has had three or more steals in six MW games to date.
Destinee Hooks has recorded a steal in 16 games, and had four against North Texas. Joana Magalhães has had a steal in 17 games with multiple steals in 11 games. In the game at Utah State, the freshman had a season-high four and followed it up with three against Fresno State. Viané Cumber has had a steal in 14 games, with multiple steals in five games, and a game-high four against Gonzaga which tied her career high. Hulda Joaquim has recorded a steal in 13 games and six games with multiple steals. Against New Mexico State, Joaquim tied her career high with three steals, which she last did in 2022. Amhyia Moreland has had a steal in 13 games, credited with a career-high four against ACU.
Three Lobos are averaging over a steal per game with Hargrove (2.3), Magalhães (1.3) and Hooks (1.0). Hargrove is third in the conference in steals per game and 42nd in steals in the NCAA. In MW games, she’s averaging 2.3 steals per game and is second in the conference.
MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME
In 17 home games, UNM is outscoring opponents 1197-1127 (+70) in home games and averaging 70.4 ppg while allowing 66.3 ppg. The Lobos are shooting 42.8% and 32.7% from three-point range, making an average of 7.4 three-pointers per game. UNM is also outrebounding opponents 37.6-34.6 (+3.0) and averaging 9.1 steals per game and 4.7 blocks per game in The Pit.
Destinee Hooks (15.9 ppg) and Viané Cumber (15.1 ppg) are averaging double figures in home games, while Hulda Joaquim is averaging 7.2 ppg and 6.5 rpg and Alyssa Hargrove is averaging 8.1 ppg, 2.1 spg and 3.9 apg.
New Mexico ranks 15th in the NCAA in attendance at 81,098 (4,770 average).
ABOUT BOISE STATE
Since the Lobos played the Broncos on Jan. 28, BSU has lost to Wyoming, Nevada and Colorado State.
BSU is led by two in double figures with Natalie Pasco (12.6 ppg) and Tatum Thompson (12.4 ppg) with Thompson also leading in rebounds per game (6.6) and steals (33).
Against Mountain West opponents, Boise State is averaging 67.2 points per game while giving up 68.8 points per game with three in double figures: Thompson (14.3), Pasco (13.3) and Mya Hansen (12.3). The Broncos are third in the MW in rebounds per game (36.7) and free-throw percentage (77.6%), while also tied for third in rebounding margin (+3.0). The Broncos lead the conference in blocks per game (4.2).
Following Thursday’s game, there are only two home games left on the schedule: against Utah State on Feb. 22 and Air Force on March 4.