Lobos Concludes Conference Schedule with Air Force Tuesday

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Mountain West schedule has come circle for the Lobos, ending the conference portion just as it started, against Air Force on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

UNM enters the game 17-13 on the season, 10-7 in the MW, with Air Force 17-12 on the season, 7-10 in the MW. The Falcons have won three of their last four games with wins over Utah State, Fresno State and Boise State, with the Lobos winning four of their last five.

SERIES HISTORY              
The Lobos are 50-4 all-time against the Falcons, 24-1 at home and have won the last six games in the series. The lone home loss was in 2020.

UNM defeated Air Force in the first conference game of the season behind four Lobos in double figures, led by a game-high 20 points from Viané Cumber and a double-double from Hulda Joaquim on a season-high 16 points and game-high 11 rebounds. Destinee Hooks scored 15 points with Joana Magalhães reaching double figures for the first time as a Lobo with 11 points.

The Lobos led for 34:21 of the game, including the entire second quarter and second half.

10 AGAIN           
With the win at Fresno State, the Lobos won their 10th conference game of the season, the fifth consecutive season winning at least 10 games and the eighth time under Coach Mike Bradbury.

MOUNTAIN OF STATS
Among the Mountain West teams, the Lobos rank in the top three in five categories: first in one, second in three and third in one.

The Lobos lead the MW in defensive rebounds per game (28.1), are second in scoring (70.8), rebounds per game (38.8) and blocks per game (4.5) and are third in steals per game (8.1).

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 second 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.

On an individual level, Viané Cumber leads the conference in free throw percentage (.905), three-point field goal percentage (.363), three-pointers per game (2.7), and in made three-pointers with 81, 14 more than the next MW player. She’s also third in minutes played (33.0), eighth in defensive rebounds per game (4.9) as well as eighth in field goal percentage (.407), and sixth in scoring (15.5). 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 seventh in the conference in points per game at 15.3 and third in field goal percentage (.447).

Alyssa Hargrove is third in the conference in assists per game (4.3), second in steals per game (2.2) and fifth in assist/turnover ratio (1.4). Amhyia Moreland is third in blocks per game (1.6) and Hulda Joaquim is fifth in rebounds per game (7.1) and third in offensive rebounds per game (3.2).

Against MW opponents, the Lobos lead in one category, are second in three categories and third in three. UNM leads in defensive rebounds per game (28.5). The Lobos are second in scoring (69.9), rebounds per game (38.7) and blocks per game (4.1) and third in steals per game (7.1), assists per game (14.4) and defensive three-point field goal percentage (.318).

Cumber is eighth in points per game (15.2) and leads the conference in three-pointers made per game (2.7) and in made three-pointers (46, seven more than the next MW player), as well as in three-point percentage (.359). She is also second in free-throw percentage (.868). Joaquim leads the MW in offensive rebounds (3.4) and seventh in rebounds per game (7.1). Hargrove is third in assists per game (4.8) and fourth in steals per game (2.1).

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 second most. The 101 points are the most scored by a MW team against a MW opponent and the 15 three-pointers at UNLV are tied for the most.

THREES IN VIANE’S DNA
The easiest way to know how to pronounce Vianè’s name is VNA, like DNA but VNA. And three-pointers are in Vianè’s DNA.

In her career, she has made a three in 87 games with 64 games with multiple threes, three or more three-pointers in 38 career games and 15 career games with five or more three-pointers. She has made at least one three-pointer in 61 of the last 65 games she’s played in.

Among one of the best three-point shooters in the conference, she made three or more three-pointers 10 times last season. This season, she’s made multiple three-pointers in 20 games and three or more in 14 games.

This season, she’s made 81 with multiple three-pointers in 20: seven against Morehead State, six at Boise State, five against Sacramento State, Utah State (twice) and Boise State, four against Gonzaga, Air Force and Fresno State, three against South Carolina State, North Texas, Abilene Christian, Colorado State and UNLV, and two against Northern Arizona, Texas Tech, Pepperdine, Wyoming (twice) and Colorado State. Her seven are tied for the eighth most in a game by a Lobo in program history.

She leads the Mountain West in three-point percentage (.363), three-pointers per game (2.7) and in made three-pointers (14 more than the next MW player). In MW games, she is shooting 35.9% from three and leads the conference in three-pointers (46) and three-pointers per game (2.7).  Nationally, she is 13th in the NCAA in three-pointers, 10th in three-point attempts (223) and 16th in three-pointers per game.

MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME
In 19 home games, UNM is outscoring opponents 1358-1275 (+83) and averaging 71.5 ppg while allowing 67.1 ppg. The Lobos are shooting 42.7% and 32.6% from three-point range, making an average of 7.5 three-pointers per game. UNM is also outrebounding opponents 39.2-34.8 (+4.3) and averaging 8.6 steals per game and 4.9 blocks per game in The Pit.

Destinee Hooks (15.6) and Viané Cumber (16.0) are averaging double figures in home games, while Hulda Joaquim is averaging 7.5 ppg and 6.8 rpg and Alyssa Hargrove is averaging 7.7 ppg, 2.0 spg and 4.5 apg.

New Mexico ranks 18th in the NCAA in attendance at 91,423 (4,812 average).

ABOUT AIR FORCE
The Falcons are averaging 66.3 points per game, led by 15.8 ppg from Milahnie Perry and 15.2 ppg from Madison Smith. Smith has led the Falcons in scoring in the last four games with three games with 20-plus points, and in five of the last six games. Smith also leads the team with 74 steals (2.6 per game) and is coming off six steals in the last game against Boise State, the second time this season with six (both against the Broncos). On the season, Air Force is averaging a conference-best 10.9 steals per game and leads with a +6.1 turnover margin.

Against MW opponents, the Falcons are scoring 65.5 ppg with Smith leading at 15.8 and Perry at 15.6. Smith has 42 steals against MW opponents. As a team, Air Force leads the conference with 9.4 steals per game and +5.3 in turnover margin.