ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos closed nonconference with consecutive wins over Big 12 opponents behind four players in double figures in the 63-41 victory over Houston Saturday night.
UNM’s win marked consecutive wins, and the fourth in last five games, in the series as well as the second time under Coach Mike Bradbury that the Lobos have won two games against Power 4 teams in the same season (2017-18, Illinois and Texas Tech). It was also the sixth win that the Lobos have had over a Power 4 school under Bradbury.
The 22-point win was the second-largest margin of victory for UNM in the series (+23, 72-49 in 2001) and was the fewest points allowed in a game in the series. Further, it was the third-largest margin of victory over a Power 4 team in Bradbury’s tenure at UNM.
The 41 points were a season low for Houston, as was its 13 field goals and 22.8% field goal percentage.
Jessie Joaquim led the Lobos with a game- and season-high 13 points and a game- and season-high 12 rebounds, registering the first double-double by a Lobo this season. In addition, she is the sixth different Lobo to lead the team in scoring this season and Saturday was the third time leading the team in rebounds.
Joining Joaquim in double figures was Destinee Hooks with 12 points (the 11th time this season scoring double figures), Alyssa Hargrove (11 points, the fifth time in double figures this season) and Joana Magalhães (10 points, first time in double figures this season). UNM is now 5-0 when Hargrove reaches double figures and 8-0 when at least three players reach double figures. Further, Joaquim and Magalhães are the eighth and ninth different Lobo to score double digits in a game this season.
The Lobos led for 38:00 and by as many as 24, and had the edge in rebounds (50-47), steals (12-6), blocks (7-5), three-pointers (7-4), field goal percentage (38.2-22.8) and assists (15-8). UNM also made double the amount of field goals as Houston (26-13). The 12 steals were the sixth time creating double-digit steals this season, with the seven blocks a season high.
UNM scored on its first possession 13 seconds in on a layup by Hooks, with Houston hitting a three on its first shot attempt to take its only lead of the game. Houston led for 10 seconds before a Cacia Antonio free throw tied the game at three, with a total of two ties at three and five in the quarter. A Hargrove steal led to a Magalhães turnaround jumper to break the tie with a three-pointer by Hooks extending UNM’s lead to 10-5.
Houston made one of its first six field goal attempts and two of its first 12, while UNM made three of its first five shot attempts and four of its first 11 to get out to the 10-5 lead. Houston pulled within two at 10-8 with Kaia Foster starting an 8-0 run on a three-pointer, followed by a second-chance layup from Hooks off of a Laila Abdurraqib steal and fast-break opportunity followed by a corner Antonio three. The Cougars hit a three of their own before Nayli Padilla answered with a three-pointer with 17 seconds left to close the quarter.
The Lobos led 21-11 after the first with Hooks scoring seven points on 3-5 shooting.
After Hargrove made a layup 1:11 into the second quarter, Houston closed within three at 23-20 on a 7-0 run. A Drew Jordon drive ended the run and a Joaquim offensive rebound and layup pushed the lead to seven at 27-20. Houston scored the final point on a free theow with UNM holding a six-point lead at the break.
Both teams cooled off in the second quarter with Houston scoring 10 points to UNM’s six. Of UNM’s 27 points, 14 came in the paint and seven were off Cougar turnovers.
The Cougars opened the third on a jumper before the Lobos went on a 9-0 run in the third quarter to stretch the lead to 36-23 with 6:49 remaining in the quarter. A layup by Joaquim extended UNM’s lead to 14 midway through the quarter with UH closing the margin to nine. However, four straight points by Magalhães and a three from Abdurraqib built the lead to 16 at 47-31 with 42 seconds left.
UNM outscored Houston 20-11 in the third quarter on 53.3% shooting and created four steals.
The Lobos continued to extend their lead early in the fourth, with Hargrove making a three-pointer to give her double digits and Magalhães making a layup for the 52-32 advantage. The lead held in the 20-point range in the final 4:26, growing to as large as 24 on a Magalhães layup with 1:26 left. Joaquim closed the scoring with a free throw with 55 seconds left for the final score.
UNM outscored UH 16-9 in the fourth quarter, the fifth time holding an opponent to single digits in a quarter this season, the second time in the fourth quarter. The Lobos outshot the Cougars 58.3% to 13.3% in the quarter with Joaquim scoring seven points with six rebounds in the quarter.
In the final 20 minutes, UNM outshot Houston 55.6%-23.1% and 36-20.
With the win, the Lobos improve to 8-3 and begin conference play at home on Wednesday, Dec. 17 against Boise State.