ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos scored the first 10 points and outscored Wyoming 21-7 in the fourth quarter to secure the 62-48 New Year’s Eve win, improving to 10-4 on the season and 2-1 in conference play.
New Mexico held the Cowgirls to single digits twice in the contest, limiting UW to five points in the first quarter and the seven in the fourth quarter, the seventh game this season holding an opponent to under 10 points in a quarter, but the first time doing it twice in a game.
Additionally, it was the fourth time holding an opponent to under 50 points this season.
Three Lobos finished in double figures, led for the second straight game, and third time this season by Cacia Antonio, who scored 14 points. Nayli Padilla and Laila Abdurraqib each finished with 11 points with Padilla making three three-pointers and Abdurraqib making two. It was the seventh game this season with Padilla scoring in double figures and the third time this season for Abdurraqib.
As a team, UNM held the edge in paint points (28-12), second-chance points (17-3), bench points (18-9) and fast-break points (5-3), and also went a perfect 10-10 from the free-throw line, led by five from Abdurraqib.
On the boards, UNM outrebounded Wyoming 42-28 behind 17 offensive rebounds as a team and Emma Najjuma’s 15 total rebounds, six on the offensive end. Antonio registered seven rebounds with five offensive rebounds.
Defensively, the Lobos registered 11 steals with Alyssa Hargrove finishing with a game-high four, Abdurraqib with three and Padilla with two. For Hargrove, Wednesday was the ninth game with multiple and fourth game with three or more and for Abdurraqib the three was a season high.
Antonio opened the scoring with a straightaway three on UNM’s first possession with Hargrove increasing the lead with a layup and Destinee Hooks hitting two free throws and a three-pointer off of a Padilla steal for the 10-0 lead. Wyoming missed its first six shots, scoring its first points on a three-pointer with 3:04 left in the quarter. Each team exchanged layups with Drew Jordon scoring for the Lobos for the final points of the quarter, with neither team scoring in the final 2:05.
UNM led 12-5 after the quarter with Hooks scoring five points to lead all scorers and Padilla and Abdurraqib credited with two steals each as UNM had five as a team.
The Cowgirls scored the first 11 points of the second quarter to take a 16-12 lead before a Najjuma offensive rebound and putback ended the run followed by a Padilla three that put the Lobos back in front. A Cowgirl three was matched by Abdurraqib on the other end with the lead changing again on layups by both teams to give UNM a 22-21 lead. An Abdurraqib three stretched the lead to four with the Lobos ultimately closing the quarter on an 8-0 run to hold a 28-21 lead at the break.
Abdurraqib scored the final six points of the quarter for the Lobos to lead with nine points in a quarter that had six lead changes with UNM leading for 7:18 of it.
Layups by Antonio and Hargrove stretched UNM’s lead to nine at 32-23 in the third with the Cowgirls whittling it down to four at 34-30 before taking a one-point lead at 37-36 behind an 8-0 run. The Lobos trailed 41-37 with 44 seconds remaining in the quarter, but responded to tie the game at 41 on two Antonio free throws and a steal by Jordon with five seconds left that led to a Padilla layup as time expired.
The momentum from the third continued into the start of the fourth as UNM opened with a Najjuma layup and an Antonio three for the 9-0 run and five-point Lobo advantage. UW pulled within two at 48-46 with 6:56 remaining, but a Padilla three and Antonio jumper built the lead to seven.
Padilla’s second three of the quarter with 3:48 left pushed the sophomore into double figures and started a 9-0 Lobo run, with the Lobo defense holding the Cowgirls the final 4:17 without a point.
Antonio scored seven points with Padilla adding six points in the final quarter as UNM shot 66.7% (8-12) from the floor.
The Lobos return to the road for their next two games, traveling to San José State for a Saturday afternoon game.