ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Following a midweek bye, the Lobos return to the court and the road on Saturday at Air Force, with tip set for 1 p.m. on the Mountain West Network.
UNM enters the game 12-7 on the season, 4-4 in conference with the Falcons 8-11, 2-7 in conference.
Both teams are in the top three in the Mountain West in steals per game, with UNM second at 10.4 and AFA third at 9.8. Additionally, both teams are in the top three in offensive rebounds per game with the Lobos leading with 13.9 and the Falcons third at 12.4. In conference games, the two teams are also two and three, respectively, in steals with UNM averaging 9.3 per game and AFA 9.0.
SERIES HISTORY
UNM is 51-4 all-time against Air Force and 23-3 in road games. The Lobos have won the last seven games in the series by an average of 70.1 ppg to 59.8 ppg (+10.3).
In the first game between the two teams last season, UNM won 69-63 at Air Force behind four players in double figures. The Lobos led for 34:21 of the game with 20 points coming from fast-break points. In the second game, UNM won 77-74 behind three players in double figures and 17 points from Destinee Hooks.
FAST START
UNM is outscoring opponents 306-246 (+60) in the first quarter, 351-296 (+55) in the second quarter and 657-542 (+115) in the first 20 minutes.
In the conference opener, the Lobos scored the first 14 points against Boise State with six different Lobos contributing to the points, and against Wyoming, the Lobos scored the first 10 points of the game. UNM scored the first five points and later built a nine-point lead in the first quarter at San Diego State. Further, UNM held Wyoming (5), Boise State (4), San José State (4) and Nevada (9) to single digits in the first quarter and held San José State (8) and Colorado State (2) to single digits in the second quarter.
WIN THE QUARTER
The second quarter is UNM’s largest quarter for point production, scoring 351 points, with the first quarter the largest margin of +60. The Lobos have won the second quarter in nine games this season, scoring 20-plus points in seven games (twice with 28 points, twice with 22 points, twice with 24 and once with 20) and holding opponents to 16 points or fewer in nine.
Further, UNM has outscored its opponent in the first quarter 11 times (NAU, UNO, UTM, CSU, UA, UH, BSU, UW, SJSU, NEV, SDSU), the third quarter 11 times (UNO, NAU, NMSU, UTM, UA, UH, UNLV, SJSU, NEV, SDSU, GCU) and the fourth quarter 11 times (NAU, AT, UTM, UC, Chicago St., UH, BSU, UNLV, UW, SJSU, Colorado St.).
The Lobos have also held their opponent below 10 points in a quarter in 10 games this season (five in the fourth quarter against NAU, five in the second quarter against Chicago State, four in the second quarter against NMSU, seven in the second quarter against UTM, nine in the fourth quarter against Houston, four in the first quarter against Boise State, five in the first quarter against Wyoming and seven in the fourth quarter against Wyoming, four in the first quarter at San José State and eight in the second quarter at San José State, two in the second quarter at Colorado State and nine in the first quarter against Nevada). The Lobos held the Cowgirls to single digits in two quarters, the first time doing it twice in a game this season, and repeated it the next game against San José State.
Four times, the Lobos have held their opponent below 20 points at the half: 12 points (San José State), 15 points (New Mexico State), 17 points (Chicago State) and 18 points (UT Martin).
UNM is 9-2 when leading after the first quarter, 12-1 when leading at the half and 10-1 when leading after the third quarter.
OWN THE BOARDS
The Lobos lead the MW in offensive rebounds per game (13.9), rebounding margin (+5.4), rebounding offense (40.7). UNM is 63rd in the NCAA in rebound margin, 56th in rebounds per game, 81st in defensive rebounds per game (26.8) and 67th in offensive rebounds per game.
UNM has outrebounded its opponent in 12 games and is 11-1 when doing so (San Diego State was lone loss when outrebounding opponent).
As a team, UNM had a season-high 58 against San José State with the largest rebounding margin against UT Martin (+35). Of note, the 58 rebounds are the most in a game amongst MW teams this season. UNM is led by Emma Najjuma, who has 116 rebounds, with Jessie Joaquim closely behind at 110.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Air Force is 2-7 in the conference and has lost its last three games against Colorado State, Wyoming and UNLV.
On the season, the Falcons are averaging 57.8 points per game, led by Milahnie Perry’s 16.2 points per game. The next Falcon is averaging 9.3 points per game. Perry is second in the MW in scoring with Jayda McNabb third in the conference in rebounding at 7.8 rebounds per game and second in steals per game at 2.3. McNabb also leads the conference in offensive rebounds per game at 4.4.
McNabb and Emily Adams are the only two Falcons who have started all 19 games, and in conference games, Perry, McNabb and Adams have started all nine games.
AFA's scoring output increases as the game goes on, scoring 254 points in the first quarter (average of 13.4 points), 260 in the second quarter (13.7), 285 in the third (15.0) and 299 in the fourth (15.7).
In their nine conference games, the Falcons are averaging 56.9 points per game while allowing 63.7 points per game and are shooting 34.5% while opponents are shooting 43.7%. Perry (14.8 ppg) and Keelie O’Hollaren (11.0 ppg) are averaging double figures with McNabb averaging 6.7 rebounds per game. McNabb is second in the conference in steals per game at 2.1 with Perry tied for eighth at 1.6.
The Falcons lead the MW in turnover margin at +4.7 in conference games with the Falcons forcing 17.3 turnovers per game and averaging 12.7 turnovers per game.