SAN JOSE, Calif.— Five Lobos scored in double figures as New Mexico led from start to finish in the 89-51 win at San José State Saturday.
It was the first time this season that the Lobos have had five players reach double figures and the sixth time with four or more scoring double digits in a game.
Cacia Antonio and Kaia Foster led the team with 15 points each, with Foster a perfect 6-6 from the free-throw line and 3-3 from three-point range, with all 15 points coming in 5:29 of play in the fourth quarter for her season high. Destinee Hooks and Alyssa Hargrove scored 11 points apiece with Laila Abdurraqib scoring 10 points.
On the boards, the Lobos registered a season-high 58 rebounds led by a season-best 16 rebounds (nine offensive) by Jessie Joaquim. Joaquim tied Emma Najjuma for the most rebounds in a game this season by a Lobo. Of the 58 rebounds, 25 were on the offensive end, a season high for the Lobos and the second time this season with 20 or more offensive rebounds. The Lobos also created 14 steals, the ninth game this season with double-digit steals, led by Hooks’ three and Hargrove, Antonio, Nayli Padilla and Joaquim credited with two each. Eight different Lobos recorded at least one steal against the Spartans.
The Lobos got on the board before the game officially started after San José State was assessed a pregame administrative technical for the shot clock not working with Padilla taking it and making it. UNM won the tip and Hargrove scored off an offensive rebound for the three-point lead.
SJSU missed its first four shots, scoring its first point 3:26 in, with Abdurraqib making a jumper on the other end to extend the lead back to three. After a SJSU layup cut the margin back to one, a jumper by Hooks put the gap back to three, starting an 8-0 run.
A Drew Jordon layup extended the lead to five at 9-4 and the run extended on a Najjuma steal that led to an Antonio layup and an Abdurraqib layup. SJSU missed nine consecutive shots and had a scoring drought for the final 5:42 as UNM led 13-4 at the end of the first. It was the eighth game holding an opponent to under 10 points in a quarter and the four points matched the fewest points allowed in the first quarter this season (Boise State).
The Lobo run extended on a Joaquim layup to start the second quarter and free throw by Hooks before an and-one for SJSU. UNM’s lead continued to build behind a Hargrove three-pointer and six consecutive points by Antonio that put the Lobos in front 27-9. Consecutive Joaquim baskets and a jumper by Hooks amounted to an 11-0 run that gave UNM the 32-9 lead with 1:22 left.
UNM closed the second on a 16-3 run in the final 3:55 to lead 37-12 at the break, with the Spartans shooting 17.9% in the first 20 minutes compared to 39.5% for the Lobos. The 12 points were the fewest points allowed by the Lobos in a half this season and the fourth time allowing fewer than 20 points in the first two quarters. With the eight points scored in the second quarter, it marked the second straight game that the Lobos held an opponent to under 10 points in a quarter twice in a game.
Antonio led all scorers with 10 points in the first two quarters to go with seven rebounds and three assists, as the Lobos outscored the Spartans 17-0 in points off turnovers, 8-2 in second-chance points and 11-2 in bench points.
A Padilla steal led to an Antonio layup to open the third quarter combined with a Hooks layup stretched the margin to 29 and a 41-12 lead. SJSU cut the gap to 22 before an Antonio three and a Padilla three with 4:20 left in the quarter extended the lead to 49-21. A Padilla free throw and a Tyler Jones’ steal and fast-break layup extended the Lobo lead to 30 at 57-27 with 1:33 left with the Lobos leading 60-31 at the end of the third quarter.
Five points from consecutive Spartan possessions closed the lead to 24 1:09 into the fourth quarter with an Abdurraqib three-pointer starting the Lobo scoring 1:21 into the final quarter. A corner three with 6:55 left pushed Hargrove into double figures with 11 points, the seventh game in double figures with the Lobos 7-0 when Hargrove scores double digits. An Abdurraqib three pushed the Lobo freshman into double figures and extended UNM’s lead back to 30 at 69-39 with Foster scoring the next 15 Lobo points on six free throws and three, three-pointers in a span of 2:41 to give her a season high.
A Leonor Peixinho offensive rebound and jumper and a Jordon three-pointer closed the scoring for the 38-point final margin.
UNM made 10 three-pointers in the final 20 minutes to finish with a season-high 13 made three-pointers in the contest. Hargrove and Foster each made three, three-pointers with five players making multiple three-pointers. Of UNM's 32 made baskets, 18 were assisted, led by a game- and season-high six from Jones with Hargrove, Antonio and Padilla each credited with three.
With the win, the Lobos improve to 11-4 on the season, 3-1 in conference play.