ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos begin the week on the road at Wyoming Wednesday, with tip set for 6:30 p.m. on the Mountain West Network.
UNM enters the game 15-7 (7-4 MW) and has won its last three games, while the Cowgirls and 8-13 on the season (5-7 MW) and have won four of their last five games.
SERIES HISTORY
The Lobos are 48-40 against the Cowgirls, have won five of the last six following the first meeting of the year (62-48 on New Year’s Eve in The Pit). While the Lobos are 15-27 in Laramie, UNM has won four of the last six games in Laramie.
Three players finished in double figures in the first meeting, led by 14 points from Cacia Antonio, while Nayli Padilla and Laila Abdurraqib each finished with 11 points with Padilla making three three-pointers and Abdurraqib making two. Emma Najjuma led on the boards with 15 rebounds as UNM outrebounded Wyoming 42-28. UNM led for 34:16 of the game with 28 of the 62 points coming in the paint and UNM having a 17-3 advantage in second-chance points off of 17 offensive rebounds.
The Lobos scored the first 10 points of the contest, holding the Cowgirls to five points in the first quarter, and outscored Wyoming 21-7 in the fourth quarter.
LAST WEEK STATS
UNM went 2-0 with wins against UNLV and Utah State and an +18.0 scoring margin, holding both teams below 60 points. The Lobo defense held the Lady Rebels and Aggies to a combined 14.7% from three-point range and five three-pointers, as well as had a +12.0 rebounding margin.
Three Lobos averaged double figures in Destinee Hooks (11.0), Joana Magalhães (10.5) and Cacia Antonio (10.5), while Jessie Joaquim averaged 13.0 rebounds per game.
UNM trailed for just 0:34 between the two games, which was in the first quarter against Utah State.
FAST START
UNM is outscoring opponents 364-276 (+88) in the first quarter, 394-339 (+55) in the second quarter and 758-615 (+143) 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. Against UNLV, the Lobos built a 13-2 lead behind a 10-0 run with the Lobos making five of their first seven shots. Against Utah State, the Lobos used a 9-0 run to lead 9-2 and closed the first quarter on a 6-0 run to build a 12-point lead.
Further, UNM held Wyoming (5), Boise State (4), San José State (4), Nevada (9), UNLV (9) and Utah State (7) 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 at 394 points, followed by the third quarter (387 points), with the first quarter the largest margin of +88.
UNM has outscored its opponent in the first quarter 14, the second quarter in 10 games this season, the third quarter 12 times and the fourth quarter 14 times. The Lobos have also held their opponent below 10 points in a quarter in 12 games this season and five times, have held their opponent below 20 points at the half.
UNM is 12-2 when leading after the first quarter, 15-1 when leading at the half and 13-1 when leading after the third quarter.
60-70
While the trend right now is 6-7 and scoring 67 points, for the Lobos the trend is 60-70.
UNM is 11-0 when allowing 60 points or less (6-0 in conference), including holding five opponents below 50 points and four teams to 45 points or fewer. UNM is also 10-1 when scoring 70 or more points.
OWN THE BOARDS
The Lobos lead the MW in offensive rebounds per game (13.6), rebounding margin (+5.5) and rebounding offense (40.2). UNM is 60th in the NCAA in rebound margin as well as 60th in rebounds per game, 74th in offensive rebounds per game and 92nd in defensive rebounds per game (26.5)
UNM has outrebounded its opponent in 14 games and is 13-1 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 Jessie Joaquim at 139, followed by Emma Najjuma at 131.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Wyoming has won four of its last five games with wins over Air Force, Utah State (twice) and Fresno State before losing its last game at Grand Canyon.
The Cowgirls are averaging 54.6 points per game on the season, led by the MW leading scorer Malene Pedersen (16.9 ppg). Pedersen also leads the team in rebounds per game (4.1) as well as third in the conference in field goal percentage (45.5%) and fourth in three-pointers per game (1.9) with 40 made three-pointers.
Three Cowgirls have started all 21 games in Pedersen, Henna Sandvik and Logann Alvar, with Payton Muma starting in 14 games and Madi Symons starting in 12 games.
In conference games, Jane Rumpf and Muma has started nine of the 12 games and Symons and Lana Beslic in three. Wyoming is averaging 56.1 points per game and allowing 60.5 with Pedersen averaging 17.3 points per game and Sandvik 10.5 points per game.
Wyoming is third in the MW in field goal percentage defense against conference opponents at 37.6% and leads the conference in blocks per game (4.5) in conference games.