ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobos close out their preseason schedule with an exhibition against MSU Denver on Monday at 7 p.m. and will be the first chance for fans to see the 2026-27 roster before the regular season begins on Nov. 2.
Tickets are available at golobos.com/tickets with live stats available.
Monday will be the first time UNM has faced MSU Denver in an exhibition since Nov. 8, 2005, a 77-50 win for the Lobos.
Coach Amy Eagan and staff brought in 10 newcomers to go with five returners from last year’s roster, and are a mostly young team with nine underclassmen and six upperclassmen.
UNM will have an entirely new starting lineup after returning zero starters, with Laila Abdurraqib the top returner at 7.5 points per game, 20.5 minutes per game and a team-high 53 three-pointers in her freshman season. Abdurraqib was one of 10 players selected to the Mountain West Preseason Team with the Lobos selected fifth in the preseason poll.
In the frontcourt, the Lobos signed three forwards in Brynn Eshoo, Gracie Kelsey and Mila Reynolds. All three enter with collegiate experience, led by Kelsey bringing 72 games and 40 starts, all with Eagan at Lindenwood. Kelsey started all 33 games last season and averaged 7.2 points per game, 4.8 rebounds per game and played 23.8 minutes per game. Kaia Foster completes the group, but won’t be available until December due to injury.
UNM has versatility in the backcourt with Valerie Norwood, Keiara Curtis, Savannah Stricker, Kate Wernli, Gracy Wernli, Maya Thompson and Katie Duncan all joining the Lobos in the offseason. Not only does the group provide depth and three-point capabilities, but all but Stricker, Thompson and K. Wernli brings collegiate experience.
Duncan, Curtis and G. Wernli have proven their three-point efficiency with Duncan making 76 three-pointers last season and 117 in two seasons, Curts making 42 at Hawai’i her freshman season and G. Wernli making 89 in her previous three years, including 50 in the 2024-25 season.
MSU Denver was picked second in the RMAC preseason poll and Nevaeh Millard named to the Preseason All-RMAC team.
Millard is of six returners for the Roadrunners in 2026-27 and is coming off of a Second Team All-RMAC selection last season and an honorable mention her freshman season. She averaged 12.6 points per game last season, and enters the season as MSU Denver’s top returner.
Under a first year head coach in Mario Caetano, the Roadrunner roster is comprised of six newcomers and six returners with Millard and Jadyn Watts the only two returners who appeared in all 29 games last season. Watts started in 27 and averaged a team-high 6.3 rebounds per game to go with 11.1 points per game.
Of note, Caetano came from Adams State, which the Lobos played last season in an exhibition.
Following Monday’s exhibition, the Lobos begin the season with Seattle on Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. MT.