The men’s and women’s basketball teams’ fortunes clashed during the winter break.
The men’s team won all six of the games it played during break. It is now 15-2 overall and is on a 13-game winning streak, the fourth longest in the country.
The Lobos haven’t lost a game since an overtime loss to Santa Clara on Nov. 24.
UNM started off the break with two huge blowout wins at home, beating Montana State 91-46 on Dec. 20, and two days later slammed University of Missouri-Kansas City 87-62.
The Lobos then traveled to Las Cruces on Dec. 28 on a revenge mission against the Aggies. The Lobos completed their quest with a 89-69 victory, making up for their embarrassing loss to NMSU at home earlier this season.
On New Year’s Eve the Lobos faced what was arguably their hardest test of the season when St. Louis traveled to The Pit, but UNM pulled through with a 64-60 victory.
UNM continued the blowout theme at home by beating Houston Baptist 98-61 and North Dakota 85-57.
UNM opened up MWC play last Saturday when it beat Wyoming on the road 72-62. The win puts them at number one in the MWC standings after the first game.
The Lobos have been led by sophomore guards Tony Snell and Kendall Williams, and senior forward Drew Gordon, who are all averaging more than 11 points per game.
Even with the 15-2 record, UNM is still ranked outside the top 25 and faces a daunting task this week when it plays No.16 San Diego State at home on Wednesday and No. 14 University of Las Vegas away on Saturday.
The Lobos are guaranteed a spot in the top 25 if they snag victories in these games.
While the men’s team is on a winning spree, the women’s season has been blighted by constant injury. It holds a 6-10 record; the Lobos struggled during the break, going 3-3.
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The Lobos, led by junior guard Caroline Durbin, have had an inconsistent start to the season and have yet to find a winning rhythm.
Durbin is the leading scorer on the team, with 15.5 points per game including a career-high 29 points in her last game against Wyoming. Senior forward Porche Torrance is second on the team with 10.5 points per game.
Injuries have affected the Lobos in every game this season, with head coach Yvonne Sanchez having only seven healthy players to choose from during games.
Sanchez even had to get help from another sport on campus as senior Ashley Rhoades, a middle blocker on the volleyball team, walked on to the basketball team last month to help the depleted squad.
Winter break started on the road as the Lobos beat Houston Baptist 65-38 on Dec.18, but three days later fell on the road to Arizona 59-50.
UNM then put together its only back-to-back wins this season when it beat NMSU on the road 59-58 on Dec.30, and Houston at home three days later, 70-44.
The Lobos started MWC play on the road against Boise State last Wednesday but fell 65-46, and was upset by Wyoming at home last Saturday 52-50 in a game where they held the lead until the last minute.
UNM is now 0-2 in conference, but will regain some of its players as their injuries heal, giving it a chance at a winning run at the end of the season.
