New Mexico has ridden a roller coaster of a season, to say the least.
The Lobos have been unable to put together more than a three-game winning streak all year, but haven’t rode more than a three-game losing streak either.
Head coach Yvonne Sanchez said prior to the game against Boise State that she wanted to end UNM’s road trip with a statement win.
Her squad did just that.
In a full-team effort, New Mexico wrapped up its two game road trip with a win at Boise State in double-digit fashion 70-60.
Though the Lobos (13-11, 6-7 MW) are still working to climb over the .500 hump, senior guard Bryce Owens said the team is playing much better than it was at the start of conference.
“It was obviously a heartbreaker in San Jose, but as you can see we bounced back in Boise,” Owens said. “I think that was one of our best games this year and I wish we could play like that every game.”
Owens was referring to the 59-58 loss back on Feb. 13 when it appeared UNM had all but wrapped up the Spartans to take a win back home.
However, a late turnover by SJSU followed almost immediately by a Jaisa Nunn turnover spoiled the Lobos’ chances at pulling out the nail-biter.
While Sanchez described the Boise State victory as a team statement, the coach is not taking Air Force (1-24, 1-13 MW) for granted. Though the Falcons have just one win on the season, Sanchez said she is well aware of how well the squad has been playing.
“This is the one we worry about the most because nothing is a given,” Sanchez said following Friday's practice. “I don’t know if I was just paranoid today because I didn’t like the practice. I don’t know if we were as bad as I thought we were, but it’s just one of those things that keeps you up at night.”
Even though Sanchez pointed out the tight games Air Force has been playing some of the Mountain West’s best teams, the head coach also has taken notice to Owens senior presence late in conference play.
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“She has really played up to her potential. She’s really led this team,” Sanchez said. “Her decision making is terrific, her jump shot is really, really good… She’s just playing on a mission.”
Owens said that it’s not so much her thinking about her tenure as a Lobo coming to an end, but she wants to make sure this team is ready for a late run in the Mountain West tournament.
“It’s not so much the senior year thing it’s more like I’ve got to contribute,” Owens said. “I think it’s been clicking for me. It’s been working.”
The senior guard also added that she has felt the surge in her game come primarily with the sudden spark of confidence she has experienced.
“I’ve been less worried about missed shots and more worried about just taking those shots,” Owens said. “If they go in, they go in and if they don’t, I just have to keep trying.”
The DeSoto, Texas native has scored in double digits her past three games, a feat not consistently accumulated in Owens’ final season. She has also tallied 16 assists while only turning the ball over four times during that time span.
Lobos Love Pink
Saturday’s game against Air Force will be New Mexico’s annual breast cancer awareness game, something Sanchez and Owens both said has been an emotional game in the past.
“It’s a game special to all of our hearts with Josie Greenwood on our team and what her and Hugh and her mom have battled,” Sanchez said. “They’re just the strongest people I know.”
The Greenwoods have become an icon throughout the New Mexico basketball community for their efforts to support their mother, Andree Greenwood. Hugh Greenwood, a former player on the men's team, started the Pink Pack as a fundraiser to support breast cancer awareness and provide more research funds for UNM Hospital.
As Sanchez has demonstrated in the past, she is a scholar of the game and provided background for what now every team in the country plays for once a year.
“I think on the women’s side having Kay Yow being a huge proponent at NC State,” She’s the one that associated pink and breast cancer at the time when she had and she battled it.”
The coach went on to praise the former North Carolina State coach by labeling Yow as an icon to cancer awareness. She said breast cancer is not the only thing the Lobos will be playing for on Saturday, the head coach said it is all types of cancer.
“She brought pink to the forefront and she brought this game to the forefront,” Sanchz said. “Now you have football and you have basketball at the pro level doing it. You have everyone doing it and that was her vision.”
The Lobos will be giving out pink pompoms to the first 4,000 fans in attendance in accordance to a silent auction beginning at 1 p.m. and will end at halftime. Cancer survivors will be recognized throughout the contest and players will be available to sign autographs after the game.
“It’s just to go out and play this game for those who can’t,” Owens said. “I think in the back of our minds we’ll know that we will be playing for something bigger than ourselves.”
All individuals wearing pink will be granted $5 admission for the 2 p.m. game.
Liam Cary-Eaves is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He covers volleyball, women’s basketball and baseball. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Liam_CE.
