On Monday, Nov. 3, the University of New Mexico women’s basketball team hosted the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks in its season opener, showcasing shooting and depth in a 71-59 win.
Cacia Antonio, who started in the first exhibition game and scored 10 points in the second game, did not play due to being ineligible for the first three regular-season games due to participation on a club team during the COVID-19 pandemic while in Angola.
The Lobos put the Lumberjacks to the test, playing at a high tempo on both ends of the ball. Offensively, the Lobos were able to get production from ten of the 12 rostered players.
It wasn’t fully part of the plan, as the Lobos dealt with foul trouble from Magalhães and Hooks at different points in the game as UNM as a team committed 21 fouls.
Lobo Head Coach Mike Bradbury was pleased with his team’s performance from the bench, as UNM scored 21 bench points, and anticipates it being the case moving forward.
“I do think we’ll play ten or eleven people a night, who knows what the minutes or points will be, the game will dictate that,” Bradbury said.
With that depth, New Mexico shared the ball at a high rate as the Lobos had 18 assists on the night, with Hargrove chipping in five of those 18. The Lobos had a field goal percentage of 52%, going 38% from three, and had a sore spot from the free throw line as the Lobos only shot 57%.
Clarissa Craig was the Lobos' star player of the night, going four for four from the paint, scoring 16 points, gaining five rebounds and going 8-9 from the free throw line. Hooks scored 12 points and Hargrove chipped in 11 as three Lobos were able to score double figures.
The Lobos' defense was stellar at times during the game, bullying the Lumberjacks into 17 turnovers, gaining 20 points off of those turnovers and notching 14 steals during the game. Magalhães accounted for six of those steals, which resulted in a career high for the sophomore guard.
Defensive assignments became difficult when NAU guard Naomi White buried four three-pointers in a 12 to two run that brought the Lumberjacks back into the game in the third quarter. The Lobos held NAU to only five points in the fourth quarter, putting the Lumberjacks out to pasture and giving the Lobos a 71-59 win.
The Lobos faltered on the road against the University of Colorado on Thursday, Nov. 6. The Lobos lost 84-59, got out rebounded 36 to 48 and had 21 turnovers.
The Lobos return home on Sunday, Nov. 8. against the North Carolina A&T Aggies at The Pit.
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Wyatt S. Padilla is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @wyattspadilla
