On Wednesday, Nov. 12, the University of New Mexico’s women’s basketball team was playing to a crowd that included field trippers from metro area schools, and the Lobos were putting on a lesson of offensive firepower against the University of New Orleans Privateers. This lesson included appearances from every single Lobo player, with Destinee Hooks leading UNM with 18 points over their 99-65 blowout win over the Privateers.
Hooks put on a show for the young crowd, as she had 18 points, shooting 58% on the night, grabbing four rebounds and one block.
Coming off the bench, Nayli Padilla tied her career high of 15 points, which she hit just three days prior against North Carolina A&T. Padilla is proving herself to be a key offensive threat for the Lobos off the bench.
New Mexico was also able to improve on the glass, something that was lacking in the previous game, as UNM out-rebounded New Orleans by a double-digit margin of 41-23.
Offense and defense were clicking together for UNM for the first time this season, as one or the other had lacked in stretches of the Lobos’ previous games. In the first half alone, UNM finished shooting 71% from the field and 54% from three, as the home court advantage that The Pit provided took full form. Hooks and Padilla finished with 13 and 11 points, respectively, as the Lobos were on fire.
UNM outscored New Orleans 65-25, as it seemed UNM could not seem to miss a basket or an opportunity that presented itself, as the Lobos capitalized on almost every possession. The Lobos also forced 17 turnovers, 13 of which were steals that turned into 21 points.
The most impressive stat to come out of the first half, however, was the Lobos bench as 29 points came from UNM’s supporting cast as every Lobo was able to get some minutes early on in the game, showcasing the depth UNM has in its back pocket. Lobo Head Coach Mike Bradbury was able to get some good minutes from his bench, something that Bradbury has been expecting to be the case this season.
Coming out of the break, the Lobos’ temperature turned down, with UNM shooting 34% and 15% from three the rest of the way, which turned their game shooting per game shooting percentage to 53% and 35% from three, compared to the Privateers’ shooting percentage of 42% and 38% from three.
New Orleans found themselves in a position to capitalize against the Lobos more in the second half, forcing 12 turnovers and seven steals, but that was nearly offset as the Lobos forced 10 turnovers and five steals during the same stretch.
The Lobos proved to be too much for the Privateers, who were unable to get any true momentum in the game due to UNM’s dominant performance.
The Lobos finished the game forcing 27 turnovers, 18 steals, with 30 points off turnovers. The bench provided 49 points for the Lobos, out-rebounding New Orleans on the offensive glass by grabbing 14 offensive boards and chipping in 20 points off second-chance attempts.
UNM was offensively efficient in the game as well, scoring 1.22 points per possession, which put the Lobos in the position to run the Privateers out of The Pit. The biggest improvement from the Lobos, though, came from the free throw line, where they were able to shoot 87% from the line, knocking down 10 of 12.
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The Lobos will be back in action at home on Sunday, Nov. 16, against the New Mexico State University Aggies in Las Cruces at the Pan-American Center.
Wyatt S. Padilla is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @wyattspadilla
