Under Head Coach Mike Bradbury, the University of New Mexico Lobos women’s Basketball team has faced no other opponent more than the San Diego State University Aztecs, playing SDSU 22 times and going 10-12.
The two teams have met 12 times over the last four years, with eight meetings in conference play, and four times in the conference tournament. The Lobos and Aztecs are 6-6 in those last twelve meetings, but the Aztecs have remained the thorn in the Lobos’ shoulders.
The last win the Lobos got in the Mountain West Tournament was against the Aztecs in the Semifinals in 2022, and since then, the Aztecs have been the team to bounce the Lobos from the tournament the last three years.
The Aztecs continued to have the Lobos’ number on Wednesday, Jan. 14, dominating UNM in the fourth quarter to pull a victorious win 73-56, in what could be the last meeting between the two teams as SDSU moves on to the Pac-12 next season.
The game started in a favorable position for the Lobos, as UNM applied its signature defensive pressure early, causing the Aztecs to struggle shooting, only making two of their first 10 shots.
The Lobos were also able to cause some early turnovers, pushing SDSU out of their comfort zone at Viejas Arena, sparking four turnovers alone in the first quarter. UNM was able to hold San Diego State to only 10 points in the first quarter, while scoring 16 points from six different players, as the Lobos were not letting the Aztecs have their way early.
That is when things started to shift, when a familiar foe for the Lobos, CJ Latta–a transfer for the Aztecs from Utah State — knocked in a three at the start of the second quarter, which sparked a 9-0 run that saw San Diego State regain control of their home court for the remainder of the game.
San Diego State would outscore the Lobos 25-13 in the second as the Aztecs went on a tear. Lobo guard Destinee Hooks carried the bulk load of the offense with 12 points in the half. The Aztecs would lead at halftime 35-29.
The third quarter of the game saw the Lobos bring back some energy on both sides of the ball, as they didn’t let the Aztecs run them over. UNM battled with the Aztecs as the third proved to be a constant give-and-take, with each team trading baskets and runs until one final push in the final three minutes of the quarter, sparked by a Jessie Joaquim putback and finished by a Drew Jordan three, put the Lobos within striking distance of the Aztecs. UNM finished the quarter trailing by just three points, 50-47, with the Aztecs on top.
San Diego State put the pedal to the metal in the final quarter, and the Lobos were unable to recover from the offensive prowess and depth of the Aztecs. UNM was also unable to find its footing in the final quarter of the game; the Aztecs held the Lobos to only nine points in the final 10 minutes of the game, while scoring 23 points in that same time frame. The Aztecs would win it 73-56, putting the Lobos 10-13 against the Aztecs all time.
To the credit of the Lobos' defense, the two star sophomore guards for the Aztecs, Naomi Panganiban and Nat Martinez, were held to only 16 points combined, but the Aztecs' supporting cast stepped up, with four of SDSU’s players in double digits. The Lobos were led in scoring by Hooks, who scored 18 points and went 7-11 from the field, followed by freshman sensation Laila Abdurraqib with 13 points, shooting 3-6 from three.
The Lobos will be back in action at The Pit as they take on the Grand Canyon University Antelopes on Saturday, Jan. 17.
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Wyatt S. Padilla is a beat reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @wyattspadilla
