Sports - The Daily Lobo

Sprinter Holly Van Grinsven runs at the Don Kirby Invitational at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The Lobos will compete in the Mountain West Indoor Championships this weekend from Feb. 25-27.

Sports

Track and Field: Lobos look to defend conference titles at home track

Robert Maler | February 25

New Mexico’s track and field team is ready to defend its conference crowns at the Mountain West Indoor Championships, which start Thursday and conclude on Saturday at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The men enter the meet as the three-time defending MW champions, while the women have won the last two titles. The women’s squad also earned a new distinction on Monday. The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association moved the women’s team into the top 25 national rankings. The team jumped up 10 spots to grab the 23rd position, which is the highest ranking in program history.

Junior outfielder Andre Vigil warms up to bat at the Lobos’ first practice at Santa Ana Star Field. The Lobos will play their first home game Friday at 6 p.m. against Wichita State after going 3-1 in their first series of the season at Hawai’i.

Sports

Baseball: New Mexico shifts focus from Aloha State to home opener

Liam Cary-Eaves | February 25

A short week to get readjusted to Land of Enchantment is in store for New Mexico as the team prepares for its home opener against Wichita State this weekend. The Lobos (3-1) took home its first series in Hawaii since 1985 on Monday, but the players are still reeling from jet lag after arriving back in Albuquerque on Tuesday.

Senior Guard Bryce Owens reacts to the final play of the UNM v. CSU game on Wednesday night at WisePies Arena. The Lobos lost in the last three and a half seconds of the game, 49-48.

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Women's Basketball: Lobos fall just short in final seconds vs. No. 25 CSU

Liam Cary-Eaves | February 25

It came down to the final shot, but New Mexico’s hopes of upsetting No. 25 Colorado State at WisePies Arena on Wednesday night were dashed with senior Khadijah Shumpert’s last second miss. The Lobos outscored the top team in the conference in the first and final quarter of the contest, but the squad’s offensive lull in the middle quarters of the game gave CSU (25-1, 15-0 MW) the advantage it needed in what resulted in a 49-48 thriller.

Junior first baseman Jack Zoellner reaches down to catch a low ball at the Lobo's first practice at the Santa Anna Star Field. The Lobos

Sports

Baseball: Lobos take down Hawai'i in historic fashion

Liam Cary-Eaves | February 23

New Mexico hadn’t won a series in Hawai’i in over 20 years. That streak came to a halt during UNM’s 7-1 victory over the Rainbow Warriors on Monday. The victory was the final in a four game stint against Hawai’i as the Lobos improved to 3-1 to begin their season.

Redshirt sophomore Cullen Neal prepares to pass the ball Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016 at WisePies Arena. The Lobos will play Fresno State this Saturday at 8 p.m..

Sports

Men's basketball: Lobos drop 10th game away from Albuquerque

J.R. Oppenheim | February 23

Another road trip, another two losses for New Mexico. The Lobos’ woes away from WisePies Arena continued Tuesday night in an 86-69 loss at Colorado State in Fort Collins, Colorado. The latest setback marked the 10th loss outside Albuquerque’s city limits, including seven losses in true road games.

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Women's Basketball: Lobos face big test against nationally ranked CSU

Liam Cary-Eaves | February 23

Saying that Colorado State has not fared well at WisePies Arena would be an understatement. In Albuquerque, the Rams have tallied only a single win at the mile-high venue dating back to 1998. However, this year, CSU (24-1, 14-0 MW) has remained unscathed in conference play and has rallied off 21 consecutive wins. Oh, and the Rams have joined the nation’s top 25 because of it.

Sports

Men's Tennis: Lobos bounce back from being blanketed on Friday

Robert Maler | February 22

The New Mexico men’s tennis team got blanked by Columbia on Friday, but bounced back to earn a split on Saturday in Pennsylvania. Columbia jumped all over the Lobos on Friday, winning the first two doubles matches to garner the point for doubles competition. Columbia’s Richard Pham and Shawn Hadavi got by the reunited duo of Hayden Sabatka and Bart Van Leijsen, 6-2, followed by the pair of Miguel Alda and Eric Rubin, who defeated Jorge Escutia and Ricky Hernandez-Tong, 6-4.

Sports

Track & Field: New Mexico finishes second at UCS invite

Robert Maler | February 22

The New Mexico track and field distance medley team achieved its goal at the UCS Invitational on Saturday in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Sophie Connor, Callie Thackery, Emily Hosker-Thornhill and Holly Van Grinsven combined to run a time of 11:08.95 and finish in second place behind Clemson. The time, after being converted to 11:01.86 due to track size, puts the relay team’s time at seventh in the nation.

Freshman diver Madeline Horner flips through the air Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016 at the Seidler Natatorium. The Lobos competed in the Mountain West Championships this past week and placed seventh.

Sports

Swimming: Lobos finish seventh at MW championship

Isabel Gonzalez | February 22

The pre-championship poll accurately predicted the Lobos’ faith in the 2016 Mountain West Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship. The Lobos were ranked seventh out of the ten teams listed in the coaches’ poll. With 248 points, that’s where UNM stood at the end of the four-day competition.

Freshman Colette Robert trains during the Lobos first practice of the season at Santa Ana Star Field. The Lobos lost to Texas A&M this past Saturday 8-7.

Sports

Softball: Upset falls short as Texas A&M edges UNM

J.R. Oppenheim | February 21

New Mexico nearly pulled an upset over No. 25 Texas A&M in the final game of the Mary Nutter Classic in Palm Springs, California on Sunday, but the Lobos fell an inning short in an 8-7 loss. As a result, UNM went 3-2 in its second tournament to open the 2016 campaign.

Junior Ludivine Burguiere reaches out to return the ball while playing a doubles match Saturday evening at the Linda Estes Tennis Center. The Lobos beat out Utah 5-2.

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Women's Tennis: Lobos spark comeback in upset win on Saturday

Robert Maler | February 21

The New Mexico women’s tennis team showed grit and determination, climbing out of an early hole to earn a 5-2 upset victory over Utah on Saturday evening. The Lobos lost the doubles point after an odd turn of events. New Mexico won the first doubles match as Ruth Copas and Andrea Leblanc defeated Utah’s doubles partners Alexia Petrovic and Sarah Richter, 6-1.

Jayda Bovero maneuvers her way around Dee Bennett Saturday afternoon at WisePies Arena. The Lobos routed the Falcons 58-36 and moved to 14-11 on the season with the victory.

Sports

Women's Basketball: Lobos take down Falcons in blowout fashion

Liam Cary-Eaves | February 20

A fiery second quarter propelled UNM in a 58-36 rout over Air Force during New Mexico’s breast cancer awareness game. Though the entire game was far from pretty, the Lobos 25-4 run in the last ten minutes of the first half proved to be the difference as the Lobos have now put together two consecutive wins.

Sophomore guard/forward Sam Logwood closes his eyes as he walks back to the bench Wednesday night at WisePies Arena. The Lobos lost to Air Force 76-72.

Sports

Men's Basketball: Lobos fall at Air Force for third straight time

J.R. Oppenheim | February 20

Clune Arena at the Air Force Academy has become a difficult place to play since February began. New Mexico is the latest victim to fall at the Falcons’ home venue, letting a nine-point lead slip away in a 76-72 loss at the academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Lobos (16-11, 9-5 MW) endured their third straight setback at Clune Arena over the last three seasons, as the Falcons now have two straight home wins.

Senior forward Khadijah Shumpert shots for the net while being defended by Utah State players Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016 at WisePies Arena. The Lobos will play Air Force this Saturday at 2 p.m..

Sports

Women's Basketball: Lobos hope to continue MW push in Saturday's Lobos Love Pink game

Liam Cary-Eaves | February 19

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 season, but haven’t rode more than a three-game losing streak either.

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Men's Basketball: After big comeback, Lobos travel to Air Force Saturday

J.R. Oppenheim | February 19

Guard Elijah Brown said a single game, either a win or a loss, won’t define New Mexico. Don’t get him wrong.

Sports

Cross Country: Academic accolades still pouring in for national champs

Liam Cary-Eaves | February 19

Not only did the New Mexico women’s cross country team take home a national title, the squad was also named the NCAA Division I Women’s Scholar Team of the year in 2015. The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced the national accolade just a short period after UNM announced the women’s cross country team broke the program record for GPAs in the fall.

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Volleyball: Four Lobos set to compete for national spot

Liam Cary-Eaves | February 19

New Mexico announced on Monday that four players from the volleyball team are taking part in tryouts for the U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts today at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The three-day open tryouts will feature freshman Carson Heilborn, redshirt sophomore Victoria Spragg, alongside juniors Cassie House and Devanne Sours.

Senior guard Bryce Owens works the ball inside against a Utah State player Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016 at WisePies Arena. The Lobos beat Boise State 70-60.

Sports

Women's Basketball: Lobos make statement with double digit win against Boise State

Liam Cary-Eaves | February 18

New Mexico ended its two game road trip on a high note after a 70-60 victory on Wednesday night. The significance of beating the Broncos on the road was great as the Lobos are still in the hunt to finish among the top five teams in the conference and a first round bye in the MW tourney.

Sports

Skiing: Two squads separate for midseason training

Mathew Narvaiz | February 18

The New Mexico ski team is out of town every weekend, regardless of whether or not the team is competing. Although the two different squads — alpine and Nordic — don’t practice together, they often compete at the same events, and are both contributors to the UNM ski brand. Before the season makes way in the early fall, the Alpine squad for UNM’s ski team makes its way out to southern Colorado or any place that might have snow fall pre-winter, head coach Fredrik Landstedt said.

The Lobos storm the court to celebrate after their victory against Boise State for the second place position in the Mountain West Conference Wednesday night at WisePies Arena. The Lobos beat Boise State 80-78.

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Men's Basketball: Lobos rally from 15 points down to beat Boise State

J.R. Oppenheim | February 18

New Mexico found itself down 15 points to Boise State with 6:01 left to play Wednesday night. Several hundred of the 12,434 fans in attendance started filing out of WisePies Arena. That proved to be a mistake. The Lobos pulled off the biggest late-game comeback in school history to lock down second place in the Mountain West standings, utilizing a 19-2 run to prevail 80-78. Boise State, who had been one half game behind UNM heading into the contest, fell back to fifth.