Sports - The Daily Lobo

Head womens basketball coach Yvonne Sanchez celebrates with Lobo players during a game against UNLV. Sanchez was relieved of her duties as head coach after serving five seasons in the position.

Sports

Women's Basketball: UNM fires Yvonne Sanchez

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 18

Women’s basketball in New Mexico will have a different feel in 2016. Less than 48 hours after UNM was bounced out of the first round in a 75-67 loss to Weber State in the Women’s Basketball Invitational, Vice President of Athletics Paul Krebs announced that Yvonne Sanchez has been relieved of her duties as head coach. “I believe that five years is enough time for a head coach to really develop and produce a quality program,” Krebs said in Friday’s press conference. “I think the logical question is why extend coach Sanchez’s last year?”

Sports

Softball: Lobos sweep UTEP in doubleheader

J.R. Oppenheim | March 17

The New Mexico softball team improved to 13-8 on the season with a doubleheader sweep over UTEP Tuesday in El Paso, Texas. The Lobos jumped ahead early in the first game behind a six-run opening inning that included three straight hits.

Senior forward Khadijah Shumpert evades a Weber State player as she drives to the net Wednesday night at the Johnson Center. The Lobos lost to Weber State 75-67 in the first round of the 2016 Womens Basketball Invitational.

Sports

Women's Basketball: Lobos fall in first round of WBI

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 16

Going into the first round of the Women’s Basketball Invitational, New Mexico knew Weber State was fond of shooting the ball from beyond the arc. The Wildcats did not introduce any surprises and solid 3-point shooting bounced UNM out of the tournament with a 75-67 win on Wednesday night.

Sophomore guard Cherise Beynon attempts a lay up during a break away at WisePies Arena. The Lobos will compete against Weber State Wednesday night during the 2016 Womens Basketball Invitational.

Sports

Women's Basketball: Lobos continue season with WBI contest against Weber State

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 16

New Mexico’s women’s basketball season has not come to a close yet as the Lobos have opted to play in the Women’s Basketball Invitational beginning on Wednesday. For the second straight year UNM will be entering postseason play, this year as the No. 2 seed in the tournament.

Junior Hayden Sabatka celebrates after winning a set Saturday afternoon. The Lobos played the University of Northern Arizona Monday afternoon, beating them 7-0.

Sports

Men's Tennis: Lobos continue to play well at home

Robert Maler | March 15

The New Mexico men’s tennis team continues its hot streak, earning another sweep at home Monday against Northern Arizona. Windy conditions forced the event to be held at the Linda Estes Tennis Center in lieu of playing outside underneath the lights at McKinnon Family Tennis Center.

Sophomore Bart Van Leijsen runs up the court to return the ball to during the Mountain Pacific Invitational Saturday, March 12, 2016. The Lobos finished the invitational in first place only letting up one point in during the entire competition.

Sports

Men's Tennis: New Mexico rolls through Mountain-Pacific invite

Robert Maler | March 15

The UNM men’s tennis team, playing perhaps its best tennis of the season, finished Saturday as the last team standing in the Mountain-Pacific Invitational on Saturday. The Lobos knifed through the competition, surrendering just one total point against the competition over the two day event, although many of the matches were tightly contested.

Sports

Beach Volleyball: Lobos pick up three more wins in California and Arizona

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 15

In the second road trip of the season, New Mexico picked up three wins yet again to improve to 6-3 on the year. The weekend provided a change of scenery as UNM took from the Arizona desert sand to play on the Newland Street Courts on Hunnington Beach in California.

Sophomore Luis Gonzalez rounds third base on his way to home plate Sunday, March 6, 2016 at Santa Ana Star Field. The Lobos will play Nevada this upcoming weekend in Reno.

Sports

Baseball: Lobos snap skid, take series at Nevada

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 15

Just a weekend after being swept by Dallas Baptist, the Lobos had a chance on Sunday to the same against Nevada. Although the Lobos couldn’t win the final game in Reno, Nevada, UNM took the conference opening series by winning two of the three games against the Wolfpack.

Sports

Women's Tennis: Lobos split weekend in Texas

Robert Maler | March 14

The New Mexico women’s tennis team earned a split again on the road gutting out a victory over North Texas Friday and taking UT Arlington the distance on Saturday. The Lobos traveled to North Texas to start the last leg of its road trip in Denton, Texas. As rain swept through the area, the match was forced to be moved to a different venue.

Redshirt sophomore guard Cullen Neal picks up a out of bounds ball Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016 at WisePies Arena.

Sports

Men's Basketball: Cullen Neal to transfer from UNM

J.R. Oppenheim | March 14

In a season filled with criticism from one segment of the New Mexico fan base, point guard Cullen Neal will transfer from the University, the Athletic Department announced in a email sent Monday morning. The announcement followed a tumultuous run for Neal in his redshirt sophomore campaign.

News

UNM assistant coach arrested on DWI charge

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 12

The last 30 days have not been ideal for amidst New Mexico football's offseason. Towards the end of February, the UNM Police Department excersized a warrant to search the apartment of cornerback Nias Martin for an alleged rape on a 19-year-old UNM student.

Sports

Men's basketball: UNM falls to Nevada in Mountain West tourney

Thomas Romero-Salas | March 11

For the second year in a row, New Mexico went one-and-done at the Mountain West Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada. UNM, the fourth seed in the tourney, suffered a 64-62 loss to No. 5 seed Nevada in the quarterfinals of the tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Sophomore guard Kenya Pye attempts to drive past Colorado State's defense Feb. 24, 2016 at WisePies Arena. The Lobos played CSU in the Mountain West Tournament Wednesday night and lost 60-42.

Sports

Women's Basketball: Lobos fall to Rams in semi finals; CSU remains unscathed in conference play

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 10

Colorado State punched its ticket to the conference championship game after Wednesday’s 60-42 win over New Mexico, potentially the Lobos' final game of the season. The victory solidified the Rams' national ranking as they remain undefeated against Mountain West opponents. The Lobos (17-14) only saw CSU once before Wednesday night’s contest, and the game came down to a final shot which fell to the floor as time expired. The Rams didn’t allow the semi-final round of the Mountain West tournament to be as close of a contest.

Freshman pole vaulter Jason Atencio looks up at the bar after vaulting over it during the Mountain West Championships at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The Lobos will compete in the NCAA Indoor Championships this weekend in Birmingham, Alabama.

Sports

Track and Field: Women send record number of athletes to nationals

Robert Maler | March 10

The New Mexico track and field team set a school record by sending the largest amount of female athletes in its history to the NCAA Indoor Championships. Three individual athletes and a distance medley relay team set the new mark which also extends a record eight consecutive years in which New Mexico has sent at least four athletes to the national championship.

Sophomore Eastyn Baleto (left) and junior Julia Warren look up for a high ball during a spring 2015 game. The Lobos will play Grand Canyon University and San Jose State this upcoming Sunday in Phoenix, Arizona.

Sports

Beach Volleyball: Lobos build on last season

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 10

Heading into just the second tournament of the season, New Mexico already has as many wins as they did all of last season. In 14 matches during UNM’s inaugural season, the Lobos collected a 3-11 record against tough opponents. Head coach Jeff Nelson said he saw it as a growing experience to start the program off with a competitive edge.

Freshman Ricky Hernandez-Tong stares down the ball after he hits it back to his opponent at the McKinnon Family Tennis Stadium. The Lobos will play in the Mountain-Pacific Invitational this upcoming weekend in Albuquerque.

Sports

Tennis: Women seek more wins on the road while the men play host to home tourney

Robert Maler | March 10

The New Mexico women’s tennis team looks to build on its first road victory, while the men’s team stays home to host the Mountain-Pacific Invitational. Women’s head coach Kelcy McKenna said getting the first victory on the road could be a pivotal moment in the team’s current road trip. The Lobos were able to salvage a split by defeating Rice after failing to close out the previous match against Houston.

Junior cornerback Nias Martin takes down an Arizona University player during the 10th Gildan New Mexico Bowl. Martin allegedly sexually assaulted and kidnapped a 19 year old female UNM student.

Sports

UNM Police search apartment of Lobo cornerback

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 10

The UNM Police Department exercised a warrant to search the Lobo Village apartment of Nias Martin, a junior cornerback for the UNM football team, on February 21. While no charges have yet been filed, an alleged sexual assault and kidnapping incident occurred between Martin and a 19-year-old female student who also attends UNM. The 19-year-old reported the incident on Feb. 20, with her father and sister.

Junior pitcher Carson Schnieder pitches against Dallas Baptist March, 4, 2016 at Santa Ana Star Field.

Sports

Baseball: Early hole too much for New Mexico bats

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 9

New Mexico didn’t get off to the start it wanted on Tuesday, and paid the price despite assembling a late rally. In the bottom of the third, UNM (6-5) found itself in a 7-0 hole to start, something the potent offense could never quite recover from as the squad fell to NMSU 9-6. The contest was played on a neutral site in El Paso, Texas.

Senior forward Khadijah Shumpert (right) embraces senior guard Bryce Owens at the end of New Mexico's game against Utah State February, 2016. The Lobos played San Jose State in the Mountain West Tournament Tuesday night and beat them 65-51. Their next game in the tournament will be against Colorado State on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sports

Women's Basketball: Lobos take down Spartans, advance to semis

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 8

The last time New Mexico faced off against San Jose State, the Lobos fell to the Spartans on a last second shot from beyond the arc. UNM didn’t offer a chance for the Spartans to write a heroic script this time around as they won handily 65-51 in Tuesday’s contest.

Lobo Senior, Colton Thomson, leaves the pitcher's mound after handing over the pitching position to Senior Drew Bridges at the bottom of the 6th inning of the Lobo v. DBU game on Sunday, March 6th 2016. The Lobos lost, 12 -11.

Sports

Baseball: Lobos swept less than a week after jumping among nation's best

Liam Cary-Eaves | March 7

Less than a week entering the nation’s top 25, the Lobos couldn’t generate a win and have fallen out of the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper’s national rankings. However, Dallas Baptist completed a sweep over New Mexico this weekend and have now entered the nation’s elite teams.