Sports - The Daily Lobo

Sports

Conference appoints 60 Lobos to All-Academic squad

Liam Cary-Eaves | February 11

Less than two weeks after New Mexico announced its highest GPA among student-athletes in program history, the Mountain West appointed 60 individuals to the All-Academic honorees. It was the third most in conference, but the highest in New Mexico student-athlete history. It was also the first time UNM has had back-to-back years of sending 60 or more student-athletes to the All-Academic team after sending 61, the highest in program history, a year ago.

Anna Duvall reacts after clearing the bar in the pole vault during the New Mexico Classic and Multis on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. New Mexico track and field will be back in action this weekend for the Don Kirby Invitational at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

Sports

Track and Field: Lobos host final event before MW championships

Robert Maler | February 11

New Mexico hosts the Don Kirby Invitational this weekend in its final event before the Mountain West Conference Championships. Head coach Joe Franklin said he is encouraged by the improvements the team is making each week. Several of the athletes have posted personal records in consecutive weeks.

Sports

Women's Tennis: Lobos host Denver University

Robert Maler | February 11

The New Mexico women’s tennis team will try to get back in the win column when it returns home to host Denver University on Friday. The Lobos dropped two consecutive contests in Minneapolis, Minnesota last weekend at the Courtside Classic, losing to Mississippi State 1-6 and Minnesota 2-5.

Sports

Men's Tennis: Lobos return from layoff to face UC Irvine, Pepperdine

Robert Maler | February 11

The New Mexico men’s tennis team will return to the court after an extended break to take on UC Irvine and Pepperdine in California on Saturday. The Lobos last played in late January when they lost to Georgia Tech and Southern Methodist. The losses prevented the team from qualifying for the USTA/ITA National Indoors.

Sarah Wilson approaches the line to deliver the ball down the lane Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016 at the Special Olympic Bowling tournament. Wilson has been bowling since she was 3 years old.

Sports

Special Olympics' bowling tournament draws 428 athletes

Isabel Gonzalez | February 11

The sound of falling pins echoed at every corner of the Starlight Bowling Alley at the Santa Ana Star Casino throughout the day on Saturday. The 2016 Unified Team Bowling Tournament attracted 428 athletes to compete.

Khadijah Shumpert (right) celebrates along with Bryce Owens Wednesday Feb. 10, 2016 at WisePies Arena. The Lobos beat out Utah State 73-70.

Sports

Women's Basketball: New Mexico takes down Utah State with team basketball

Liam Cary-Eaves | February 11

It appears UNM has shaken off it’s offensive timidness. New Mexico has struggled putting games away down the stretch, often looking for someone to fill the role to take a big shot. Head Coach Yvonne Sanchez described Wednesday’s 73-70 victory over Utah State as a team victory.

The Lobo softball team runs sprints Monday, Feb. 8, 2016 at the Santa Ana Star Field. The Lobos season opener will be this weekend at Arizona State’s Kajikawa Classic.

Sports

Softball: Lobos picked fourth in preseason poll

J.R. Oppenheim | February 10

New Mexico’s softball team last year surpassed its preseason poll. After being projected ninth in the Mountain West in the coaches poll, the Lobos finished the season fourth in the standings. According to this year’s poll, the MW coaches expect UNM to match that finish. The poll, released earlier this week, slotted the Lobos fourth heading into the season.

Redshirt sophomore guard Cullen Neal jumps towards the net past two Utah State players Jan. 9, 2016 at WisePies Arena. The Lobos...

Sports

Men's Basketball: Lobos drop second straight on the road

J.R. Oppenheim | February 9

Despite the progress New Mexico made in their last four straight victories, the Lobos look to have taken a couple steps back in their two-game road trip. Four days removed from an incorrect call from a referee that led to an overtime loss at San Diego State, UNM struggled in an 80-72 setback at Utah State on Tuesday night. This marked their first ever loss in Logan, Utah.

Sports

Women's Basketball: Sanchez says there is plenty of time to right New Mexico's ship

Liam Cary-Eaves | February 9

New Mexico head coach Yvonne Sanchez had a message to her team: Play with no fear. Sanchez said her group came out timid in UNM’s 51-46 loss to Utah State on Saturday. The loss marked the third in a row for New Mexico, the second consecutive at home.

Sophomore Sharon Coone returns the ball down court against Northern Arizona Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016. The Lobos lost against Mississippie State 6-1 this past Saturday.

Sports

Women's Tennis: Lobos drop first match of the season in Minnesota

February 8

New Mexico’s women’s tennis suffered its first loss of the season in Minnesota Saturday, and could not salvage a split on Sunday. The Lobos got off to a rough start at the Courtside Classic on Saturday against 29th ranked Mississippi State. The Bulldogs played from ahead and eventually defeated New Mexico 6-1.

Redshirt sophomore guard Cullen Neal jumps in the air for a lay up while being guarded by a UNLV player Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016 at WisePies Arena. The Lobos lost to San Diego State University 78-71.

Sports

Men's Basketball: Lobos drop OT heartbreaker at San Diego State

J.R. Oppenheim | February 6

One botched inbound play from New Mexico, and undefeated San Diego State survives another one. The opportunity to hand the Aztecs its first Mountain West loss and close within one game fell a play short Saturday afternoon at Viejas Arena in San Diego, as the Lobos dropped a heartbreaker 78-71.

Senior forward Alexa Chavez (center) scrambels for an offensive rebound Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016 at WisePies Arena. The Lobos lost to San Diego State University 51-46.

Sports

Women's Basketball: Poor shooting plagues UNM vs SDSU

J.R. Oppenheim | February 6

Yvonne Sanchez can’t quite peg why her team struggles to shoot. She’s not sure if her Lobos are hesitant.

The Lobo mens basketball team huddles together to celebrate their victory over UNLV Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016 at WisePies Arena. The Lobos will play San Diego State this Saturday.

Sports

Men's Basketball: SDSU-UNM rivalry resumes Saturday

J.R. Oppenheim | February 5

As far as Craig Neal is concerned, the New Mexico-San Diego State basketball rivalry is back where it should be. It’s hard to argue against that perspective.

Junior jumper Jannell Hadnot leaps in the air before her last step into the sand pit Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The Lobos will compete in the New Mexico Classic and Multis this Saturday.

Sports

Track and Field: Third straight home meet happens this weekend

February 4

By Robert Maler New Mexico’s track and field team stays in Albuquerque for the third consecutive week to host the New Mexico Classic & Multis this weekend. Last weekend the Lobos saw several athletes set personal records and hit marks that might be good enough to earn a spot at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Alabama. Nine schools competed at the New Mexico Team Invitational last week.

Sports

Women's Soccer: Eight players sign to join Lobos

J.R. Oppenheim | February 4

Heather Dyche’s first full recruiting effort netted eight new players to the New Mexico women’s soccer team, UNM announced on Wednesday. During National Signing Day, the Lobos added players at every position: three forward, two defenders, two goalkeepers and a midfielder to replace seven graduating seniors, all from various positions. Dyche in a statement expressed her excitement for the 2016 recruiting class. “We think they will come in and push our current players for starting positions.

Williams braces himself before driving to the net against UNLV Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016 at WisePies Arena. Williams achieved his season high of 29 points against UNLV with the Lobos 87-83 victory.

Sports

Men's Basketball: Williams' strong effort in second half lifts Lobos

J.R. Oppenheim | February 4

For a late span Tuesday night, a tight game morphed into a battle between UNM’s Tim Williams and UNLV’s Patrick Cornish. The teams played to a 70-all tie past the seven-minute mark in the second half. From that point to the final minute, only the forward Williams or guard Cornish saw the net. The two went back and forth, almost shot for shot.

Sports

Men's Soccer: Lobos add six on signing day

Isabel Gonzalez | February 4

It’s that time of the year again. Six new players joined the UNM men’s soccer team for the 2016 National Signing Day. But this isn’t just any group of players, Top Drawer Soccer ranked this Lobo recruiting class as the fifth best class in the nation.

Head football coach Bob Davie recruited seven players that were being eyed by top schools throughout the country. Davie attributed a strong recruiting class to the football program's growth this past season.

Sports

Football: Davie labels 2016 recruits as the best since coming to Land of Enchantment

Liam Cary-Eaves | February 4

Bob Davie needs a break from talking to the 2016 recruiting class. The New Mexico head coach joked that he has heard enough from the players and needs a couple of days of silence after receiving his final list of players who signed their national letters of intent on Wednesday.

Sports

New Mexico student-athletes reach new highs in the classroom

February 3

New Mexico student-athletes have been making noise in the classroom in addition to their performance for their respected sports programs. On Monday, UNM announced five UNM programs set cumulative GPA records for their respected teams. Men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s golf, women’s skiing, and both men and women’s track and field all fielded program-bests for their GPAs in fall of 2015.

Redshirt sophomore guard Elijah Brown tries to cross a UNLV player Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016 at WisePies Arena. The Lobos beat UNLV 87-83.

Sports

Men's Basketball: Lobos close out another high-scoring affair

J.R. Oppenheim | February 2

Against Rice earlier this year, UNM had free throws late in the game but couldn’t finish them. Against Auburn, UNM had two possessions to prevail but threw the ball away and took a bad shot. Based on the results from the last two games, those days appear to be over. For the second straight game UNM found a way to finish a high-scoring, back-and-forth contest, surging past UNLV 87-83 at WisePies Arena.