Sports - The Daily Lobo

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Return to the Pit: UNM women’s basketball comes home

Jesus Mata | March 2

For the first time this season, the UNM women’s basketball team will take the floor at the Pit for two home games as they welcome Colorado State on March 4-5 for the final two-game series of the season. Both games will be played at 5 p.m. and broadcast on the Mountain West Network, according to UNM Athletics. Sitting at a 12-3 record, a sweep of the series would catapult UNM into the top seed for the upcoming Mountain West Conference tournament — a favorable position for the team if they hope to take home the championship.

News

UNM women’s soccer coach scores big with national role

Shelby Kleinhans | March 2

Heather Dyche has lived and breathed soccer for as long as she can remember, and after years of dedication to the field she was elected to the Board of Directors for the United Soccer Coaches, creating another avenue for her to share her passion with others. According to the United Soccer Coaches' website, the organization's goals are "to promote the game of soccer, generate greater publicity for the sport and improve teaching of the game through soccer clinics as well as research and evaluation of coaching of the sport." Dyche said the group oversees collegiate soccer, youth soccer and soccer for people with disabilities, but their focus on advocacy and trying to help people sets them apart from other organizations.

News

Jennifer King: Breaking barriers in the NFL

Jesus Mata | March 2

The Washington Football Team made history on Jan. 26 when they announced that Jennifer King was promoted to assistant running backs coach, making her the first Black woman to hold a full-time coaching position in the NFL. Prior to her stint in Washington, King was an offensive assistant at Dartmouth College, interned during multiple offseasons with the Carolina Panthers and was a seven-time All-American quarterback and wide receiver playing for the Carolina Phoenix, a women's tackle football team, from 2006-17. During the 2020 season, King worked as a full-year coaching intern and is credited with helping develop the team's running back corps with the offensive staff and running backs coach Randy Jordan. Under King and Jordan, Washington's running backs totaled 423 rushing attempts for 1,697 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Sports

Weir out after four underwhelming seasons

Spencer Butler | February 27

University of New Mexico men’s basketball head coach Paul Weir will step down at the conclusion of the 2020-21. Weir’s exit was announced on Friday, Feb. 26. Weir currently has a 58-60 record at UNM and a career record of 86-66 after coaching one season at New Mexico State University. The announcement came as UNM winds down a tumultuous season that not only saw the Lobos go 6-14 on the season thus far but 2-14 within the Mountain West, a record that has UNM sitting dead last in the conference.

Sports

UNM women’s basketball series against CSU, Wyoming postponed

Jesus Mata | February 18

The Mountain West Conference announced last week that the upcoming University of New Mexico’s women’s basketball series against both Colorado State and Wyoming would be postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test within UNM’s program. According to two separate press releases by the MWC, “The rescheduled date will be announced once finalized by the Mountain West and both institutions.” The Lobos received the positive test result in the early morning of Feb. 12 and immediately notified both Colorado State and MWC officials. After discussions between both schools, medical teams and Colorado health officials, the recommendation was made to cancel the game between CSU and UNM.

Sports

Women’s hoops complete San Diego season sweep

Jesus Mata | February 15

The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team followed a 84-48 blowout of San Diego State on Feb. 3 with another easy 65-48 win to complete a midweek sweep of the Aztecs. The two victories put the Lobos at 9-2 and third in the Mountain West with eight games remaining in the pandemic-shortened season. Both games featured similar starts and finishes, with low-scoring first halves for UNM before surges in the second frames. The Lobos continued their unselfish playing style with four players scoring in double digits each game. “I thought in the second half, our mental approach was much better than the first half,” head coach Mike Bradbury said in his opening statement after Wednesday’s game. “Things looked a lot sharper and more crisp.”

Sports

Late collapse leads to two-game split for Lobo women’s hoops

Jesus Mata | February 3

The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team followed up last Thursday’s 82-80 win over Fresno State with a dud, splitting the two-game series with Saturday’s 91-69 loss. Third in the Mountain West Conference behind Colorado State and Fresno State, the team is now 7-2 on the season. The former matchup was a back and forth affair, coming down to the game’s final possession when junior forward Shaiquel McGruder drained the go-ahead basket with less than three seconds remaining. A steal by junior guard Ahlise Hurst on the ensuing inbound sealed the Lobos’ win.

Sports

Wuerffel Trophy awarded to UNM football player

Spencer Butler | January 12

Teton Saltes, an offensive lineman for the University of New Mexico football team, was presented with the Wuerffel Trophy during the Home Depot College Football Awards on Jan. 7. The trophy is given to an individual that “best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.” Saltes is the first individual to win the award from the Mountain West Conference and the first UNM player to be given a major award in the history of Lobo football. After graduating with a degree in political science and Native American studies, Saltes spent his senior season with UNM while enrolled in the School of Law, spending his free time giving back to both the New Mexico and South Dakota communities.

Sports

UNM Athletics expects to run a deficit again

Maddie Pukite | December 7

In a move costing the University of New Mexico an additional $70,000 a week in Athletics department costs, the relocation of the 1-5 Lobo football team to Las Vegas, Nevada, is slated to increase its already-multimillion dollar deficit. Athletics director Eddie Nuñez told the Daily Lobo in a phone interview that the cost of housing the football team out of state will likely result in the department outspending its budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year. “At this point, if you’re asking me today and the challenges we have faced — with not being able to have fans in the stands, and COVID affecting the revenue — I would anticipate a deficit this upcoming year,” Nuñez said.

Sports

Lobo men’s basketball season opener postponed

Jesus Mata | December 3

On Nov. 30, the Mountain West Conference announced in a press release that the two game series between the University of New Mexico and Boise State, which was slated to happen on Dec. 3 and Dec. 5, has been postponed. The conference statement gave some insight into when those games could happen. According to the conference, “The rescheduled dates will be announced once finalized by the Mountain West and both institutions.”

Sports

Lobo football’s second half deficiencies continue in Nevada loss

Spencer Butler | November 20

The University of New Mexico football team came into Saturday night’s game against undefeated Nevada looking to snap their 11-game losing streak and pick up their first win of the season. The Lobos came up just short of stopping their lengthy winless stretch, falling to the Wolf Pack 27-20. With the loss, the losing streak for UNM now sits at 12 games, and the theme of second half collapses continued for the third game in a row. Both teams got off to sluggish starts, as the first three possessions of the game resulted in punts. Momentum shifted to the Lobos, though, when UNM’s defense forced a turnover on downs following a sack of Nevada quarterback Carson Strong by Joey Noble.

Sports

Lobos drop 11th straight, ‘broken record’ skips on in Hawaii

Spencer Butler | November 11

The 2020 edition of the University of New Mexico football team continued its winless start to the pandemic-plagued season as the Lobos (0-2) lost 39-33 to Hawaii on Saturday, Nov. 7. While the Lobos looked to end their losing streak — which is now up to 11 consecutive games starting with a Sept. 28, 2019 loss at Liberty — that hope would fade by the end of the evening. Things seemed to be in UNM’s favor at the start of the game, as the Lobos flew out to an early 7-0 lead after a three play, 65-yard drive, capped off by a Tevaka Tuioti pass to Jordan Kress for 52 yards.

Sports

UNM football returns, 38-21 defeat in San Jose extends losing streak

Spencer Butler | November 1

It’s been 335 days since the University of New Mexico football team last took the field, and a lot has changed since their last game. The most noteworthy change that occurred during the offseason was the departure of former head coach Bob Davie, who was later replaced by Danny Gonzales, a defensive coordinator for Arizona State and former UNM football player. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic initially canceled the 2020-21 Mountain West football season and delayed the start of the Gonzales era. The first game in the Lobo’s truncated season, meant to be played on the road against Colorado State on Oct. 24, was canceled due to the surging coronavirus case count in Bernalillo County.

Sports

United’s yearlong road trip ends in heartbreak in El Paso

Andrew Gunn | October 17

After 240 minutes of overcoming USL Championship postseason adversity in the role of the underdog — as indeed it has been all year for a homesick, road-weary club — New Mexico United finally found its kryptonite in the form of its neighbors to the south. New Mexico’s unlikely playoff journey was cut short after falling to El Paso Locomotive FC in heartrending fashion on Oct. 17, as the Texas club ended New Mexico’s dream season 5-3 in penalty kicks after extra time saw the scoreline knotted 1-1.

Sports

Mountain West releases women’s, men’s conference basketball schedules

Jesus Mata | October 14

On Oct. 9, the Mountain West released the basketball schedules for both the women’s and men’s programs in the 11-school conference. Each team will have an 18-game conference schedule. The women’s regular season will begin on Dec. 31 and conclude on March 2, while the men’s regular season will start on Dec. 29 and conclude on March 6. The women’s and men’s basketball schedules feature nine home and away games apiece and will have two bye weeks over the course of the season.

Sports

Albuquerque’s Holm and Condit revive careers with unanimous wins

Jesus Mata | October 11

On Saturday, Oct. 3, Albuquerque’s Holly Holm and Carlos Condit both won their respective fights via unanimous decision. Holm and Condit both showed Saturday night that they’ve still got more left in the tank and aren’t giving up on their careers just yet. They’ve both had their recent struggles, but their performances give them something to build on. Holm, who owned a overall fight record of 13-5 going into the fight and is currently ranked No. 2 in the bantamweight contenders rankings, fought the No. 6-ranked contender Irene Aldana, who was 12-5 all time. Holm won the fight in a unanimous decision, securing her 14th career victory.

Sports

Wehan captures first playoff victory for New Mexico United

Andrew Gunn | October 10

One more, for the road. That has been the mantra for New Mexico United since March, when the coronavirus pandemic mandated a four-month hiatus of play and altered the trajectory of a year that eventually manifested as a sensational season devoid of home matches. The mantra will see at least one more recitation in 2020 after New Mexico — via a superb Chris Wehan goal in extra time — defeated San Antonio FC 1-0 on Saturday night at Toyota Field in Texas.

Sports

Mountain West reverses course, to play 8-game season

Spencer Butler | October 4

The Mountain West Conference released its revamped fall football schedule on Oct. 1, with 8 games to be played in the span of a month and a half. For the University of New Mexico, the first game of the regular season will be played on Oct. 24, and the final regular season game will be played on Dec. 12. The Lobos’ season consists of four away and home games apiece, with the season starting on the road at Colorado State. UNM’s first home game will be on Halloween against San José State.

Sports

New Mexico United rolls into playoffs with 1-0 victory

Andrew Gunn | October 1

In an extraordinary season, New Mexico United has met every challenge with tenacity and remarkable verve. Those efforts paid off after a team performance sent New Mexico into the playoffs with a style-affirming flourish in the club’s second season. French winger Joris Ahlinvi scored in the 57th minute, Real Monarchs SLC put on a woeful performance and United punctuated its regular season finale with a victory at Zion’s Bank Stadium on a late September evening. With the win, United kept its sparkling record against the Monarchs in 2020 unblemished, finishing the season 4-0 against its neighbors to the northwest.

Sports

Mountain West resuscitates 2020 football season

Spencer Butler | September 24

The Mountain West Conference announced on Thursday, Sept. 24 that college football will return before the spring semester. In a statement released on the Mountain West’s official Twitter, it states that the season will begin on Oct. 24, with the conference championship game on Dec. 19. New University of New Mexico football head coach Danny Gonzales posted a statement to the Lobo football Twitter just after the announcement espousing excitement for the upcoming — and seemingly unexpected — fall season. “We are excited about the opportunity to compete and represent our University, the city of Albuquerque and the great state of New Mexico!” Gonzales said.