Sports - The Daily Lobo

Sports

Locksley still making empty promises

Isaac Avilucea | November 19

Week in, week out, the media continues to put a quarter in that old Locks’ jukebox. And why not, when it plays such lyrical prose, such melodic, sweet-sounding music? If the head coaching gig doesn’t work out, Mike Locksley should consider becoming a motivational speaker. To his credit, if there’s one thing Locksley and his players have learned how to do over the course of this season, it’s to linguistically sweeten the tart. So much so, in fact, that should the Lobos go 0-12, Locksley, please mull over giving the eulogy at UNM’s season-ending memorial service. Figuratively, Locksley was planning on winning a game this year.

Forward Amanda Best shoots a basket while Oklahoma State’s Heather Howard blocks the ball during Wednesday’s game at The Pit. The Lobos lost 70-56.

Sports

Team fails to deliver in game's second half

Ryan Tomari | November 18

The UNM women’s basketball team didn’t have enough speed or force to stop Oklahoma State on Wednesday. The Cowgirls tired out the Lobos in the semifinals of the preseason Women’s National Invitational Tournament at The Pit, 70-56, putting the Lobos 2-1 in the season. “We played a good first half, but in the second half we couldn’t shoot,” said head coach Don Flanagan.

Defender Euan Holden receives the ball during Nov. 7’s game against UNLV at the UNM Soccer Complex. The UNM men’s soccer team earned an at-large bid by the NCAA Selection Committee during Monday’s selection show.

Sports

Team earns NCAA bid, prepare to battle Pilots

Nathan Farmer | November 18

The UNM men’s soccer team’s season was kept alive by the NCAA Selection Committee. The Lobos earned an at-large bid during Monday’s selection show and will play Portland at home on Thursday.

Forward Roman Martinez paced the Lobos with 24 crucial points, many of them coming in gutcheck
time. The Lobos went on to win 97-87 over the Aggies Tuesday.

Sports

Senior shines in rivalry knockout

Ryan Tomari | November 18

LAS CRUCES, N.M.  The solo senior from the Lone Star State shined bright Tuesday at the Pan American Center. Roman Martinez, the only senior on the 2009-10 UNM men’s basketball team, tied his careerhigh with 24 against in-state rival, New Mexico State. Martinez was one rebound shy of a double-double with nine.

Forward Will Brown pumps his fist in exaltation after the Lobos squeezed by NMSU, 97-87, at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces Tuesday.

Sports

Players dominate on Aggies' home court

Isaac Avilucea | November 18

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — What the UNM men’s basketball team learned Tuesday at the Pan American Center: The Aggies aren’t hemophiliacs. Yes, NMSU bled — for that matter poured in the first 20 minutes of Tuesday’s contest, down 16 at intermission — but eventually the blood coagulated, and the Aggies’ apparent mortal wound didn’t turn out to be as deadly as first thought. When all was said and done, the Lobos eked out a 97-87 victory over their inner-state rivals, marking the Lobos’ fourth consecutive win over NMSU, two of those wins coming in Las Cruces.

Point guard Amy Beggin avoids Florida Gulf Coast’s Shannon Murphy while lofting a shot up on Sunday at The Pit. UNM coasted to an 80-64 win over the Eagles.

Sports

Hard-won victory teaches tenacity

Isaac Avilucea | November 16

Now and again, the UNM women’s basketball team will face an oddball squad that gives them problems. That happened on Sunday at The Pit, though the Lobos, thanks to some adept coaching from head coach Don Flanagan, got past Florida Gulf Coast’s lineup traps for an 80-64 victory. The Lobos advance to face Oklahoma State in the semifinals of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Wednesday. FGCU was quite the conundrum for the UNM women’s basketball team. What the Eagles lacked in size, they made up for in grit, constantly hounding the Lobos’ post players with busy hands.

Forward A.J. Hardeman swats a shot by UC-Riverside’s David Chavira during UNM’s opening regular-season game Saturday at The Pit. The Lobos won 67-51 and Hardeman had 14 points in 28 minutes.

Sports

Highlanders laid low

Mario Trujillo | November 16

UC-Riverside was finished almost before the game began. The game was close — for all of five minutes.

Sports

Sophomore dream team rules court

Ryan Tomari | November 16

The low post seemed to be a big problem for the UNM men’s basketball team. Hold your horses. Will Brown and A.J.

Wide receiver Chris Hernandez battles for position with BYU cornerback Brandon Bradley. The Lobos came up short at University Stadium on Saturday, 24-19.

Sports

QB: We had plenty of opportunities

Ryan Tomari | November 16

Somehow, some way, the UNM football team finds new ways to beat themselves every week. Even though it seemed the Lobos had a fighting chance, they again shot themselves in the foot, almost literally, in a matchup against BYU at University Stadium on Saturday. The Lobos lost to No.

Sports

Nationals in sight, a few steps farther

Eddie Zayas | November 15

Two teams, two different futures. The men’s and women’s cross country teams hosted the NCAA Mountain Regional at the UNM Championship Golf Course on Saturday, but the Lobos couldn’t keep up the momentum they built in their previous victories. It was a bitter weekend following both teams’ title sweeps at the Mountain West Conference Championships the week before. The men’s team followed up that performance by finishing third in Saturday’s event and will advance to nationals, pending the mere formality of an at-large bid, which shouldn’t be a problem. The women’s team turned in an uncharacteristic performance, coming in fifth place, after finishing first in the Mountain West Conference Championships. That left them in a tough spot, head coach Joe Franklin said. “Nationals is still possible,” he said.

Sports

Men's soccer aims high as tournament begins

Nathan Farmer | November 13

The UNM men’s soccer team’s fate hinges on how it does when the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament, which got underway on Thursday in Denver. After finishing second in conference with a 5-2 league record behind undefeated Sacramento State, the conference tournament has become a must-win for the Lobos. After Saturday’s crucial 2-0 win over UNLV, the Lobos were guaranteed the second seed, which assured them a bye game in the first round. “That last win was huge,” said sophomore standout Michael Green.

Sports

BYU won't hold back for 0-9 team

Isaac Avilucea | November 12

Mike Locksley may just have an undiagnosed case of dissociative amnesia. The same could be said of the UNM football team. Neither Locksley nor defensive end Jaymar Latchison can recall the Lobos’ series record against BYU: 43-14-1. Curiously, Locksley rapidly rattled off a barrage of statistics during Tuesday’s weekly media luncheon. But when it came to the Lobos’ record against ranked BYU squads, Locksley conveniently skipped over it, until a reporter brought it to his attention. “I like to have selective memory when it comes to negative things, for the most part,” he said. He kind of has to, since UNM, when facing the Cougars while ranked, has managed just an anemic 1-15 record.

Sports

Alford teaches his team humility and synergy

Isaac Avilucea | November 12

And so begins a behind-the-scenes peek into the making of a motion picture starring Darington “Butter” Hobson, the UNM men’s basketball team’s junior college transfer, widely thought to be former Lobo men’s basketball swingman J.R.

Sports

Sophomore a surprise success

Mario Trujillo | November 12

As a young player, sophomore guard Lauren Taylor wasn’t strong, she wasn’t quick and she didn’t have hops.

Sports

Court's in session

Isaac Avilucea and Ryan Tomari | November 12

Men’s 09 Starting line The 2009-10 UNM men’s basketball team’s season will be much like an episode of “Unsolved Mysteries” for head coach Steve Alford. Super sleuth Alford will have to figure out one looming question: How can the Lobos repeat their performance from a year ago? The Lobos, who are picked to finish fifth in the Mountain West Conference, have only one senior leader, Roman Martinez.

Lobo guard Sara Halasz shoots a basket during Monday’s exhibition game against Eastern New Mexico at The Pit. The Lobos won 100-52. Check out DailyLobo.com for the story.

Sports

Lobos crashed Eastern New Mexico at the exhibition game

Ryan Tomari | November 9

That’s all, folks. Eastern New Mexico had a puncher’s chance that is, until the UNM women’s basketball team threw a haymaker. The Lobos manhandled the Zias in their lone exhibition game, 100-52. Although the dress rehearsal is supposed to be easy, head coach Don Flanagan said he saw things that needed some tweaking before the Lobos’ regular season-opener on Friday against Northern Colorado. “I am probably going to get a little bit negative now,” Flanagan said.

Forward Justin Davis splits two UNLV defenders in UNM’s 2-0 win over the Rebels on Saturday at the UNM Soccer Complex. The Lobos secured the No. 2 seed and a bye in the upcoming Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament.

Sports

Sophomore ensures victory against UNLV

Nathan Farmer | November 9

Michael Green showed Lobo fans what’s left in the tank for the UNM men’s soccer team next year. Green, a sophomore, showed the Lobos won’t be without talent next season, even though UNM is losing five seniors, all of whom played their last home game on Saturday during Senior Night at the UNM Soccer Complex.

Sports

Players still winless after Utah game

Ryan Tomari | November 9

Fact: The UNM football team is 0-9, and it’s not fine. Solution: Well, other than consider scheduling YAFL teams, there might not be one. Unfortunately for the Lobos, their final three games don’t get any easier.

Lisa Meeter volleys the ball against BYU on Saturday at Johnson Gym. The Lobos came out victorious, sweeping the Cougars 3-0.

Sports

Seniors go out with a bang at final home game

Brandon Call | November 9

Saturday was a night to remember for the UNM volleyball team. Not only did the Lobos bid a fond farewell to seniors Anna Lehne, Rose Morris and Allie Suiter, who were playing in their final home matches, but the team also avenged an earlier 3-0 loss to BYU, this time coming out on top 25-23, 25-17, 25-23 at Johnson Gym. With the win, UNM moved into fourth place in Mountain West Conference race at 18-8 overall and 9-5 in conference.

Sports

Tournament showcases improving team

Staff Report | November 9

The UNM women’s tennis team showed noticeable improvement this weekend at the Southwest Collegiate Invitational at the UNM Tennis Complex. Despite being hampered by injuries to junior Ashley Bonner and freshman Amy Shipperd, the Lobos had a combined 17 wins.