Can the Lobos get well against San Jose State?

The University of New Mexico women's basketball team could certainly use a get-well game. Will it come Saturday in Northern California?

The Lobos have been battling through illness and injury since Mountain West play tipped off in mid-December. They've been without starters Joanna Magalhaes and Clarissa Craig due to leg injuries, while a nasty bug with flu-like symptoms has afflicted most of UNM's players and coaches.

Magalhaes and Craig remain out for the Lobos' Saturday road game at San Jose State, but the team's overall health has started to improve, coach Mike Bradbury said.

"It's been making the rounds and we've all been battling through it," he said. "Most of the players have started to feel better, so hopefully the worst is behind us."

UNM (10-4, 2-1 Mountain West) is approaching one of the most difficult stretches of its schedule, with three of its next four games on the road. Two of those away games will be against MWC co-leaders Colorado State and San Diego State.

Neither of those showdowns have drifted onto Bradbury's radar yet, however. As usual, he's focused only on the Lobos' next foe, in this case San Jose State (2-12, 0-3).

As their record suggests, the Spartans have struggled to find their footing under first-year coach Jonas Chatterton. SJSU ranks last in the Mountain West in several categories, including scoring defense, field goal percentage and rebounding margin.

Nonetheless, the Spartans have played competitively at home, where they are 2-3 and recently knocked off Sacramento State 61-56 on Dec. 21. SJSU features a solid inside-outside scoring tandem in wings Maya Anderson and Amira Brown, and Bradbury does not want his team to get caught overlooking the Spartans.

"You can't look ahead," he said, "especially not against conference teams. Every game is important and every team is going to know your strengths and weaknesses and how to attack you. This game will be no different."

UNM would like nothing better than to put four solid quarters together Saturday, something its has struggled to do through the season's first two months. The Lobos came from behind in Mountain West wins over Boise State and Wyoming and could not overcome a bad first quarter in a loss at UNLV.

Junior Destinee Hooks continues to lead UNM in scoring at 14.0 points per game, though Hooks has been plagued by foul trouble in MWC play. She played just 18 minutes and scored a season-low seven points in Wednesday's 62-48 win over Wyoming.

On the plus side, depth has helped the Lobos push through illnesses, injuries and foul issues. Sophomores Nayli Padilla and Emma Najjuma have moved seamlessly from the bench into the starting lineup, and UNM leads the Mountain West in bench points at 24.6 per game.

Najjuma has averaged 10.5 rebounds over the Lobos' last seven games and matched a season high with eight points against Wyoming. Most of her points have come on offensive rebounds or thanks to dump passes from driving teammates. Padilla assisted on both of Najjuma's fourth-quarter baskets against Wyoming.

"If I get the ball inside, I just go up with it," Najjuma said. "When (Padilla) has the ball, I don't even look at her. I just try to get in good position in case she passes it."

Padilla, who ranks second on the team in assists with 26 assists (Alyssa Hargrove has 39), said she makes a point to find Najjuma under the basket when she can.

"I know she'll be ready," Padilla said. "She keeps getting better and better in there."