Dramatic finish: Lobo women nip Air Force in closing seconds

What’s a celebration without a little drama?

UNM women’s basketball fans got to enjoy some of both Tuesday night, as the Lobos scored four points in the final 11 seconds to pull out a 77-74 victory over Air Force in the final regular-season women’s game in the Pit.

Senior Viané Cumber hit one 3-pointer to break UNM’s career record for 3’s, upping her total to 240. Fittingly, Cumber also hit two free throws with 3.6 seconds left to give the Lobos their final margin.

Destinee Hooks hit the shot of the night, a driving layup to give UNM (18-13, 11-7 Mountain West) the lead with 11 seconds left. That, combined with a key defensive stop, allowed the Lobos to hold off the determined Falcons (17-13, 7-11) and head to next week’s MW tournament having won five of their last six.

Cumber finished with 17 points, Hooks added 15, and freshman Joana Magalhães chipped in 14 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Asked about the dramatic finish, Magalhães smiled.

“Yeah, we love drama,” she said, adding, “I’m kidding. Honestly, we just believe in each other. We believe we can hit a big shot, believe we can get a stop, believe we can find a way to win the game at the end.”

It was an emotional night for Cumber, an Albuquerque native who had plenty of supporters among a crowd of 5,437. She was celebrated with teammates after the game when she received a ceremonial ball for breaking the program’s 3-point mark and later wiped away a few tears when asked about it.

“In a way it seems like I’ve been fighting through adversity since I’ve been here,” Cumber said. “I feel like this is just about coming out on the right side, working hard and just persevering. I’m proud not just of myself, but the university, my teammates and coaches, everyone who had a part in it.”

The Lobos led most of the way Tuesday but could never put away the hot-shooting Falcons, who got 21 points from Madison Smith and 18 from Milahnie Perry. UNM led 69-63 with 5:29 left, but Air Force’s Jo Huntimer hit a tying 3-pointer, and a Perry free throw put the Falcons up 74-73 with 1:56 left.

AFA had two chances to extend the lead after a UNM turnover and a missed shot, but the Lobos were able to get stops and called timeout trailing by a point with 27 seconds left.

“We wanted to get the ball in Destinee’s hands and give her a chance,” Bradbury said. “She was able to get us back on top.”

Hooks was fouled while hitting the go-ahead basket but missed the ensuing free throw. Air Force then burned its final two timeouts, trying to set up a go-ahead shot. After the final timeout, UNM came out in a zone defense that appeared to confuse the Falcons, who threw the inbounds pass away.

“There was a lot of discussion about that,” Bradbury said of the switch to a zone. “We decided to do it and I’ll take the heat if they hit a 3. We just felt like it gave us the best chance in that situation.”

Air Force was forced to foul Cumber, who hit both free throws, and the Perry’s last-gasp shot for a tying 3-pointer did not come close.

“Air Force is playing as well as anyone in the league,” Bradbury said. “They’re hitting on all cylinders and I thought we did, too. Really good ball game, low turnovers, low fouls, well-played.”

UNM won the rebound battle 45-33 and committed just eight turnovers against the MW leader in steals and forced giveaways. UNM got another strong performance from its bench, as Paris Lauro, Drew Jordon and Amhyia Moreland combined for 20 points.

The Lobos will take Wednesday off before beginning preparations for Monday’s Mountain West tournament quarterfinal against rival San Diego State. That matchup is set for 3:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

LOBOS 77, FALCONS 74

AIR FORCE (17-13, 7-11)

Perry 6-15 6-9 18, Smith 9-18 0-0 21, McNabb 1-4 0-0 2, O’Hollaren 4-7 0-0 11, Huntimer 3-8 0-0 7, Adams 4-9 0-0 8, Cortez 0-1 0-0 0, DeVaughn 2-2 2-2 7. Totals 29-64 8-11 74.

NEW MEXICO (18-13, 11-7)

Joaquim 2-4 0-0 4, Hooks 7-11 1-3 17, Hargrove 2-9 0-0 5, Magalhães 5-13 3-4 14, Cumber 6-13 2-2 15, Moreland 4-5 1-2 7, Padilla 0-3 2-2 2, Jordon 2-7 0-0 5, Lauro 3-3 0-0 8. Totals: 30-68 9-13 77.

Air Force 24 14 18 18 — 74

New Mexico 19 23 19 16 — 77

3-point FGs: AF 8-20 (Perry 0-2, Smith 3-8, O’Hollaren 3-5, Huntimer 1-4, DeVaughn 1-1); NM 8-22 (Hooks 2-2, Hargrove 1-7, Magalhães 1-5, Cumber 1-3, Padilla 0-1, Jordon 1-2, Lauro 2-2). Rebounds: AF 33 (Perry 1, Smith 6, McNabb 2, O’Hollaren 2, Huntimer 5, Adams 11, Cortez 3, DeVaughn 1); NM 45 (Joaquim 5, Hooks 4, Hargrove 4, Magalhães 9, Cumber 7, Moreland 6, Padilla 2, Jordon 1, Lauro 1). Assists: AF 14 (Perry 2, Smith 3, Huntimer 6, Adams 1, DeVaughn 2); NM 15 (Joaquim 1, Hargrove 6, Magalhães 2, Moreland 1, Padilla 3, Jordon 1, Lauro 1). Steals: AF 4 (Perry 2, Smith 1, McNabb 1); NM 2 (Hooks 2). Blocks: AF 4 (Perry 1, McNabb 1, O’Hollaren 1, Huntimer 1); NM 7 (Hargrove 2, Magalhães 1, Moreland 3, Jordon 1). Turnovers: AF 5, NM 8. Team fouls: AF 13, NM 11. Fouled out: None. Technical fouls: None.

UNM women defeat Air Force: Photos