Extra spicy: Lobo women eager for rivalry game at New Mexico State

The annual Rio Grande Rivalry has a little extra chile sauce on top for the UNM women's basketball team this year.

The Lobos travel to Las Cruces on Sunday to square off with rival New Mexico State in what will be the teams' only meeting this season. With 20 Mountain West games now on UNM's schedule, the usual home-and-home Lobos-Aggies series will instead begin and conclude at the Pan American Center.

Just another non-conference game? Not to the Lobos, who are still smarting a bit from being swept by their Southern New Mexico rivals last season.

Second-year UNM players Alyssa Hargrove and Destinee Hooks say they're looking forward to getting another shot at NMSU.

"The returning players know how important this rivalry game is," Hargrove said. "I'm not sure we really understood that last year, but it's definitely a get-back game for us. We're excited to play them."

Hooks agreed.

"I think we all remember they got us last year," Hooks said. "It's a big game for us. We'll be ready."

Quite a bit has changed since last season, particularly for NMSU (1-1), which was hit hard by graduation and the transfer portal after advancing to round two of the WNIT last March. The Aggies lost their four top scorers, including Lobo killer Molly Kaiser and talented post Fama Gassama.

But New Mexico State's cupboard was not left bare. Four key returning players are now in the starting lineup, including senior forward Lucia Yenes who is off to a sizzling start in a starring role.

"It's a different team but they still have a good core returning," UNM coach Mike Bradbury said of the Aggies. "They're a little more guard-oriented, but they're very disciplined and they play to their strengths. They've very aggressive defensively, too."

The Lobos (3-1) also have been adjusting to a retooled roster and a more aggressive playing style. UNM lost two starters to graduation, including last season's top scorer, Vianè Cumber, but Bradbury has surrounded his six returning players with enough depth and athleticism to amp up the defensive pressure and play at a faster pace.

"We've had one really bad quarter. Other than that, I think we're off to a good start," Bradbury said, referring to the third quarter of UNM's 84-59 loss at Colorado during which the Lobos were outscored 33-16.

"I really like the level we think this team can reach," he added. "We're nowhere near it yet, and we've got some tough, physical games coming up. But we think this team can handle the challenge. We've just got to keep progressing."

UNM added to its arsenal Wednesday when junior guard Cacia Antonio became eligible and made her first start. Antonio chipped in 10 points and three assists in just under 20 minutes and helped the Lobos race to a big early lead in their 99-65 win over New Orleans at the Pit.

Bradbury said it may take the Lobos a while to fully integrate Antonio into the game plan.

"She's been practicing but not getting a lot of minutes with the first group," he said. "(Wednesday's game) was a good start. Cacia's very skilled and she's an elite defender. She just needs a little time to get comfortable."

Meanwhile, the Lobos will try to find a comfort level that has eluded them at the Pan Am Center in recent years. The Aggies have won the last two meetings in Las Cruces and the teams did not play there in 2022-23. UNM's last road win in the series came on Dec. 5, 2021.

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