Final sprint: Lobo women, rival Aztecs set to tip off MW second half

College basketball’s lengthy season is often compared to a horse race with February as the home stretch.

It’s a fitting way to view the Mountain West women’s race, which tips off its second half Saturday with numerous teams jockeying for position. That includes third-place New Mexico and seventh-place San Diego State, who will renew their longtime rivalry in the Pit.

It’s a key matchup for both teams. UNM (13-9, 6-3) got off to a strong start in league play but is coming off back-to-back losses in which second-half leads evaporated. SDSU (15-7, 4-5) stumbled out of the gate but has renewed hopes of a second-half charge after knocking off first-place UNLV last Saturday.

The Lobos took round one of this year’s annual war with the Aztecs, winning 68-59 on Jan. 4 at Viejas Arena. Saturday’s rematch will be the 79th meeting between the programs (UNM leads 42-36 overall), and New Mexico coach Mike Bradbury expects another hard-fought, physical battle.

“They’re playing some different people since the last time we saw them,” he said of the Aztecs, “and they’re coming in hot. Their conference schedule has been front-loaded kind of like ours was last year, but I still think they’re one of the two or three most talented teams in the league. It’s never easy against them.”

The Lobos are attempting to shake off a pair of disappointing finishes in their two most recent games. UNM let second-half leads slip away against Fresno State and Boise State with a single dreadful quarter in each game.

The Bulldogs closed last Saturday’s game with a 24-5 run, while the Broncos used a 28-10 third quarter to take control.

“The last two games are not how we want to represent ourselves,” point guard Alyssa Hargrove said. “Everyone has been positive and working hard this week to get back on track. Now we start playing teams we’ve seen before, so we know what we’re up against. We have to focus on our assignments, play our hardest and just get it done.”

Missed assignments were a common thread in UNM’s last two losses, particularly in transition defense where both Fresno State and Boise State cashed in on open 3-point looks.

The Lobos did an effective job keeping the Aztecs out of transition on Jan. 4 and outscored them in the paint 42-24.

SDSU coach Stacie Terry-Hutson has since tweaked her team’s rotation, moving freshmen Nat Martinez and Naomi Panganiban into the starting lineup.

Bradbury has stuck with the same five starters — Hargrove, Destinee Hooks, Joana Magalhães, Viané Cumber and Hulda Joaquim — nearly all season. The Lobos’ substitution patterns have varied, however, and that trend could continue Saturday. Reserves Nayli Padilla, Paris Lauro, Lara Langermann and Amhyia Moreland performed well at Boise State.

“I thought our bench did a good job (Tuesday),” Bradbury said. “There may be some changes in our minutes. We’ll see.”

Saturday’s game opens a key two-game homestand for the Lobos, who host second-place Colorado State for a nationally televised contest Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. Entering the weekend’s games, second place and eighth place in the Mountain West standings are separated by just two games.

PROMOTIONS, PROMOTIONS: The Lobos will sport alternate uniforms Saturday for their annual Pink Game. UNM will also celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day with fans ages 12 and under admitted free.

Members of UNM’s other women’s sports teams will set up interactive stations on the concourse prior to the game.