Lobo women aim for high marks versus Pepperdine

Final exams may be concluded, but the learning process continues for the University of New Mexico women’s basketball team.

After a week divided between testing and odd-hour practices, the Lobos return to action Sunday, hosting Pepperdine in a final three-game test before Mountain West play tips off on Dec. 29.

UNM is 5-5 after its first 10 games and its passing marks in some areas. Coach Mike Bradbury’s new-look squad with 10 first-year players has forged an impressive chemistry and appears to have enough depth and talent to compete in the Mountain West.

Still, the Lobos may need a few late-night cram sessions to tighten things up before the annual conference wars. The next three games, home versus Pepperdine, Sacramento State and Abilene Christian, could fill the bill.

UNM spent three days this week working on its own execution before turning to scouting and game preparation Friday. Despite the necessary distractions of finals week, Bradbury liked what he saw from the Lobos.

“Very good week for us,” he said. “We played hard and reasonably well at New Mexico State, but (the Aggies) were more physical and in better shape in the fourth quarter. We’ve been working to change that along with cleaning things up and adding a few things. So far, so good.”

UNM will put its work to the test Sunday against Pepperdine (5-3). The Waves are off to a strong start under first-year coach Katie Faulkner, who also has numerous new players and has been tinkering with her lineup through the early part of the season.

Pepperdine is coming off a 60-58 overtime win over Nevada — its second OT win already this season. The Waves employ a different style than UNM’s recent high-pressure opponents, and they’ll bring a different set of challenges to the Pit.

“Offensively, they’re hard to guard,” Bradbury said. “The run a lot of five-out offense with good movement. They’ve got good size and they’re efficient, a totally different team than last year.”

Despite all the new faces, Pepperdine is largely a veteran team. Faulkner inherited a few talented returnees and brought in several experienced transfers to fill out a roster that includes nine senior/grad students, one junior, one sophomore and one freshman.

UNM’s rotation also continues to evolve with senior Viané Cumber as the lone returning starter. The Lobos have settled in at four spots with seniors Alyssa Hargrove, Hulda Joaquim and sophomore Destinee Hooks joining Cumber in the starting lineup. The final guard spot has been split between sophomore Lara Langermann and freshmen Joana Magalhães and Reza Po, with none of the three having nailed down a primary role as yet.

While Cumber and Hooks have taken on top scoring roles and Hargrove has emerged as a do-it-all talent, Joaquim has quietly stepped up her contributions from a season ago. The 6-1 graduate student had arguably her best overall game at UNM against NMSU, playing 34 minutes and racking up 12 points, 14 rebounds, a block and a steal while battling Aggies post Fanta Gassama head to head.

Joaquim has started all 10 games this season and already has surpassed her 2023-24 totals in points and blocks.

“Hulda has been great,” Bradbury said, “and it’s all a matter of hard work.”

Bradbury hopes to see similar breakthroughs as the Lobos approach conference play, and he continues to go 9-10 players deep in nearly every game. Bottom line, he says, UNM is not yet a finished product.

“We’re getting closer,” Bradbury said, “but it’s a process with such a new team. It’s not always easy to be patient but we have to be. It’s a long season. We just have to keep working, making progress and getting better.”