Lobo women dominate the paint, roll past Waves

It didn’t go as expected. It did follow UNM’s preferred script.

The University of New Mexico women’s basketball team shook off some recent frustrations with a dominating performance Sunday at the Pit. The Lobos dominated the paint, got everyone involved and rolled to an 82-59 victory over visiting Pepperdine.

Hulda Joaquim and Destinee Hooks scored 14 points apiece, Viané Cumber and Amhyia Moreland added 12 each, and UNM led by as many as 30 points in the second half. The Lobos outrebounded the Waves 46-28 and racked up a 40-18 advantage on points in the paint.

It wasn’t the kind of outcome UNM coach Mike Bradbury and his staff were anticipating against Pepperdine (5-4), which was coming off a win over Mountain West rival Nevada. On the other hand, the Lobos felt good about their blueprint for Sunday’s game.

“That was the game plan,” Bradbury said about his team’s dominance inside. “Pepperdine’s very skilled and efficient offensively, but we felt like rebounding and controlling the paint was one place we could get them. Once we started hitting a few perimeter shots, we were really just able to stick to the plan.”

UNM (6-5) took charge in the second quarter, outscoring the Waves 24-7 and limiting them to just one field goal. After an 0-for-7 start from 3-point range, the Lobos hit 4-of-6 during a sizzling stretch that ignited a crowd of 4,575 and sent the Lobos to halftime with a 39-22 lead.

“We were really trying to get back on track after two rough games against New Mexico State,” said Cumber, who had a team-high nine rebounds, three assists and two steals to go with her 12 points. “I feel like we got back to what we do well, following the game plan and taking advantage of a team’s weaknesses.”

Joaquim had a relatively quiet day on the boards (3 rebounds), but went 6-for-6 from the field and smiled when asked about UNM’s strong performance in the paint.

“Yes, I do take pride in that,” she said. “I don’t know if I’ve gone 6-for-6 in a game, but my teammates found me in good position and I’m getting more confident scoring in the paint.”

Bradbury couldn’t help pointing out the one notable flaw in UNM’s performance: Pepperdine guard Chloe Sotell, who hit six 3-pointers and poured in a game-high 24 points.

“She lit us up,” Bradbury said. “That was the one thing that got away from us, letting her get to her spots and get some open looks. But to her credit, she hit some contested ones, too. She can really, really shoot it.”

The score was 15-15 after one quarter, and it appeared the Lobos might be in for yet another back-and-forth battle. That changed in the second quarter.

Alyssa Hargrove swished a 3-pointer from the top of the key during a 9-0 UNM run to start the quarter, and Cumber later hit back-to-back 3s as the lead ballooned to 35-20. It was part of another strong all-around outing for Hargrove, who finished with eight points, seven assists, a steal and a block.

Moreland and freshman Nayli Padilla kept up the momentum with good minutes off the bench. Padilla, who had not appeared in recent games, chipped in seven points, an assist and two steals in 10 minutes.

“She’s a really skilled player who just continues to get better,” Bradbury said of Padilla. “She’s still got a ways to go defensively, but she’s been really good at practice lately and we felt like she was ready for extended minutes.”

Leading 39-22 at halftime, the Lobos ended any suspense with an 11-0 run to start the third quarter. Hooks and Joana Magalhães drained back-to-back 3s to make it 50-22 and the rout was officially on.

All 13 players in uniform saw action for UNM and 11 of them scored.

The Lobos return to action Thursday, hosting Sacramento State as part of the three-team Lobo Invitational. UNM hosts Abilene Christian on Saturday in its final non-conference game of the season.

LOBOS 82, WAVES 59

PEPPERDINE (5-4): Harkey 1-5 0-2 2, Brubaker 1-9 0-0 2, Malia Mastora 4-8 3-4 12, Muca 2-8 2-2 8, Makena Mastora 1-4 0-0 2, Sotell 8-13 2-2 24, Vick 1-2 1-2 3, Friend 2-4 0-0 4, Mashaire 1-2 0-0 2, Johnson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 21-56 8-12 59.

NEW MEXICO (6-5): Joaquim 6-6 2-4 14, Hooks 6-9 1-2 14, Hargrove 3-9 0-0 8, Magalhães 1-3 1-2 4, Cumber 5-14 0-0 12, Moreland 5-8 2-4 12, Langermann 1-3 0-0 3, Padilla 1-4 4-4 7, Po 1-1 1-1 3, Lauro 1-6 0-2 2, Mwamba 1-2 0-0 3, Jordon 0-0 0-0 0, Hakkarainen 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 31-65 11-19 82.

Pepperdine 15 7 15 22 — 59

New Mexico 15 24 24 19 — 82

3-point FGs: P 9-25 (Brubaker 0-4, Malia Mastora 1-2, Muca 2-4, Makena Mastora 0-2, Sotell 6-11, Friend 0-2); NM 9-27 (Hooks 1-2, Hargrove 2-4, Magalhães 1-3, Cumber 2-7, Langermann 1-3, Padilla 1-3, Lauro 0-3, Mwamba 1-2). Rebounds: P 28 (Harkey 2, Brubaker 5, Malia Mastora 5, Makena Mastora 3, Sotell 2, Vick 2, Friend 4, Mashaire 2); NM 46 (Joaquim 3, Hooks 7, Magalhães 2, Cumber 9, Moreland 6, Langermann 2, Padilla 1, Po 1, Lauro 2, Mwamba 2). Assists: P 13 (Brubaker 2, Muca 2, Makena Mastora 1, Sotell 5, Vick 1, Johnson 2); NM 19 (Hooks 3, Hargrove 7, Magalhães 3, Cumber 3, Langermann 1, Padilla 1, Po 1). Steals: P 6 (Brubaker 2, Malia Mastora 2, Muca 2); NM 12 (Joaquim 1, Hargrove 1, Magalhães 2, Cumber 2, Moreland 1, Padilla 2, Po 2). Blocks: P 3 (Sotell 1, Mashaire 1, Johnson 1); NM 4 (Hooks 1, Hargrove 1, Moreland 2). Turnovers: P 18, NM 16. Team fouls: P 17, NM 15. Fouled out: None. Technical fouls: NM head coach.