Lobos ready to feast on Big 12's Houston

Final exams are largely over for the University of New Mexico women's basketball team, but one big non-conference test remains.

The Lobos (7-3) host Big 12 member Houston (5-4) on Saturday night for what figures to be a fast-paced, high-intensity battle. Both teams employ trapping, pressing defenses and look to score in transition when opportunities arise.

UNM and Houston have squared off regularly during Mike Bradbury's coaching tenure with the Lobos, but the Cougars are a program in transition with first-year coach Matthew Mitchell taking the reins. The longtime Kentucky coach has overhauled his roster and is looking to build chemistry as conference play approaches.

"They've brought in some Power Four transfers and they're really talented," Bradbury said of the Cougars. "They're athletic, play very fast and they'll get up and press you for 40 minutes. This will be a good test for us."

Timing is part of the equation for the Lobos, who tip off Mountain West play with a pair of early showdowns next week. UNM hosts Boise State on Wednesday and visits defending champ and preseason favorite UNLV the following Saturday.

Junior Destinee Hooks, UNM's leading scorer, said finishing the non-conference schedule against three straight Big 12 foes (Cincinnati, Arizona and Houston) is the kind of challenge the Lobos need going into Mountain West play.

"These games are really big for us, playing Big 12 opponents," Hooks said. "It puts us in the right head space and gives us the right motivation going into conference. We're playing with a chip on our shoulder against these power conference teams and we'll be ready to get after it in conference."

UNM has won three of its last four with the only defeat a 63-60 nail-biter versus Cincinnati. Bradbury has liberally employed a deep bench this season and continues to try different player combinations depending on game situations.

The latest change was inserting 6-foot-4 sophomore Emma Najjuma into the starting lineup against Arizona in place of senior Clarissa Craig. Najjuma, who has posted three consecutive double-digit rebound performances, laughed when asked about her 16-board outing against the Wildcats.

"Oh, I've had more than that," she said. "I think 20 or 25 is definitely possible."

Hooks also feels she can find another gear as the Lobos move into crunch time. She's scored in double figures in all 10 of UNM's games but has sometimes played limited minutes due to foul trouble or a one-sided score.

"I feel like with my game I just have to stay patient," she said. "When I speed the game up or get a little anxiety about not scoring enough, that's when I tend to turn the ball over and not run offense.

"But this year is a lot different from last year. I have four other people out there who can all have a crazy game. I'm still looking to score first, but I can also pass to any of them and have full confidence that they can score the ball. It's nice."

BOUNCING BACK: Bradbury now has another option available after freshman Kaia Foster returned to the lineup against Arizona. Foster missed six games after breaking her right pinkie finger in a non-basketball-related accident.

Foster had been in uniform for several games but wore a splint on the finger and did not play. She said the injury was initially quite painful but has steadily improved.

"When we went to Florida (Nov. 27-29) and went in the water, my finger hurt so bad," Foster said. "But the next day most of my pain seemed to go away and I was able to get through shoot-around. The day before Arizona I just told (athletic trainer Lexi Smith), 'let's try it with no tape and just see how it goes. It felt amazing to get back out there."

Foster was on the court for Arizona's final possession Sunday, when the Lobos clinched a 72-69 win with a steal.

"Luckily, Kaia was able to practice and stay in shape," Bradbury said. "She just needed to get the splint off her finger and she was ready to go. It's good to have her back."