Lobos rout Lady Rebels in big conference win

Wednesday was all about turning tables for the UNM women's basketball team.

The Lobos put together arguably their most complete performance of the season, leading wire to wire and taking an ever-so-satisfying 68-57 victory over UNLV at the Pit.

Joana Magalhães scored 15 points, Destinee Hooks added 13 and Laila Abdurraqib chipped in 11 (all in the second half) as UNM avenged an unpleasant 89-71 loss to the Rebels in Las Vegas on Dec. 20.

New Mexico was hobbled by illness and injury in that first meeting and was blitzed by UNLV in a 31-13 first quarter. The rematch was an entirely different story.

This time the Lobos outrebounded the Rebels (34-28) and limited them to 4-for-15 shooting from 3-point range. UNLV was a sizzling 16-for-28 from long range in the teams' first meeting.

Meanwhile, UNM shot 50.9% from the field, hit 9-of-20 from 3-point range and effectively fought off several comeback tries by the Rebels.

"I thought we played well," Lobos coach Mike Bradbury said. "UNLV's been the class of our league for four years now. They're well-coached and hard to beat. But our players were really locked in on what we were trying to do and they played pretty consistently throughout the whole game."

It was a key win for New Mexico (14-7, 6-4 Mountain West), which picked up its second straight victory after a three-game losing streak. The Lobos pulled to within two games of the second-place Rebels (14-7, 9-2) and improved their odds of grabbing a top-four finish and a first-round MWC tournament bye.

But on this night, March in Las Vegas seemed a long way off. The Lobos and their 4,366 fans fully enjoyed handing the Rebels a rare double-digit conference loss.

"Everyone was so hyped for this game," Magalhães said. "They got us last time. This time we showed out."

It didn't come as easily as the final score might indicate. After trailing by as many as 16 points in the third quarter, UNLV put together a 13-2 run late in the period and cut the deficit to 55-50 midway through the fourth.

But UNM got key baskets from Cacia Antonio to keep the Rebels at bay, and Abdurraqib effectively closed the door with eight straight points — the last six on back-to-back 3-pointers — to give the Lobos a 63-50 lead with 3:40 left.

Hooks later buried a 3-pointer in the final minute and celebrated with cheering fans as she skipped back to the defensive end of the court.

"We were ready for this game," said UNM's Jessie Joaquim, who did considerable dirty work with two points, 14 rebounds, an assist and a block. "We had a good game plan and everyone followed it. Even (Tuesday) I think we knew we were going to play well."

The Lobos set a positive tone early, hitting four 3-pointers in the first quarter and racing to a 20-5 lead. UNLV bounced back behind Jasmyn Lott, who scored 15 of her game-high 19 points in the first half. Lott poured in 10 points during a 13-4 Rebels surge that trimmed UNM's lead to 24-18 with 4:15 left in the first half.

Magalhães hit an answering 3-pointer and Drew Jordon converted on a drive in the final seconds to help the Lobos rebuild a 33-24 lead by halftime.

The teams then traded runs in the third quarter, which ended with UNM holding a 51-44 advantage. But the Lobos, who sputtered in the fourth quarter during their three-game losing skid, finished the job this time.

Antonio contributed nine points, five rebounds and three steals, while Jordon collected eight points. Paced by Abdurraqib and Jordon, UNM's bench outscored UNLV's 24-14.

Asked about the significance of a win over one of the MWC's top teams, Bradbury refused to bite.

"By the time I get to my car, I'll be done with this one," he said. "Last time we beat one of the top teams (Colorado State), we turned around and lost three straight. We need to stay focused and make sure that doesn't happen again."