UNM shopping for last-chance momentum at Lobo Invitational

There may be six more shopping days before Christmas, but the UNM women’s basketball team is facing a tighter deadline.

The Lobos have just two games remaining before Mountain West play tips off — and plenty of prep work still to be done.

UNM (6-5) caps its busy pre-conference schedule this week, hosting Sacramento State (7-4) and Abilene Christian (8-4) for the oddly scheduled Lobo Invitational. New Mexico faces Sacramento State on Thursday night and takes on ACU on Saturday afternoon. In between, the Hornets and Wildcats meet in a neutral game on Friday.

The tournament was initially set as a four-team round robin, but one squad ended up dropping out after schedules were completed, UNM coach Mike Bradbury said. The remaining three schools agreed to play two games apiece over a three-day span.

It amounts to a last opportunity for the Lobos to build momentum for Mountain West play. After breaking for Christmas, the Lobos travel to Air Force on Dec. 29 and host Nevada on New Year’s Day.

“These last few games are very important for our confidence,” Lobos senior Viané Cumber said. “Of course you take them one at a time, but you really want to go into the Mountain West playing well and feeling good about yourselves.”

UNM took a step in that direction with Sunday’s 82-59 win over Pepperdine — a team that defeated Nevada in its previous outing.

“I thought we did a nice job rebounding and our offense was probably as efficient as it’s been,” Bradbury said. “Hopefully we can build on that. Sacramento State and Abilene Christian are good teams and they’ve both been playing well.”

Sacramento State is coming off a 66-39 romp over Mountain West foe San Jose State. Hornets leading scorer Jaydia Martin scored 17 points to lead four players in double figures against the Spartans. A 6-foot transfer from Eastern Washington, Martin has been a difference-maker for Sacramento State.

“She’s ridiculous,” Bradbury said. “A 6-foot guard who can put in on the floor, attack the basket or step out and hit 3s. Martin has been a star for Sac State.”

Sophomore Destinee Hooks has filled a similar role for the Lobos, averaging 18.1 points per game in her first season with the team. Hooks has an array of moves around the basket and is hitting 37.8% from 3-point range (14-for-37).

But UNM has generally maintained good balance on the scoring end. Cumber has played a larger role, averaging 14.9 points and often triggering the offense when she catches the ball on the wings.

“Teams guard her differently game to game,” Bradbury said of Cumber, “so sometimes it looks like we’re playing through her, but that’s not always by design. We do make it a priority to keep her involved because V has a good feel for the game and she usually makes good decisions. She’s a leader for us and she plays like one.”

STEPPING UP: Freshman Nayli Padilla made the most of her opportunity against Pepperdine, scoring seven points with an assist and two steals in 10 minutes off the bench. Padilla had not played in UNM’s previous five games but has shown steady improvement in practice, especially on the defensive end, Bradbury said.

“Nayli’s really skilled and gives us another weapon on offense,” he said. “We like what we’ve been seeing from her recently.”

PIT RETURN: Volcano Vista High alum and former Lobo Natalia Chavez will return to the Pit with Abilene Christian. Chavez has appeared in all 12 games for the Wildcats, making three starts and is averaging 5.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 18.6 minutes per game.

FREE REMATCH: Friday’s neutral game between Sacramento State and Abilene Christian tips off at 2 p.m. Admission is free. It will be the second neutral-court game between the teams this season. The Wildcats rolled to a 75-53 win over the Hornets at the FIU Thanksgiving Classic in Miami on Nov. 29.