The New Mexico men’s golf team made a statement at the prestigious Southern Highlands Collegiate, finishing third in a field packed with national powerhouses. The Lobos, facing off against 11 of the top 30 teams in the country, closed out the tournament in style with a final-round 5-under performance, securing a total score of 7-over and outpacing nine ranked programs.
Second-ranked Auburn claimed the title at 9-under, the only team to finish below par. Host UNLV secured the runner-up position at 1-over, followed by New Mexico at 7-over. Rounding out the top five were No. 9 Virginia at 10-over and a four-way tie at 19-over between No. 4 Oklahoma, No. 11 Florida, No. 24 Pepperdine, and No. 26 Texas A&M.
Lobo standout Wyatt Provence led the charge, notching a top-10 finish by tying for sixth at 1-under, thanks to a strong final-round 69. Alvaro Portillo joined him in the top 10, tying for ninth at 2-over with an even-par closing round. Mesa Falleur (T-12, 3-over) and Carson Herron (T-12, 3-over) also delivered impressive performances, while Clark Sonnenberg rounded out the lineup at 13-over.
“To have four players finish in the top 12 in one of the deepest tournaments in college golf says a lot about our team,” said head coach Jake Harrington. “This week proved that we can compete with the best if we stay disciplined. I’m extremely proud of the way we battled through tough conditions and finished strong.”
The Lobos now turn their attention to the Lamkin Invitational in San Diego next week, looking to build on their momentum.
Lobos Softball Heads to Phoenix for Purple Classic
Fresh off a strong start to the season, the New Mexico softball team is set to hit the road for their final nonconference tournament, the Purple Classic in Phoenix, Arizona. The Lobos will face San Diego, Saint Joseph’s, and Penn in a five-game slate beginning Thursday.
Tournament Schedule:
- Thursday: vs. Saint Joseph’s – 4 p.m. (Live Stats Available)
- Friday: vs. San Diego – 9 a.m. | vs. Penn – 12 p.m.
- Saturday: vs. Saint Joseph’s – 9 a.m. | vs. San Diego – 2:30 p.m.
New Mexico is meeting Saint Joseph’s and Penn for the first time in program history, while their last encounter with San Diego was in 2016, holding a 3-1 record against the Toreros.
Lobos Making an Impact
The Lobos have been relentless early in games, scoring in the first inning in eight different matchups and shutting down opponents in the first two innings of 14 games. New Mexico is outscoring teams 28-15 through the first two innings and holds an overall scoring advantage of 104-87 this season.
The team has also excelled in executing small-ball strategies, leading the Mountain West with 20 sacrifice hits and ranking sixth in the nation in sacrifice bunts. DeNae Vasquez-Dickson leads the conference with six sac bunts, followed by Hayden Luderer with four.
Power in Late Innings
Clutch hitting has been a key component of UNM’s success, with nearly 45% of their total runs coming with two outs. Freshmen have played a major role, contributing to 27 of the team’s 42 two-out RBIs. Ella Dawson leads the team with eight two-out RBIs, with Allie Williams and Jessica DeLeon close behind.
Pitching Staff Stepping Up
The Lobo pitching rotation has been a force, tallying four shutouts this season—the fastest they’ve reached that mark since 2006. Sophomore McKenna Guest has been dominant, throwing three complete-game shutouts, while Natalie Fritz has contributed a complete-game victory of her own. Guest boasts 9-strikeout performances in multiple outings, including a 6-0 win over Alabama State at the Bulldog Invitational.
As the Lobos prepare for a competitive weekend in Phoenix, they’ll look to continue their momentum before diving into conference play.
Lobos Fall in Final Non-Conference Clash Against NAU
The University of New Mexico women’s tennis team wrapped up non-conference play with a tough 4-1 loss to Northern Arizona, with the doubles point proving to be the turning point in the matchup. The loss drops the Lobos to 6-7 on the season, while NAU improves to 5-3.
Head coach Vicky Maes made some changes to the doubles lineup, inserting freshman Coumba Ben Niangadou alongside Maud Vandeputte at No. 2. The duo put up a fight, pushing their match to a tiebreaker at 6-6 before it was halted as UNM fell at No. 1 and No. 3. Rebekkah Gaines and Maria Sodre struggled at the top spot, falling 6-1, while Sofia Taborga and Maria Matsoukatidi dropped a close 6-4 battle at No. 3.
In singles, Maes shuffled the lineup once again, moving Vandeputte to No. 1 and sliding Gaines to No. 2. The shift paid partial dividends, with Vandeputte battling into a second set while Matsoukatidi split her opening two sets before the Lumberjacks clinched the victory. UNM’s lone point came from Sarah O’Connor, who delivered a dominant 6-3, 6-0 win at No. 3. However, the ‘Jacks sealed the match with wins at No. 4, 5, and 6.
The Lobos will take a short break before kicking off conference play next weekend with road matchups against Wyoming and Colorado State.
Lobos Sweep Doubleheader to Take Series Over Rhode Island
The New Mexico baseball team made a statement on Sunday, sweeping a doubleheader against Rhode Island with an 8-4 win in Game One and a dramatic 10-9 victory in Game Two to claim the weekend series. The Lobos (8-5) have now won six of their last seven games as they prepare for their first true road test at Tarleton.
In Game Two, the Lobos capitalized on 11 walks and a five-run third inning, highlighted by Luke Banister’s first career home run—a grand slam—to power their offense. Despite Rhode Island’s late push, Ty Cunningham (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K) locked down his fourth save of the season to preserve the win. Khalil Walker led the way offensively, going 3-for-5 with a triple, while Ethan Ott and Josh McAlister contributed with key at-bats and run production.
Earlier in the day, the Lobos used a five-run second inning to propel themselves to an 8-4 victory in Game One. Will Asby (2-for-3, HR, 2B, 2 RBI) and McAlister (2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI) powered the offense, while Ryan Castillo (5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K) turned in another solid start to earn his second win of the season.
Over the four-game weekend series, the Lobos’ offense was electric, batting .350 with 48 hits, 12 doubles, three triples, and eight home runs while scoring 40 runs. Khalil Walker was unstoppable, hitting .529 with six extra-base hits and a 1.118 slugging percentage. Jordy Oriach continued his hot streak with seven RBIs, and McAlister blasted three home runs while tying for the team lead in stolen bases.
Jordy Oriach Named Mountain West Player of the Week—Again
For the second consecutive week, New Mexico’s Jordy Oriach has been named Mountain West Player of the Week after another stellar performance at the plate. The junior hit .474 over five games, driving in 10 runs while slugging 1.053 with three doubles, a triple, and two home runs.
Oriach was a force with runners on base, hitting .500 in those situations and delivering multiple RBIs in three different games. He was instrumental in UNM’s series win over Rhode Island and helped shut out in-state rival New Mexico State earlier in the week.
This marks the third straight week a Lobo has earned a Mountain West weekly honor, following Oriach’s first award last week and Cooper Brass’ Freshman of the Week recognition in Week One.
Up Next: Lobos Hit the Road
The Lobos (8-5) now turn their attention to a weekend road series at Tarleton (4-8) from March 7-9. Fans can catch all the action live on ESPN+ (subscription required), with live stats and additional coverage available at GoLobos.com/BSBGameDay. Stay connected with @UNMLoboBaseball on Instagram, X, and Facebook for the latest news, behind-the-scenes content, and updates throughout the season.
Lobos Close Regular Season with Thrilling Comeback Win Over Air Force
The New Mexico Lobos capped off their regular season with a dramatic 77-74 victory over the Air Force Falcons on Tuesday night, securing a hard-fought win in front of their home crowd at The Pit. With the Lobos trailing 74-73 in the final seconds, Destinee Hooks delivered a clutch layup with just 11 seconds remaining to reclaim the lead. A critical defensive stand forced an Air Force turnover, setting up Viané Cumber to seal the game with two free throws in the closing moments.
The Lobos’ defense stepped up when it mattered most, holding Air Force scoreless for the final 1:56 after the Falcons had surged ahead with a 6-0 run. The back-and-forth contest featured eight ties and five lead changes, with New Mexico controlling the game for 17 minutes and building an 11-point cushion in the third quarter.
Hooks led the offensive charge with 17 points and two steals, while Cumber finished with 15 points, highlighted by a record-breaking three-pointer that cemented her as the program’s all-time leader in career three-pointers (240). Joana Magalhães contributed a near double-double with 14 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Amhyia Moreland provided valuable minutes off the bench with seven points, six rebounds, and three blocks, while Paris Lauro went a perfect 3-for-3 from the field, including two key three-pointers that energized the Lobos’ attack.
Despite Air Force’s reputation for aggressive defensive play, leading the Mountain West in steals and turnover margin, the Falcons were limited to just four steals and forced only eight Lobo turnovers. New Mexico leveraged its inside presence, outscoring Air Force 42-34 in the paint while also winning the rebounding battle 45-33, including 14 offensive boards.
The Falcons came out firing, hitting their first two three-pointers to take an early 6-2 lead. The Lobos responded quickly, as baskets from Alyssa Hargrove and Hulda Joaquim evened the score at six within the first three minutes. Air Force managed to create some separation with a 5-0 run, but the Lobos closed the first quarter trailing by just five points, 24-19.
New Mexico caught fire from beyond the arc in the second quarter, drilling four consecutive three-pointers—two from Lauro, one from Hooks, and one from Magalhães—to tie the game at 31. The Lobos outscored the Falcons 23-14 in the quarter and took a four-point advantage into halftime. Hooks and Lauro each went 2-for-2 from deep in the frame as UNM’s bench contributed 16 points.
Cumber took over early in the third, scoring seven straight points, including her record-setting three-pointer, to push the Lobos ahead 49-40. The lead grew to 11 after a Hooks steal and layup, forcing an Air Force timeout. The Falcons battled back with a 6-0 run, but New Mexico maintained a slim lead heading into the final quarter.
Air Force fought back in the fourth, erasing a nine-point deficit to take a 74-73 lead with under two minutes remaining. However, the Lobos refused to back down. Hooks’ decisive layup in the final moments, followed by Cumber’s clutch free throws, secured the victory and an 18-13 overall record (11-7 MW) for New Mexico. With the win, the Lobos clinched the fifth seed in the Mountain West Championship, where they will face San Diego State in the quarterfinals on Monday at 3:30 p.m. MT.
Lobos Stage Stunning Comeback to Defeat Fresno State
Facing a daunting 31-9 deficit in the second quarter, the New Mexico Lobos mounted a spectacular rally to defeat the Fresno State Bulldogs 65-61 on Saturday. Overcoming an 18-point first-quarter deficit, UNM outscored the Bulldogs 56-30 the rest of the way, showcasing resilience and determination to earn their 10th Mountain West victory of the season.
Sophomore Paris Lauro spearheaded the comeback with a career-high 18 points, including four three-pointers. Amhyia Moreland delivered a dominant two-way performance, recording a double-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and a game-high five blocks. Alyssa Hargrove added 10 points and a game-best six assists, while Drew Jordon contributed a career-high five assists and six rebounds.
New Mexico controlled several key statistical categories, outscoring Fresno State 30-16 in the paint, 7-1 in fast-break points, and 35-16 in bench scoring. The Lobos also capitalized on their ball movement, assisting on 20 of their 25 made field goals.
The game started in disastrous fashion for the Lobos, as Fresno State erupted on an 11-0 run to take a commanding 23-5 lead. UNM struggled offensively in the opening quarter, shooting just 3-for-13 and missing all six three-point attempts. Trailing 31-9 early in the second, the Lobos finally found their rhythm. Lauro sparked a 7-0 run with a three-pointer, and New Mexico chipped away at the deficit with timely buckets from Joana Magalhães, Jordon, and Moreland. A Lauro jumper cut the margin to 10 before halftime, as the Lobos trailed 37-26 at the break.
The momentum carried into the third quarter, where the Lobos ramped up their defensive intensity. After falling behind by 14, Cumber ignited a 12-0 run with a three-pointer—her record-tying 239th career make—to tie the game at 44. Lauro then banked in a shot at the buzzer to send the game into the fourth quarter knotted at 46-46.
Fresno State opened the final frame with a quick 5-0 spurt, but the Lobos answered with a Lauro three-pointer and a Magalhães free throw to stay within striking distance. With the Bulldogs leading 57-52 midway through the quarter, New Mexico made its decisive push. Hargrove buried a clutch corner three, and Moreland’s defensive presence led to a fast-break Lauro triple, giving UNM its first lead since the opening minute. After a brief Fresno State response, Moreland and Hargrove added crucial baskets down the stretch, while Cumber’s free throws in the final seconds sealed the comeback victory.
The Lobos dominated the second half, outshooting Fresno State 48.3% to 25.9% and outrebounding them 25-17. With their 10th conference win, New Mexico secured its fifth consecutive season with double-digit MW victories under Head Coach Mike Bradbury.
With the Mountain West Championship looming, the Lobos will look to carry this momentum into tournament play as they set their sights on a deep postseason run.