The Lobos capped a perfect 7-0 home season with a brilliant 63-44 win over BYU Saturday at The Pit.
With the win, UNM secured the second-place slot in the Mountain West Conference, following only Utah, who the Lobos defeated Thursday night. UNM has now beaten every team in the MWC.
The Pit was filled with bittersweet emotions as the five seniors on the team, center Jordan Adams, forward Chelsea Grear, guard Cristal Garcia, forward Tiffany Scaglione and center Daja Adams, were honored for their years of dedication and contributions to the team.
The ceremony was especially emotional for the three seniors who have played all four years for head coach Don Flanagan.
"This group of seniors has been special," Flanagan said of Jordan Adams, Grear and Garcia. "Special in the fact that we have so many different types of people -- Jordan being from a little town in Nevada, Chelsea being from Houston, Cristal coming from northern New Mexico. They all pulled together so well. I've never seen a closer group in my life."
After an emotional pre-game presentation, the close-knit Lobo team put all feelings aside and played one of its finest games of the season.
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BYU appeared anxious from the start, knowing its conference seed was on the line. But the Lobos came out looking relaxed -- gracefully running their offense, yet intensely protecting their home floor.
The Lobos easily built a commanding 24-7 lead in the first half. UNM did not have to force shots, but instead patiently ran its offense until someone was open.
It seemed nothing could phase UNM -- not even BYU's renowned offensive weapon, Erin Thorn. Thorn had only six points and one rebound in the first half.
The Cougars, who got off to a slow start, made the Lobos look even better, turning the ball over 12 times in the first half, while UNM had only four turnovers.
BYU entered the locker room at halftime shaken, with a point total equal to its number of turnovers, while the Lobos slated 31.
However, the Cougars regrouped during the break and took out some of their frustration in the second half, threatening to make a comeback.
Thorn was finally able to find her rhythm and exploded for 15 points in the second half.
Jordan Adams matched her with 15 for UNM, and Grear and Garcia took turns guarding Thorn -- Grear blocking shots, and Garcia pressuring the dribble.
Still, Thorn brought the Cougars within eight, 44-36, with just over eight minutes remaining.
During a UNM run sophomore Melissa Forest hit two 3-pointers and a couple of free throws to help the Lobos gain a 20-point advantage at the two-minute warning.
After Jordan Adams scored the last of her 25 points from the charity stripe, UNM called for time with less than a minute remaining.
Scaglione and Daja Adams checked in and the five Lobo seniors took the floor to meet their standing public.
After leisurely passing the ball to one another for the last 30 seconds, the seniors finally embraced and congratulated each other.
Adams, Daja Adams, Grear, Garcia and Scaglione each had an opportunity to address their 17,578 fans.
"I'm really going to miss my team," Jordan Adams said. "But we have plenty of games left."
The Lobos head to Las Vegas, Nev., this week for the MWC tournament. They will face San Diego State, a club UNM swept in the regular season, at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Although Saturday's win was the last home game of the regular season, the Lobos hope to eventually return to The Pit for the first round of the NCAA tournament in late March.
