UNM is one of the hottest teams in the conference, riding a three-game winning streak and having won six of the last seven games. Head coach Yvonne Sanchez said the team has adopted a new character of its own and has moved past the troubled 11-19 record (6-12 Mountain West) of last year.
“We’ve got a new identity and we’ve got a new group,” Sanchez said. “Those comparisons need to go by the wayside.”
Junior forward Khadijah Shumpert said the team is surpassing the low expectations from the beginning of the season and is not a squad to be taken lightly.
“This is our new identity,” Shumpert said. “This is where we want to be right now. We’re doing what we need to make sure we get the wins.”
The Lobos return to WisePies Arena tonight against Air Force (2-19 in the Mountain West) with an unblemished conference record at home (4-0).
The Falcons’ record is something that Sanchez said the Lobos can’t look past. She said Air Force has been playing teams tight, which New Mexico has taken note of.
“Air Force is playing with nothing to lose,” Sanchez said. “If we let them hang around we could be in a bit of trouble.”
Shumpert said she doesn’t expect the Falcons to lie down without a fight. The forward also said each team in the conference has the ability to win at any point.
“We’re expecting them to come out and put up a fight,” Shumpert said. “We can’t take anyone else lightly.”
Shumpert is coming off a 16-point, eight-rebound performance against San Jose State (9-11, 3-6) in a close 64-62 victory on the road.
The Lobos (10-10, 6-3 MW) overcame a three-point halftime deficit to end the game in dramatic fashion. SJSU’s Ta’Rea Cunnigan had a chance to send the game into overtime with two free throws and one second on the game clock.
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Shumpert has been struggling since suffering an ankle injury Dec. 31 against Fresno State (17-3, 9-0 MW). However, Shumpert said her ankle is back to full-strength at the right time.
“It did take me a while to get back into the flow of things,” Shumpert said. “I think I’m back now. I am feeling good.”
Sanchez said Shumpert is an All-Conference player and she said her starting forward has displayed toughness throughout the ailment.
“It was a tough ankle injury,” Sanchez said. “I think she feels more normal now and she’s back to 100 percent.”
Liam Cary-Eaves is the assistant sports editor for the Daily Lobos. He can be reached at assistantsports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Liam_CE.
