UNM Lobos women edge San Jose State in close Mountain West basketball win at the Pit

Laila Abdurraqib drops 19 as UNM grinds out a 66-61 win over San Jose State and climbs into a tie for fourth in Mountain West play.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The UNM Lobos women's basketball team had to fight for 40 minutes to avoid an upset against the last-place San Jose State Spartans, winning 66-61 at the Pit. Laila Abdurraqib scored a game-high 19 points for the Lobos, who outrebounded SJSU 44-30 but shot just 34% from the field. UNM led by as much as 10 points in the fourth quarter before SJSU made a late push, but the Lobos held on for the victory.

Why it matters

This win moves UNM into a tie for fourth place in the Mountain West Conference standings, an important position as the team looks to secure a spot in the conference tournament. The Lobos have now won five of their last six games, showing resilience after a blowout loss to Boise State over the weekend.

The details

Despite the Lobos' rebounding advantage and higher shot attempts, San Jose State kept the game close by hitting 9-of-19 3-pointers and getting to the free throw line. UNM struggled to find its shooting touch, with Joana Magalhaes and Destinee Hooks scoring 12 points each to support Abdurraqib's big night. The Lobos finally stretched their lead to 10 points late, but had to hit four free throws in the final 14 seconds to seal the victory.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.

The players

Laila Abdurraqib

A key player for the UNM Lobos who scored a game-high 19 points, including five 3-pointers.

Joana Magalhaes

A UNM Lobos player who scored 12 points in the win.

Destinee Hooks

A UNM Lobos player who scored 12 points in the win.

Maya Anderson

A San Jose State Spartans player who led her team with 16 points.

Gabriela Pato

A San Jose State Spartans player who hit several 3-pointers to keep her team in the game.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, it's always good to win. There are no easy games at this point. In mid-February every game is difficult and San Jose State played well. They shot it really well.”

— Mike Bradbury, UNM coach (abqjournal.com)

“We've just got to find open shots and take them. You want to find the perfect shot, but it doesn't always have to be perfect. You just have to shoot it with confidence.”

— Joana Magalhaes, UNM player (abqjournal.com)

“Laila's playing well. She's been consistent, she's shot well tonight and made good decisions. She's ready to go when we need her.”

— Mike Bradbury, UNM coach (abqjournal.com)

What’s next

The Lobos will host Colorado State on Saturday, February 15, 2026 at 1 p.m. as they look to continue their push up the Mountain West standings.

The takeaway

This close win over a struggling San Jose State team shows the Lobos still have work to do to become a dominant force in the Mountain West, but their resilience and ability to grind out victories will serve them well as they aim for a strong finish to the regular season and a deep conference tournament run.