Lobo women winning with depth, leadership

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Positive team chemistry is notoriously hard to pin down, but its certainly a valuable commodity.

The University of New Mexico womens basketball team has managed to find that upbeat mentality in recent weeks and its showing on the court. The Lobos have won five of six and suddenly seem capable of a strong second-half run in the Mountain West race.

UNM (9-10, 5-3) has shaken off the gloom of its 1-7 start and now has what point guard Bryce Owens calls a good vibe going. Different players have starred at various times, leaders have emerged and the bench has developed into a team strength. Eleven Lobos played at least five minutes in Saturdays 60-54 win over Wyoming at the Pit.

Its definitely fun when everybodys able to play and contribute, junior Alexa Chavez said. Thats been happening for us and its so nice. I feel like this teams coming together.

Last weeks 63-60 home win over UNLV could serve as Exhibit A. UNMs two leading scorers, Antiesha Brown and Khadijah Shumpert, were out in the second half of a tight game (Brown fouled out, and Shumpert left the Pit in an ambulance after suffering an allergic reaction to food).

Other players elevated their play and the Lobos rallied to win.

I have no idea how chemistry works, but theres a different feeling with this group, Lobos coach Yvonne Sanchez said. Everyone wanted to be on the floor late (against UNLV), and everyone was confident theyd get the job done. That was not a game wed have won last year.

Getting to this point has not been easy for the 2014-15 squad. UNMs anticipated player rotation and leadership were scrambled when senior co-captain Ebony Walker was dismissed after an arrest on domestic violence charges just days before the season began.

The ensuing adjustment period was made tougher by a brutal early schedule that included games against nationally ranked powers Texas A&M, DePaul, Stanford and Texas.

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Lobo women winning with depth, leadership