ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (Interstat) — The New Mexico Lobos used a dominant third-quarter surge to pull away from the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks, securing a 77-45 victory in a nonconference women’s basketball game Thursday night at The Pit.

A crowd of 3,955 watched as the Lobos improved to 5-1 on the season, while the Skyhawks fell to 1-3.

The game was competitive through the first half, with New Mexico holding a 32-18 lead at halftime. The Lobos had methodically built their advantage, outscoring the Skyhawks 16-7 in the second quarter after taking a 16-11 lead in the opening period.

The contest was decisively broken open in the third quarter. New Mexico’s offense exploded for 28 points while its defense continued to stifle Tennessee-Martin, which managed 16 points in the frame. The 28-point quarter gave the Lobos a commanding 60-34 lead heading into the final period, effectively putting the game out of reach. New Mexico closed out the win by outscoring the Skyhawks 17-11 in the fourth quarter.

New Mexico’s victory was fueled by a balanced scoring attack and a significant advantage in offensive efficiency. The Lobos scored 77 points on 74 possessions, translating to an offensive rating of 104.8. In stark contrast, the Skyhawks managed just 45 points on 71 possessions, an offensive rating of 63.0.

Five Lobos scored in double figures, led by Destinee Hooks of Indianapolis, who scored 15 points in 23 minutes. Alyssa Hargrove, from Dayton, Ohio, added 11 points, 4 assists and a block. Cacia Antonio of Luanda, Angola, Laila Abdurraqib of Fishers, Indiana, and Clarissa Craig of Cincinnati, Ohio, each contributed 11, 11 and 8 points, respectively. Craig also added 2 assists and a block.

For Tennessee-Martin, Grace Billington of Moberly, Missouri, was the top scorer with 9 points. Brittani Wells of Lakeland, Tennessee, added 7 points and 2 assists in 33 minutes of play.

The statistical sheet highlighted New Mexico’s control of the game. The Lobos shot 42 percent from the floor, making 27 of 64 attempts, while the Skyhawks struggled at 33 percent, connecting on just 19 of 57 shots. The three-point line was a key differentiator; New Mexico made 10 of 37 attempts, while Tennessee-Martin hit only 3 of 18.

New Mexico also capitalized on its opportunities at the free-throw line, making 13 of 20 attempts. Tennessee-Martin went 4 for 5 from the stripe.

Rebounding, particularly on the offensive glass, was a major factor. The Lobos hauled in 17 offensive rebounds, leading to second-chance opportunities and contributing to their 30 points in the paint. The Skyhawks scored 26 points in the paint.

Turnovers were nearly even, with New Mexico committing 17 and Tennessee-Martin committing 13. However, the Lobos were more effective at converting miscues, scoring 20 points off turnovers compared to the Skyhawks’ 12.

New Mexico’s ball movement was slightly more productive, tallying 8 assists to Tennessee-Martin’s 10. Defensively, both teams were active, with each recording 8 steals and 3 blocks.

The game was the fourth of the season for Tennessee-Martin, which opened its campaign with a 57-54 loss at North Alabama on Nov. 3, followed by a 72-61 home loss to Tennessee on Nov. 9. The Skyhawks earned their first win on Nov. 16, defeating Fisk 79-39 at home before Thursday’s loss.

New Mexico has now won five of its first six games. The Lobos began the season with a 77-59 home win over Northern Arizona on Nov. 3, then fell on the road to Colorado, 84-59, on Nov. 6. They rebounded with a 71-64 home victory over North Carolina A&T on Nov. 9, a 99-65 home win over New Orleans on Nov. 12, and a 77-45 road win at New Mexico State on Nov. 16.

Looking ahead, Tennessee-Martin travels to face UTEP on Saturday. New Mexico remains at home to host Texas Tech on Sunday.