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 non-conference 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 a contest for the first half, with New Mexico holding a 32-18 lead at halftime. The Lobos broke the game open in the third quarter, outscoring the Skyhawks 28-16. A stifling defense and efficient offense allowed New Mexico to build an insurmountable lead, cruising through the fourth quarter to the 32-point win.

New Mexico’s offense was fueled by a balanced scoring attack. Destinee Hooks led the way with 15 points, while Alyssa Hargrove added 11 points, four assists and a block. Cacia Antonio and Laila Abdurraqib each chipped in 11 points, and Clarissa Craig contributed eight points.

The Lobos shot 42 percent from the field, connecting on 10 of 37 attempts from three-point range. They also capitalized on free throws, making 13 of 20, and dominated the offensive glass with 17 rebounds, leading to numerous second-chance opportunities. New Mexico scored 20 points off 17 Tennessee-Martin turnovers.

Conversely, the Skyhawks struggled offensively throughout the night. The team shot just 33 percent from the field and a frigid 17 percent from beyond the arc, making only 3 of 18 attempts. Tennessee-Martin was held to an offensive rating of 63.0, scoring 45 points on 71 possessions.

Grace Billington was the high scorer for the Skyhawks with nine points. Brittani Wells added seven points and a team-high two assists. Tennessee-Martin did force 17 New Mexico turnovers, recording 10 steals, but could not convert those opportunities into consistent scoring, managing just 12 points off turnovers.

The Lobos set the tone early, leading 16-11 after the first quarter and extending their advantage by holding the Skyhawks to just seven points in the second period. The third-quarter explosion sealed the victory, as New Mexico’s ball movement and defensive pressure proved too much for the visiting team to overcome.

New Mexico next hosts Texas Tech on Sunday. Tennessee-Martin travels to face UTEP on Saturday.