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The one-sided series of late between the Lobos and Aggies seems almost unfathomable.

The streak of 22 straight wins by the University of New Mexico women's basketball team against its in-state rival surely is one to be admired and appreciated.

Beating any foe 22 straight times takes a lot of work and a little luck.

"It is kind of unusual," mused Lobos head coach Don Flanagan.

But the streak vs. NMSU shouldn't be taken for granted.

The past 22 victories over Aggies doesn't guarantee a 23rd when the two teams meet at 3 p.m. on Sunday in Las Cruces.

"Whenever you have a long streak over anybody," Flanagan said, "you have to make sure you're fully prepared each time you play them."

Translation: Underestimate Aggies and the streak of 22 becomes a streak of one - loss.

The Lobos know this. They realize the Aggies will bring emotion, effort and everything they have to end their run of futility.

"We seem to get their best game," said UNM senior guard Brandi Kimble, who hasn't lost to the Aggies in six previous games.

She'd like to keep it that way, too.

"It's an important streak to us," Kimble said. "We want to keep that tradition going.

"Anytime you play a rival you want to beat them."

Those 22 straight victories have come in all shapes and sizes. Lopsided affairs like the 81-50 rout on Nov. 26, 1997, in The Pit. Close calls like the 79-77 triple-overtime win on Dec. 21, 2005, in Las Cruces.

"It's been a collective effort," said UNM sophomore guard Amy Beggin. "I've only been here for two of them (wins over NMSU)."

Flanagan is the only one to be there for all 22 of them.

UNM's last loss to NMSU in women's basketball came in a 78-73 double-overtime defeat in Flanagan's first season (1995-96).

Since then, the Lobos have dominated the in-state series like no other UNM team in any sport. Of the 22 wins, 18 have been by double digits and seven by 20 or more points.

Flanagan hasn't seen this kind of one-sided rivalry since his days at Eldorado High School.

Maybe it's Lobos payback for the 16-game winning streak the Aggies held over the Lobos from 1985-95. That was pre-Flanagan except for the last two.

Still, keeping the winning streak intact won't be as easy for UNM as in year's past. The Aggies program has steadily gotten better since a drop-off after its heydays in the early 1990s.

NMSU enters Sunday's game with a 4-1 record, the lone loss a 72-66 overtime defeat to rival Texas-El Paso on Tuesday. The 5-1 Lobos are coming off a 68-46 rout of Oregon in the finals of their own Thanksgiving weekend tournament.

In some ways, an improved Aggies team is good for the Lobos.

If the Aggies do well in their other nonconference games and during league play in the Western Athletic Conference, they bring a higher RPI into their clashes with Lobos.

That's a good thing, especially since the two teams meet twice a season.

You have to wonder when UNM's dominance will diminish and the two programs will be on equal footing.

Until then, enjoy the streak.