Game Recap: Women’s Basketball | 11/12/2021 10:30:00 PM | Cameron Brennan

Eastern New Mexico women’s basketball opened its season on a winning note, claiming a 76-57 victory over Fort Lewis College on Friday evening at Drag’s Court in Silver City, N.M. The Hounds move to 1-0 on the year, while the Skyhawks fall to 0-1.

Fort Lewis jumped out to an early lead in the 1st quarter with a 9-5 lead over the Greyhounds. From then, the Hounds closed the final six minutes and thirteen seconds on an 11-1 run. Following a MeMe Amand free throw, Bella Stone hit jump shot, then Kamirah Decker found a layup to take the lead for Eastern. Anasha Hurst continued the scoring with a bucket from range and a layup, and two Decker free throws set the score at 17-10 after the first ten minutes.

Eastern did not stop heading into the second frame. ENMU held the Skyhawks to just one field goal in the opening six minutes and fifty seconds of the 2nd quarter, while pouring in 17 points in that same time frame. Three-pointers from Laura Rowe and Julia Chavez gave the Hounds enough of a cushion entering the second half. ENMU outscored Fort Lewis 27-11 in the second quarter and took a 23-point lead to the locker room, 44-21.

After halftime, Eastern scored the first six points of the quarter, with Natalie Stice grabbing four points in the opening two minutes. Each team went through the rest of the quarter trading baskets, with FLC making a slight dent in the ENMU lead. Eastern still held 59-43 advantage heading into the final quarter.

Iyanna McCurdy began the fourth quarter with two field goals in the opening stages, pushing the Hounds lead back to 20 points. Rowe found seven points of her own in the remaining minutes of the quarter, helping Eastern seal an opening night victory, 76-57 over Fort Lewis.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Greyhounds shot 45.9% from the field (28-61), 8-19 from range (42.1%), and 12-16 from the free throw line (75%).
• ENMU outrebounded FLC, 42-25.
• Eastern got a big boost from its bench, with 44 points coming from the bench.
• Rowe led the Hounds offense with 17 points on 5-9 shooting, 3-4 from range, and 4-4 from the charity stripe. Decker and Hurst hit double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
• Rowe also tallied nine rebounds, leading all competitors. Amand was not far behind with seven rebounds.
• Stone provided four assists on the evening, with Stice contributing three assists. Decker led the Hounds defensive effort with two steals and one block, both team highs.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Rowe marked a career high 17 points and nine rebounds in a single contest, while also setting a new career best in made field goals with five. Hurst tied a career high 10 points, while Chavez set a career high in points with six.
• The Greyhounds have won their last three meetings with the Skyhawks, and hold the overall series lead 15-12.
• Eastern has now won three consecutive season openers.
• The Greyhounds played in an official contest for the first time in 609 days, dating back to a 68-59 loss against Texas A&M-Commerce on Mar. 7, 2020.
• Head Coach Meghan De los Reyes, registered her first career win as a head coach.
• Stone, Asha Ross, and Hanna Nussbaumer made their collegiate debut. Amand, Alexsis Johnson, and McCurdy all played their first game for Eastern New Mexico.
• The Greyhounds return to the hardwood tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 13, to finish off the LSC/RMAC Conference Challenge against New Mexico Highlands University. First tip is scheduled for 4 p.m. from Silver City, N.M.