The Lone Star Conference released it’s 2021-22 LSC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll as voted upon by coaches and representatives across the league on Wednesday afternoon. The Eastern New Mexico women’s basketball program was picked to finish 13th, returning to competition after missing out on the 2020-21 season due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The reigning national champions, Lubbock Christian University, were selected to win their third straight LSC championship collecting 741 points and 40 first place votes. Following the Lady Chaps, Texas A&M-Commerce was selected to finish second, receiving 674 points and three first-place votes. West Texas A&M University rounded out the top three with 647 points.

In addition to the poll, the LSC announced that Lubbock Christian graduate student, Allie Schulte, was named the LSC Preseason Player of the Year after obtaining 25 of the 44 votes.

Returning for the Greyhounds, Natalie Stice provided 7.5 points per game (ppg) along with 2.4 rebounds per game (rpg), while playing in all 31 games for the Hounds in 2019-20. Kamirah Decker also appeared in every contest in the 2019-20 season finding 4.6 ppg and 2.9 rpg. Also returning for Eastern, Laura Rowe contributed 3.7 ppg with 2.0 rpg, playing in 30 games for the Hounds in 2019-20.

Eastern’s 2019-20 campaign saw the Hounds qualify for the NCAA Division II Tournament after finishing the season 22-9, while holding a conference record of 14-8. The Greyhounds will host twelve home contests this season, including its first home game an exhibition Northern New Mexico University on Nov. 6, along with seven conference matchups.

ENMU begin it’s season at the LSC/RMAC Conference Challenge in Silver City, New Mexico from Nov. 12-13. In the conference challenge, the Hounds will face Fort Lewis College, then New Mexico Highlands University the next day.

2021-22 LSC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll