Game Recap: Women’s Basketball | 1/13/2022 6:45:00 PM | Cameron Brennan

Eastern New Mexico women’s basketball fell in a Lone Star Conference (LSC) game against The University of Texas at Tyler, 67-53, on Thursday night at the Louise Herrington Patriot Center. The Hounds drop to 5-5 overall, and 1-3 in LSC play. UT Tyler move to 9-3 on the season, and hold a 2-1 standing in conference play.

Each team started the game going back and forth, setting the score at 6-6 after the first three minutes. MeMe Amand, Hanna Nussbaumer, and Julia Chavez all found layups to open the game. UT Tyler ripped open a 9-0 stretch to build themselves a 15-6 lead. The period ended with each team hitting a three, with Laura Rowe sinking the long range basket, ending the period 18-9 UTT.

The Patriots started to separate themselves to start the second frame, starting a 7-0 run in the first four minutes. At that point, the ENMU defense turned up the pressure, holding the home team to just five points over the final six minutes of action. Meanwhile, the Hounds offense started to build a comeback effort. Eastern pulled together a 13-2 run over a 5:27 period, 27-22 UTT. Amand started the run with two free throws, then Chavez and Decker found layups, and Natalie Stice added five points. The Hounds ended the half with a Bella Stone three pointer from half court at the buzzer, UT Tyler held a 30-25 lead at the break.

The Patriots opened the quarter with a strong defensive effort, opening the third quarter on a 14-0 run over the first seven minutes and 19 seconds, 44-25 UTT. Eastern ended the drought with a Stice three, but UTT ended the third quarter with a 9-2 stretch, 52-30 UTT.

In the final frame, Eastern chipped away at the Patriots advantage with a 15-10 run over seven and a half minutes, 60-43 UTT, with Stice finishing with 12 points in the fourth quarter. Both teams traded baskets to end the game, 67-53 in favor of the Patriots.

NOTABLE STATS

• Eastern finished the evening 27.4% (17-62) from the field, 23.1% (6-26) from range, and 92.9% (13-14) from the free throw line. UT Tyler posted 44.6% (25-56) field goal percentage, 45.5% (10-22) on three pointers, and 87.5% (7-8) from the foul line.
• The Hounds outrebounded the Patriots 44-31, while UTT held a 28-18 advantage on points in the paint.
• Stice led all scorers with 20 points, with Amand being the next best scorer for the Hounds with eight points.
• On the glass, Amand pulled down a game high nine rebounds, while Stice and Iyanna McCurdy each found seven boards.
• Stone led the defensive effort with three steals, and Kamirah Decker found the only block on the night.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The all-time series now sits at 1-1 after the Patriots win. The Hounds won the first contest between the two schools, 81-46 on Feb. 22, 2020.
• Stice posted back to back games with over 20 points for the first time in their career. The last Greyhound have 20+ points in consecutive games was ZamoryelCox, 24 points against Tarleton St (3/5/20) and 20 points against Texas A&M-Commerce (3/7/20).
• Amand marked a season best nine rebounds during the contest.
• As a team, Eastern set a seasons best in offensive rebounds with 21, while also tying a season high 44 rebounds in the contest.
• Eastern turn to face #6 Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday, Jan. 15, with a first tip set for 1 p.m. MST.