Game Recap: Women’s Basketball | 3/3/2020 8:57:00 PM | Zac Alfers
Women’s Basketball Bests Oklahoma Christian, Advances in LSC Championship
Eastern New Mexico women’s basketball knocked off Oklahoma Christian by a final score of 70-52 in the first round of the Lone Star Conference Championship Tuesday night.
The nerves of the big playoff game seemed to plague the Hounds early as they missed their first seven shots following the opening tip however, were able to utilize the team’s strengths of rebounding and defensive intensity to calm themselves and regain their composure.
The Hounds crashed the glass with tremendous effort and posted a +33 rebounding margin as they outrebounded the Eagles 68-35. All five Greyhound starters tallied at least five rebounds in the contest and the High Plains squad was able to secure 22 offensive rebounds as a whole.
Eastern turned in another solid performance defensively, limiting its opposition to a 27.1 shooting percentage as the Eagles went 19-for-70 from the field. OC was held to just eight made buckets combined in the first half which included a 2-for-12 clip in the second quarter as the Greyhounds were able to establish a 28-18 lead after the first 20 minutes of play.
The Green and Silver did a great job of initiating contact in the paint and frequently got themselves to the charity stripe. As a team, the Hounds connected on 14 of their 17 attempts from the free-throw line for an efficient 82.4 percent.
Senior Natalie DeLonge recorded double-digit scoring figures in six consecutive games entering tonight’s contest and continued her streak with a huge double-double against the Eagles. DeLonge posted game-highs in both points (18) and rebounds (12) on a 7-for-12 shooting night while burying all four of her free-throw attempts.
Sophomore Zamorye Cox turned in a solid performance, filling up the stat sheet with 15 points, seven assists and five rebounds while also swiping a steal and blocking a shot. Junior forward Alivia Lewis finished two rebounds shy of her eighth double-double of the season as she added ten points and eight boards.
The Hounds excellent play earned Head Coach Josh Prock his 100th victory in his seven-year career at the helm of the ENMU women’s basketball program and also marks the first postseason win of the Prock era.
The Green and Silver will have a quick turnaround as they advance to the quarterfinals of the 2020 LSC Women’s Basketball Championship in Frisco, Texas this Thursday. The Hounds will face off against Tarleton State at 7:30 p.m. inside Comerica Center.
