2/21/2022 | Women’s Basketball
PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico women’s basketball ends its regular season with two Lone Star Conference games this week. First, the Hounds are set for a rematch with #19 Lubbock Christian University on Tuesday, Feb. 22, in Lubbock, Texas. Then, the Hounds play its final home game of the season against Western New Mexico University on Saturday, Feb. 26. The Greyhounds will be recognizing those in their final year with the program for Senior Day.
ON THE AIR
Saturday’s game will be broadcast on the radio on 105.9 KSEL-FM and KSELCountry.com with Donald “Doc” Elder calling the action. Games will also be broadcast on 106.5 KEND in Roswell and Artesia.
LAST TIME OUT
Eastern enter the week after dropping a home non-conference game to #19 Lubbock Christian, 66-43, on Thursday, Feb. 17. Natalie Stice led the Hounds effort with 10 points during the game.
SCOUTING THE HOUNDS
Entering the final week of the season, the Hounds are still in position for a postseason push with a 9-12 record, and a 5-9 conference standing. ENMU’s offense is scoring 61.0 points per game (ppg), and allowing just 66.7 ppg. Overall, Eastern hold a shooting percentage of 36.2%, 25.6% from behind the arc, and 65.9% at the charity stripe. On the glass, Eastern find 40.7 rebound per game (rpg), handout 9.0 assists per game (apg), force 8.8 steals per game (spg), and post 2.0 blocks per game (bpg).
Iyanna McCurdy and Stice is the teams top scores, with 13.6 ppg and 13.4 ppg, respectively. MeMe Amand adds 7.9 points per contest, while Kamirah Decker adds 7.2 ppg. McCurdy, 7.7 rpg, and Stice, 5.6 rpg, lead the rebound effort, while Stice and Bella Stone provide a team high 1.9 apg. Stone also leads the team with 1.8 spg and Decker hold a team high 0.6 bpg.
The Hounds are one of the top rebounding teams in the LSC with 40.7 boards a game, 3rd in the conference. Eastern also sits 4th in rebound margin at +3.8. Individually, McCurdy is 7th for rebounding with 7.7 rpg, and 7th in field goal percentage at 43.6% shooting. Stice sits in 8th among LSC competitors with 1.8 made three pointers per game.
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
#19 Lubbock Christian University
The nationally ranked Lady Chaps enter the week at 22-5, and 10-4 in conference play. Currently, LCU are ranked #19 but that could change after the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) poll is release on Tuesday afternoon. Recently, the Chaparrals bested ENMU 66-43 at Greyhound Arena.
The reigning national champions are the best defensive team in the LSC, holding teams to 51.9 ppg (4th in all of Division II). On offense, LCU is scoring 65.5 ppg. The Chaps are effective with their shooting, making 43.3% of shoots they take (3rd in LSC). From behind the arc, Lubbock Christian is converting 33.3% of the time (5th in LSC) and are best free throw shooting team in the conference, 79.1% (12th in the nation). Additionally, LCU find 31.3 rpg, 13.4 apg, 3.3 bpg, and 9.8 spg (4th in LSC).
Allie Schulte is and impact player for the Lady Chaps scoring 12.3 ppg, 3.3 apg, and 3.2 spg (1st in LSC), leading the team in both categories. Ashton Duncan contributes 10.8 ppg, while shooting 34.3 % from three with 2.5 threes per game, 4th in the LSC for both. Juliana Robertson leads the rebounding effort with 7.3 rpg.
Western New Mexico University
WNMU hold a 5-15 record (1-11 in LSC) at the start of this week, the Mustangs will play two games before play the Hounds on Saturday, Feb. 26. WNMU recently played West Texas A&M (L, 70-53) and Cameron University (L, 85-60). The Mustangs face off against Texas A&M International on Monday, Feb. 21, and Lubbock Christian on Thursday, Feb. 24.
In total, the Mustangs are scoring 53.9 ppg and holding opposing teams to 63.9 ppg. Western New Mexico hold a field goal percentage of 35.7%, 29.4% from three-point range, and 64.4% at the line. The Mustangs pull down 38.5 rpg, facilitate 10.8 apg, create 6.1 spg, and knock away 4.7 bpc (2nd in the LSC).
Zyan Smith has play in every game for the Mustangs, scoring 8.5 ppg with 4.9 rpg. Olivia Lee leads the WNMU rebounds category with 7.8 rpg (6th in LSC). Lee and Destiny Johnson make their presence know in the paint with each providing 1.1 bpg (Both 8thin LSC).
