1/27/2022 | Women’s Basketball | Box Score

PORTALES, N.M. – Late free throws sealed a 57-54 win for Eastern New Mexico women’s basketball against UT Permian Basin, on Thursday evening at UTPB Gym. Eastern improved to 8-6 on the season, and 4-4 in Lone Star Conference play. The Falcons drop to 4-14 overall, and 0-6 in conference action.

Both teams opened the game solid defensively. Each team were held scoreless in the opening three and a half minutes, with a Kamirah Decker layup opening the scoring at 6:18. At that point, Eastern found six straight points to take and 8-2 lead with 3:46 remaining in the quarter. Bella Stone, MeMe Amand, and Anasha Hurst all found layups during the stretch. The quarter would end 10-6 with Hounds leading.

The home team started the second quarter with six points taking a 12-10 lead in the process. Each team went back and forth over the course of the quarter with strong defensive play by both teams, causing multiple turnovers, 20-18 UTPB. Before the half ended, Natalie Stice found five points in the final 18 seconds to put the Greyhounds ahead 23-20. Stice first found an elbow three, then a transition layup to help the Hounds regain the lead.

Eastern jumped on the board quickly in the second half, with Iyanna McCurdy converting a layup while getting fouled, and sinking the following free throw. Then, Amand found two baskets underneath to push the Hounds lead to 30-23 with 5:52 left in the quarter. Each team traded baskets as time ticked on, the Falcons used the three pointers to slowly close the gap, ending the quarter on an 8-2 run, ENMU 37-36.

The final frame began with the Greyhounds expanding its lead with a 10-6 stretch, 47-42 ENMU. Hurst and Julia Chavez each hit three pointers, and McCurdy sunk four free throws in the run. However, UTPB stormed back to take the lead 50-47 after an 8-0 run with 3 minutes and 47 seconds left in the game. The Greyhounds pulled the score to 52-52 with just under a minute to play. McCurdy found a mid-range jumper to give the Hounds a 54-52 lead with just 32 seconds to play. On the next Falcon possession, Hurst drew an offensive foul returning the ball to the Greyhounds. The Hounds hit three free throws down the stretch to survive 57-54 against the Falcons.

NOTABLE STATS

  • The Hounds finished the night with a shooting percentage of 40.4% (21-52), 18.8% (3-16) from range, and 80.0% (12-15) at the foul line. UT Permian Basin compiled a 37.5% (21-56) shooting percentage, finished 23.3% (7-30) from behind the arc, and 55.6% (5-9) from the charity stripe.
  • Free throws were the difference, as the Hounds nailed 12 free throws compared to the Falcons five free throws. The Falcons outrebounded the Greyhounds 37-30.
  • McCurdy closed the contest with a double-double, with 15 points and 10 rebounds (4-11 FG, 7-7 FT), leading all competitors in both. Decker compiled 11 points, with Amand finishing with 10 points.
  • Stone pulled down seven rebounds, with McCurdy leading the way in steals with four.
  • Amand and Stone each found a block during the game.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

  • Eastern hold the all-time series lead 8-3 following tonight’s win. The Hounds have won five of the last six meetings with the Falcons.
  • ENMU forced 23 turnovers during the game, tying a season high which was recorded against St. Edward’s University on Jan. 22.
  • McCurdy recorded their fourth double-double of the season, securing a double-double against Texas A&M International (19 pts, 11 rebs), Texas A&M-Kingsville (19pts, 11 rebs), and St. Mary’s (18 pts, 13 rebs) before tonight.
  • Stone pulled down a career high seven rebounds, while Decker set a season high three steals. Decker has recorded double figures in points in three consecutive games, with 11 points against St. Mary’s (Jan. 20) and 10 points against St. Edward’s (Jan. 22).
  • Eastern next play Angelo State University on Saturday afternoon on Jan. 29, in San Angelo, Texas. First tip is set for 1:00 p.m. MST.