PORTALES, N.M. – After missing the 2020-21 season due to COVID-19, Eastern New Mexico women’s basketball is ready to return to the court for competition. Head coach Meghan De Los Reyes announced the 2021-22 schedule this afternoon.

The schedule features 12 games in Greyhound Arena, along with two exhibition games at Division I institutions. The program will take part in 25 official contests and three exhibitions, 20 of those games against Lone Star Conference (LSC) opposition with 16 counting towards conference standings.

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 22 victories were the most wins in program history since 1992-93, when the Hounds went 23-5 and lifted the LSC Championship trophy.

The Greyhounds bring back six returners, while gaining six new faces to the lineup. Natalie Stice and Kamirah Decker were key contributors to the 2019-20 squad.

ENMU opens its season with three exhibitions, with trips to the University of Arizona and the University of New Mexico, before it welcomes Northern New Mexico College on Saturday, November 6.

“We are excited about our upcoming schedule for the 2021-22 season. We start things off against two exceptional Division I opponents in the University of Arizona, coming off a National Championship game, and the University of New Mexico. We appreciate this tremendous opportunity to take on the best-of-the-best and the challenge of playing them both,” said De Los Reyes. “We are looking forward to Nov. 6 when we get the chance to welcome our incredible fans back to Greyhound Arena for the first time before we head off to the LSC/RMAC Conference Challenge to play some really tough Division II teams to open the regular season.”

The Hounds’ regular season will begin on the road in Silver City, New Mexico to compete at the WNMU Conference Challenge. Eastern faces Fort Lewis College on Friday, Nov. 12 and finishes the next day against New Mexico Highlands University.

ENMU’s home opener will be against West Texas A&M on Thursday, December 2. Eastern will then travel to Western New Mexico on Tuesday, Dec. 7, before returning to Portales to take on Cameron University on Tuesday, Dec. 14.

“We are remarkably grateful to be back-in-action and are eager to play top-notch competition throughout our preseason to prepare us for the extremely tough Lone Star Conference,” said De Los Reyes.

Before heading into the holiday break, Eastern will host Youth Day on Thursday, Dec. 16th against Champion Christian College.

“We are thrilled for our annual youth day, which creates an unbelievable environment for all of our players! We appreciate all of the support given to us by our local schools, faculty, staff, and students who make Greyhound Arena such a special place to call home,” De Los Reyes said.

The Hounds finish out the regular season with nine games in January (four home, five away) and seven matchups in February (four home, three away).

The 2022 Lone Star Conference Tournament is scheduled to take place on March 3-6. The NCAA Division II South Central Regional Championship will take place on Mar. 11-14 with the winner advancing to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight on Mar. 22-25.