Game Recap: Women’s Basketball |  | Cameron Brennan

ENMU SCORED 22 POINTS IN THE OPENING QUARTER TO TAKE HOLD OF THE GAME

A late burst of points in the fourth quarter propelled Eastern New Mexico Women’s Basketball past Western Colorado, 51-37, on Saturday afternoon at Greyhounds Arena. Eastern improve to 2-2 on the season, while Western Colorado slip to 1-3 overall.

To start the game, Eastern wasted no town to run out to a 11-2 advantage in the first four minutes. Julieta Ceja, Lazurea Saunders, and Ashley Shipley all hit threes and Deja Adrian added a jumper to opening run. The offense didn’t stop for Eastern as they boasted its lead to 22-11 to end the 1st quarter. Eastern shot 52.9% from the floor in the opening ten minutes (9-17), while connecting on four three-pointers in the first period (4-7).

The second frame started with a three from Adrian and two free throws to take its largest lead of the game, 27-11. From then both defenses started to emerge, as the scoring slowed for both teams. ENMU forced three turnovers in the second period, with Western Colorado only scoring six points. The Mountaineers also held firm with ENMU scoring just seven points in the second quarter, with the halftime score reading 29-17 ENMU.

Eastern pushed its lead to 35-19 in the beginning of the third quarter, starting with a small run. However, Western Colorado fought their way back into the game to close out the third quarter, finishing with a 12-0 run, 35-31 ENMU.

Western Colorado closed the gap to just two points to begin the fourth quarter, 37-35. From then, Saunders took over scoring eight straight points for the Greyhounds with two triples and a layup to go up 45-35. Eastern closed out the contest on a 6-2 run, taking the game by a score of 51-37 over WCU.

NOTABLE STATS

  • The Greyhounds finished the game with a 30.4% field goal percentage (17-56), 28.0% from distance (7-25), and 58.8% from the free throw line (10-17). The visiting Mountaineers posted a shooting percentage of 25.9% (14-54), holding a three-point percentage of 25.0% (7-28), and finished shooting 22.2% from the charity stripe (2-9).
  • Leading the Greyhounds in points and rebounds, Adrian finished with 16 points, 6-12 from the field, and 11 rebounds. Saunders had a supplied 14 in the game, while Shipley added eight points.
  • On the glass, Ceja finished with seven boards behind Adrian. Bella Stone and KiKi Roberts found six rebounds each.
  • Stone picked up a game high seven assists, while Saunders led the Greyhounds with four steals. Both Saunders and Roberts provided one block in the contest.

FROM THE SOURCE

“Today was a good team win for us,” said Head Women’s Basketball Coach Meghan De los Reyes. “We came out strong and firing on all cylinders. It was great to see us shoot with confidence and really put pressure on defensively from the start,” said De los Reyes. “We did our job defensively to support or lead when we weren’t hitting on the offensive end and winning the rebound battle was a huge key to our success. We look forward to bringing the momentum of our first home win of the season on the road in LSC play next week,” said De los Reyes.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

  • The Greyhounds faced off against Western Colorado for the first time since 2011 and beat the Mountaineers for the first time in over two decades (last win was an 86-64 game on 11/27/98).
  • Eastern held Western Colorado to just 37 points in the game. 37 points is the lowest number of points scored by an opponent’s since ENMU held New Mexico Highlands to just 34 points, during a 53-34 win (11/18/17).
  • Adrian collected their third straight double-double, collecting 16 points and 11 rebounds
  • Stone posted a career best seven assists in the contest, while Saunders and Shipley each posted a season best for points (14 points and eight points).
  • Eastern provided a season high 12 steals during the game.
  • The Greyhounds set off on conference play as they travel to Austin, Texas to face off against St. Edward’s University on Thursday, Dec. 1. First tip is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.