Eastern New Mexico women’s basketball continue its season with two home Lone Star Conference (LSC) games this weekend. First, the Hounds will entertain St. Mary’s University on Thursday, Jan. 20, with tipoff scheduled at 5:00 p.m. Then, the Hounds will take on St. Edward’s University on Saturday, Jan. 22 with first tip slated for 2:00 p.m.

Thursday’s game will be played in honor of Sylvestre Kibara, a member of ENMU’s cross country team who recently passed away. Those wishing to help the Kibara family with expenses can make donations at the ticket table prior to the women’s game through the first half of the women’s game.

ON THE AIR

Both games will be broadcast 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

In the Greyhounds last weekend of action, Eastern suffered two defeats against UT Tyler, 67-53, on Thursday, Jan. 13, and at #6 Texas A&M-Commerce, 94-65, on Saturday, Jan. 15. Natalie Stice found 20 points and seven rebounds in the Hounds defeat to UTT, while Iyanna McCurdy posted a career best 22 points against Texas A&M-Commerce, with MeMe Amand adding a double-double (15 points and 12 rebounds).

SCOUTING THE HOUNDS

ENMU enter the weekend’s contests with a 5-6 record overall with a 1-4 standing in the LSC. Statistically, the Hounds are averaging 58.7 points per game (ppg), with opposing team’s scoring 65.6 ppg. From the field, Eastern is finishing with a shooting percentage of 36.2%, 26.5% from range, and 66.9% at the free throw line. On the glass, ENMU pull down 38.6 rebounds per game (rpg), contribute 8.8 assists per game (apg), poke away 8.6 steals per game (spg), and force 2.1 blocks per game (bpg).

Stice leads the team in scoring with 12.7 ppg, while also pulling down 5.8 rpg. McCurdy is the next best scorer for Eastern with 11.0 ppg, along with 5.7 rpg. Leading the way in rebounds, Amand is finding 6.5 rpg along with 9.0 ppg. Bella Stone facilitates the Greyhound attack with 2.0 apg, and leads the team in steals, 1.8 spg. Kamirah Decker is a presence in the paint with a team high 0.8 bpg.

Across the LSC, the Hounds hold opponents to just 33.9 rpg, the third best among all LSC competition.

SCOUTING THE COMPETITION 

St. Mary’s University

The Rattlers will be returning to the court for the first time in 12 days, having last played on Jan. 8 in a 79-73 loss against Midwestern State. Overall, StMU hold a 1-12 standing along with a 0-2 LSC record.

As a whole, St. Mary’s are scoring 57.7 ppg, and allowing 69.3 ppg. The Rattlers post a stat line of 38.1% shooting percentage, 29.9% from three point range, and 68.8% at the charity stripe. StMU are the third best rebounding team in the LSC with 41.6 rpg. Additionally, St. Mary’s post 11.9 apg, 5.7 spg, and 2.3 bpg.

Hannah Wilson is among the top scorers in the conference with 18.0 ppg (3^rd) and is the LSC leading rebounder with 11.8 rpg (1^st), standing 10^th in all of Division II for rebounds per game. Wilson has recorded nine double-doubles on the season, which is tied for seventh nationally. The next best scorer is Sydney Hardeman with 9.9 ppg, with Faith Phillips finding 5.8 rpg. Hardeman sits in second for the LSC in three-point field goals per game with 2.6, and Wilson is third for field goal percentage at 51.6%.

St. Edward’s University

The Hilltoppers come into the weekend with a 9-7 record and 2-3 LSC standing. SEU will play #10 Lubbock Christian University on Thursday, Jan. 13 before playing the Hounds. In its last came, St. Edward’s walked away 67-63 winners in overtime over UT Permian Basin, on Monday, Jan. 17.

SEU are a well-rounded team, breaking into the top five statistically in multiple categories for the LSC. First, the Hilltoppers are fifth in scoring with 67.7 ppg, and hold teams to just 62.3 ppg. St. Edward’s boast a field goal percentage of 43.2% (3^rd), while holding teams to 36.4% shooting (4^th). Meanwhile, SEU coverts three pointers 27.3% of the time, and are hitting free throws at a rate of 72.1%. Rebounding is also a strong part to St. Edward’s game with 39.4 rpg (5^th in LSC), blocking 4.31 bpg (4^th in LSC), dishing out 12.63 apg, and 8.13 spg.

Leading the Hilltoppers, Taylor Cockerill is finding 11.1 ppg, with Lauren Catherman and Morgan Gary each adding more than 10 points per game, with 10.9 ppg and 10.1 ppg, respectively. On the boards Sammie Dufek leads the team in rebounds with 6.0 rpg, and holds a conference best 2.8 bpg (8^th in all of Division II). Gary is the next leading rebounder with 5.6 rpg, and Cockerill is just behind with 4.9 rpg.