Friday, November 11, 2016
PORTALES, N.M. — On five occasions, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology held a five-point lead in Friday's game at Greyhound Arena. Each time, the Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team managed to tighten up on defense. The Greyhounds used a double double from Senior
Kassandra Harris and went overtime to garner their second straight season-opening win, by a 69-66 score.
The contest marked the first time the teams had met. It also was the second game of the day in the ENMU Women's Regional Challenge.
Fort Lewis earned a 56-50 win over University of Texas of the Permian Basin.
The Key Moment
- After four lead changes in overtime, Harris drew a foul from SDSMT's Marissa Hirchirt with 17 seconds left and hit two free throws to give Eastern a 67-66 lead
- With seven seconds left, Eliza Martinez grabbed her fifth rebound of the game after a missed layup from Sami Steffeck
- Amari Dennis hit a pair of free throws with 2.5 seconds left to seal the win
In the Numbers
- ENMU blocked seven shots, the most since a game at New Mexico Highlands last season
- After shooting three-for-15 from three-point range over the first three quarters, the Hounds were five-for-seven from long range in the fourth quarter
- Both teams scored 26 points in the paint
- ENMU held an 83.3-54.2 percent (15-for-18 to 13-for-24) edge in free-throw shooting percentage
- Eastern outrebounded the Hardrockers by a 51-46 margin
Notable Performances
- With 14 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks, Harris notched the third double double of her career
- Martinez added six points, five boards and two blocked shots
- Johna McClelland finished with a career-best 14 points along with five caroms
- 12 of Jasmine Hotchkins career-best 13-points came in the second half
- Amari Dennis hit all six of her free throws to finish with eight points and seven rebounds
- Hirchirt paced SD Mines & Technology with 18 points, nine rebounds and three steals
Up Next
The Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team will continue play in the ENMU Women's Regional Challenge on Saturday afternoon. The team will tipoff against Fort Lewis at 1 p.m. MT. Prior to Eastern's game, University of Texas of the Permian Basin will play South Dakota Mines & Technology at 11 a.m.