Thursday, December 01, 2016

ODESSA, TEXAS —Daeshi McCants connected on the front end of a pair of free throws with 20 seconds left to give the Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team (3-2; LSC 1-0) the lead for good after a wild game at University of Texas of the Permian Basin (3-4; LSC 0-1). The junior forward's nine-point, nine-rebound effort propelled the Greyhounds to a 63-61 victory in the Lone Star Conference opener for both teams, Thursday at the UTPB Gym.

"Our composure was phenomenal," said Head Coach Josh Prock. "We maintained our composure and showed our toughness. I'm happy for how our girls executed down the stretch."

With his 28^th win at Eastern New Mexico University, Head Coach Josh Prock snapped a tie with Bernie Barras for third on the program's victory list. The win also was the Greyhounds second straight against UTPB and gave Eastern a 2-1 record in the all-time series. ENMU led for 32:03 of the game.

In the First Quarter

• In the most period of play for Eastern since the game shifted to quarters last season, the Hounds shot 10-for-19 and hit four treys to seize a 19-point lead
• The Hounds scored the first 12 points of the game and 22 of the first 26
• Amari Dennis, Mikaehla Connor, McCants, and Eliza Martinez each had five points

In the Second Quarter

• In a reversal of fortune, the Hounds were limited to just one-for-11 from the floor in the second quarter
• The Falcons closed to within five points after shooting eight-for 15
• "We let our intensity down a little bit between the first and second quarter," said Prock. But we were able to bounce back and recover. All that matters is we finished with the win."

 
Down the Stretch

• The teams played a wild second half, which saw the lead change 10 times, with eight tie scores
• UTPB capped a 27-5 run early in the third quarter to take their first lead, 36-33 on a Brianna Caro trey
• Sierra LaGrande tied the game for the eighth and final time with two free throws with 37 seconds left
• 17 seconds later, McCants gave ENMU the lead for good with a free throw

 
"We did a great job in the fourth quarter," said Prock. "Every play we drew up and ran we executed very well. I'm very proud of our kid's effort. We were up one with ten seconds to go on that last play and we were able to guard it properly. We guarded the play right and that's why the referee called the foul. I was really impressed with everybody tonight, to be honest with you. Everybody played really well and the composure of this team was what impressed me at the end."
 
The Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team will visit West Texas A&M on Saturday.