Women's Basketball | 1/23/2017 1:20:00 PM

Monday, January 23, 2017

PORTALES, NM —Just six weeks after sharing Lone Star Conference Weekly honors, the duo of Mikaehla Connor and Daeshi McCants from the Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team have done it again. On Monday afternoon, the LSC office released its weekly awards with Connor earning Offensive Player of the Week and McCants chosen as Defensive Player of the Week. Both garnered the same honor on December 5, 2016.

The duo has paced the Greyhounds (14-3) to their best start since the program opened the 1992-93 season with an 18-2 record. With Saturday's win over Angelo State, the team also registered its first 10-0 start in conference play, ever. ENMU has already posted its first 14-win season since 2006-07 and its first seven-game win streak since the 2003-04 season.

McCants and Connor have combined for all five of the Greyhounds LSC weekly awards this season. Connor has two Offensive Player of the Week and one defensive selection, while McCants has earned defensive laurels on two occasions. McCants is the only player to receive multiple defensive weekly honors from the league, while Connor is the second player to receive multiple offensive selections this season (ASU's Taylor Dorsey being the other). Connor is the only player in conference to receive three awards this season.

Connor's spectacular play last week allowed the Greyhounds to close the first half of the Lone Star Conference schedule in sole possession first place. With a career-best 25 points, nine rebounds, and a .529 shooting percentage, she rallied ENMU from a six-point deficit to an overtime road-win against nationally-ranked Angelo State. She also hit all seven free-throw attempts in the game and scored nine of Eastern's 15 points in overtime. On Thursday, she poured in 17 points and grabbed five rebounds in a win over Texas A&M-Kingsville.

McCants defensive efforts last week helped the Greyhounds maintain first place in the Lone Star Conference and improve to 6-1 in road games for the season. In games at Texas A&M-Kingsville and nationally-ranked Angelo State, she blocked six shots, grabbed nine defensive rebounds and had a steal. As a result, the opposition was held to a .262 shooting percentage while the Hounds forced 31 turnovers. At ASU, she registered her third double-double of the season with 14 points, 11 rebounds, four blocked shots, and hit seven of eight free throws. Against the Javelinas, she scored seven points, blocked two shots, had three boards, and a steal.

The Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team will return to action on Thursday, to host West Texas A&M. The contest is sponsored by Dr. Peter L Thompson, DDS, and scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. MST.