Saturday, November 21, 2015
LUBBOCK, TEXAS —
Mikaehla Connor poured in 14 points and grabbed five rebounds to lead a balanced attack, which saw three players from the Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team (2-2) reach double figures in scoring. The performance pushed the Greyhounds to a 69-64 victory over University of Texas of the Permian Basin (2-3), Saturday at the Rip Griffin Center.
The win avenged a 67-58 setback against the Falcons (also at the Rip Griffin Center) from last season and gives ENMU two wins in the last three meetings. Eastern's last win in the series was a 69-51 decision on November 21, 2008. The last time Eastern posted two wins in its first four games came in the 2008-09 season, when the squad opened the season with a 3-1 record.
Texas-Permian Basin took its first lead of the game, 7-6, on a trey from Shanna Taylor with 6:34 left in the opening half. After an exchange of baskets, the Hounds erased another one-point deficit with a 21-7 spurt, which spanned 12:08 of play. Connor started the run with a layup midway through the first quarter, and capped it with a short jumper, to give ENMU a 29-16 lead, with 3:53 left in the first half.
Sarah Stinnett hit a trey, followed by a jumper and another bucket from Connor, as the Hounds closed the half on a 7-0 run to take a 36-23 advantage into the locker room.
Eastern held a 45.2-33.3 edge in shooting percentage and a 20-8 lead in points scored in the paint, during the opening half of play. The Hounds also converted seven Falcon turnovers into 10 points, while they allowed just two points to be scored off their own six miscues. Stinnett paced ENMU with 10 points and two steals in the first half.
The teams went back-and-forth as the second half started, but Eastern used another 7-0 run midway through the third quarter and took its largest lead, 48-31, on a trey from
Jordyn Cooper, with 5:13 left in the period. The Falcons answered with a 10-3 run over the ensuing 1:54, and pulled within 10 points, 51-41, on Niniva Taito's two free throws with 2:31 left in the quarter.
The Greyhounds pushed the lead back to 12 points twice, the final time coming on a Connor layup with 5:47 left in the game, to give ENMU a 62-50 edge. Taito hit a trey to ignite a 9-2 run by the Falcons, which trimmed Eastern's lead to 64-59, with 2:02 left in the game. Texas-Permian Basin came within three points, 68-65, when Niniva hit a trey with 11 seconds left, but could come no closer as ENMU held on for the win.
The Greyhounds enjoyed a 40-22 advantage in points scored in the paint and a 21-12 lead in points scored by non-starters. Eastern also held a 45-41 edge on the boards, which included a 20-14 lead on the offensive glass.
Kassandra Harris poured in 12 points and grabbed six rebounds.
Brittany Gutierrez,
Briana White,
Eliza Martinez, and
Miranda Moore, each scored six points for Eastern. Martinez also had a team-best seven caroms, while White grabbed five. Taito led UTPB with 23 points and four rebounds.
The Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team will return to action on Tuesday, to visit New Mexico Highlands. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT.