Women's Basketball | 11/22/2015 11:24:00 AM

Sunday, November 22, 2015

PORTALES, N.M. — After a strong showing against Lubbock Christian and University of Texas of the Permian Basin, the Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team is off to one of its best starts in the last decade. The Greyhounds will now face off against a pair of rivals from the state of New Mexico. On Tuesday, ENMU will visit New Mexico Highlands (2-1), before heading to Silver City, to play Western New Mexico (2-2).

After averaging 6.5 over the first two games of the season, Kassandra Harris exploded for 16.5 points over the two games in Lubbock, which included a 21-point outburst against 14^th-ranked Lubbock Christian. Harris leads Eastern with 11.5 points per game and a .432 shooting percentage, while Sarah Stinnett is right behind with 10 points per game.

Eastern is being outscored by a slim 68.8-67 point margin, and outrebounded by a 44.2-40.2 margin. The Hounds have been strong defensively and are out blocking their opponents by a 35-23 margin, with Eliza Martinez leading the way, with six shot rejections.

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Last Week

Last week, the Hounds split a pair of games at the Rip Griffin Center, in Lubbock, Texas. Kassandra Harris registered Eastern's first 20-point performance, with 21 points in an 89-55 setback against the 14^th-ranked Lady Chaps. Mikaehla Connor scored 14 points as the Hounds held on for a 69-65 win over Texas-Permian Basin.

New Mexico Highlands suffered its first loss of the season with a 67-55 setback at fifth-ranked West Texas A&M. The Lady Buffs took a 20-8 lead in the first quarter. The Cowgirls were led by Michelle Traynham's 20 points, while Giulia Simioni added 17 points and four assists.

Western New Mexico split a pair of games last week, defeating University of the Southwest (51-32) and falling at Angelo State (85-47). Deandra Williams had a strong week for the Mustangs, with double doubles in both games, which included a 12-point, 10-rebound performance against the Rambelles.

Against New Mexico Highlands

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The Cowgirls won the last meeting against Eastern, 72-62, on November 29, 2010, in Las Vegas. Since the 2006-07 season, the Greyhounds are 7-2 against New Mexico Highlands, with a 4-1 mark in road games.

Eastern's last victory against NMHU was an 85-76 decision on December 17, 2009. ENMU rallied from a seven-point deficit to avenge a four-point home loss from the previous month. Eastern's bench played a major role, with the bench outscoring Highland's reserves by a 55-38 margin. Cat Clay connected on three treys and paced ENMU with 15 points, while Til-Louis Fifer and Kassie Daugherty added 13 points each.

Against Western New Mexico

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Eastern has only played Western New Mexico twice in recent history, with WNMU claiming a 68-65 buzzer-beating win late in the 2013-14 season, while ENMU responded with a 77-61 win in Albuquerque, last season. Last year's victory gave Eastern a 4-3 lead in the overall series. Eastern New Mexico has not visited WNMU since an 87-61 win, which was the 2005-06 season opener.

Tori Tucker paced ENMU with 25 points in last season's victory, while Jaylyn Cooper added 14 points and seven rebounds.

Up Next

On Saturday, December 12, Eastern will host Wayland Baptist University, at Rock Staubus Gymnasium, in Clovis. The contest will tip off at 4 p.m. MT.