Friday, December 18, 2015

SEATTLE, WASH. — Briana White from the Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team (4-5) set career highs against Seattle Pacific with 23 points, five assists and four steals, as the Greyhounds opened play at the Sodexo Tipoff Classic. The junior guard connected on five of her seven attempts from outside the three-point line, but the Falcons (5-4) overcame the superlative effort to earn a 76-62 win over ENMU at Brougham Pavilion.

The win gave Seattle Pacific its third straight, since a victory over Western Oregon to open December. The contest not only was the first-ever meeting between the programs, but the first time Eastern played against a team from the state of Washington.

SPU's Jordan McPhee opened the scoring 28 seconds in with a trey, as the Falcons charged to a 10-0 lead. Eastern got on the board with a Brittany Gutierrez jumper, followed by a Mikaehla Connor fastbreak to pull within 10-6. Just 17 seconds later, White drained a three-point bucket, and Connor hit another short jumper to pull the Hounds back within a single point. Seattle Pacific responded with an 8-0 run to take an 18-9 lead as the first half concluded.

The teams played on even terms the rest of the way, with SPU holding a two point advantage in points scored in both the second and third quarters, and just a one-point advantage in fourth-quarter points. The Greyhounds held a 10-2 lead in fastbreak points and a 16-7 edge in points off turnovers. Kassandra Harris had 12 points and five rebounds for ENMU, while Connor contributed 10 points and seven caroms. McPhee paced the Falcons with seven points.

The Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team will continue play at the Sodexo Tipoff Classic, tomorrow, with a contest against Concordia. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 5:30 p.m. MT.