Thursday, December 31, 2015
PORTALES, N.M. — The Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team (5-5) held a 13-4 edge in second-chance points and an 11-4 fast break advantage, en-route to a 71-60 victory over visiting Northern New Mexico College (3-13), Thursday afternoon at Greyhound Arena.
Kassandra Harris posted her first double double of the season, and led the way with 16 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, and shot 70 percent from the floor.
The victory improved Eastern to 2-0 in the series against NNMC. It also snapped a three-game skid, dating back to a setback against Wayland Baptist. With victories over New Mexico Highlands and Western New Mexico, the Greyhounds are 3-0 against teams from New Mexico in regular-season games.
After winning the tipoff, the Eagles missed a pair of three-point buckets, but grabbed the rebound both times. Before they could take their third shot of the possession, a Francine Clark turned the ball over which allowed Eastern to take the lead on a
Miranda Moore trey. The basket gave the Greyhounds the lead for good, as ENMU led for 38:40 of play.
Eastern dominated the first quarter of play and held an 18-10 lead on four points apiece from Harris and
Mikaehla Connor. The second quarter was tighter, with ENMU holding a 15-14 edge to take a 33-24 lead into the locker room.
Demetria Clichee hit a layup to pull the Eagles within seven points, 33-26, to open the second half, but a Connor layup ignited a 13-5 Greyhound run over a span of 5:09. Harris capped the surge with a layup with 4:34 left in the quarter to stake ENMU to a 46-29 lead. After the teams traded baskets with Northern New Mexico closing within 13, Eastern scored eight of the next nine points, with the last six coming from
Brittany Gutierrez, to seize a 56-36 lead with 52 seconds left in the quarter.
The Eagles scored the next nine points to pull within 11 points, with 8:24 remaining and made another late run to close within 66-60, on Shania Harry's trey with 1:58 left. Moore and Harris hit five free throws over the final 1:46 to seal the game.
Eastern held a slight 47.5-41.1 edge in shooting percentage and a decisive 72.7-52.6 percent lead in free throw conversion rate. Connor registered 15 points, while Moore contributed 10 points, five rebounds and three steals.
Sarah Stinnett chipped in nine points, three assists, and three steals. Clichee turned in a strong game for the Eagles, with 19 points and a pair of assists.
The Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team will return to action on Tuesday, to host Texas Woman's University. The contest is the Hounds' Lone Star Conference opener and will tip off at 6 p.m. MT.