Thursday, January 07, 2016

PORTALES — Johna McClelland registered the first double double of her career and scored 14 points to go along with 13 rebounds, four blocked shots and three steals for the Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team (5-7; LSC 0-2). Cameron University (8-4; LSC 2-1) overcame that effort and a quick start by ENMU, to hand the Greyhounds an 82-73 setback in Lone Star Conference action at Greyhound Arena.

The contest marked the third straight for Eastern in which a player recorded a double double. Kassandra Harris accomplished the feat against Texas Woman's and Northern New Mexico College. The Hounds' 27 points in the opening 10 minutes was a season-high for any quarter.

Harris and Eliza Martinez scored the initial points of the game on short jumpers, as the Hounds exploded to a 13-4 lead over the opening 4:27 of play. After an exchange of baskets, McClelland scored four straight points to give ENMU its largest lead of the game, 22-8, with 3:10 left in the opening quarter. The Hounds would hold a 14-point lead on two more occasions in the quarter, and took a 27-13 lead into the second period. Eastern allowed the Aggies three field goals in 17 attempts over the initial 10 minutes of the game.

The teams exchanged early baskets in the second quarter, but a 13-5 run over a span of 3:06 pulled CU to within 35-31 on a fast break bucket from Charron Montgomery. Eastern responded with a trey from Jasmine Hotchkins, and after an exchange of baskets, the Hounds took a 45-37 lead into the locker room.

The Aggies pulled within four a few times early in the third quarter, before a 6-0 run evened the score at 51-all on a layup from Brittany Hill. The game went back and forth at that point with two more ties and seven lead changes. Dayla Threatt hit four free throws at the end of the quarter to send the Aggies into the final 10 minutes with a 60-58 advantage.

The teams continued to exchange the lead in the final period, with Threatt staking the Aggies to a 62-61 lead on a layup with 8:48 left. Less than a minute and a half later, Miranda Moore drained a three-point basket right before hitting the floor after a foul from CU's Brandi Gomez. After Moore hit a free throw for the rare four-point play, the Hounds held a 65-62 lead. The Aggies followed with a 14-2 run, and seized a 76-67 lead on Brandi Leal's trey with 2:52 left. Sarah Stinnett hit a pair of three-point shots over the final 1:17 to pull ENMU within five points, but the Hounds could come no closer as Cameron held on for the win.

Eastern connected on a season-high 11 three-point baskets. The Hounds 80 shot attempts with 27 three-point attempts also were season highs. Stinnett paced ENMU with 18 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Moore chipped in 11 points and a pair of steals, while Harris added nine points and seven rebounds. Threatt paced four Aggies in double figures with 19 points and hit 10 of her 11 free-throw attempts.

The Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team will return to action on Saturday, when they visit Midwestern State. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. MT.