Thursday, February 23, 2017

PORTALES, NM —Jasmine Hotchkins helped the Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team (20-6; LSC 16-3) get off to a quick start and drained three three-point shots over Thursday night's opening 2:31 of play. Angelo State, however, rallied to hand the Greyhounds an 89-82 setback in Lone Star Conference play. The loss was just Eastern's third at home this season.

Despite the setback, the Greyhounds will still have a chance to clinch sole possession of the LSC title, with a win on Saturday afternoon. Eastern has already clinched at least a share of the first league crown in program history. Tipoff against Texas A&M-Kingsville will be at 2 p.m. MST on Saturday. During the game, tickets will be sold at a reduced rate for the Lone Star Conference Tournament, which will be held next week, in Allen, Texas.

In the First Half

• ENMU took the initial lead on a Daeshi McCants' layup and opened the game on an 11-5 run
• The Hounds took a pair of nine-point leads, the second (20-11) coming on a short jumper from Mikaehla Connor with 3:45 left in the opening quarter
• The Hounds connected on eight treys in the opening half, with three from Hotchkins and another three from Brandi Gomez
• Angelo State outscored Eastern 10-0 on the fast break to stay close, and trailed just 46-41 at halftime

In the Second Half

• Christina Robinson hit a pair of free throws to open the second half and stake ASU to its first lead, 47-46
• The points sparked a 10-2 run, which gave the Rambelles the lead for good
• The Hounds faced an 80-64 deficit with 4:46 to play, but a Shelby Jones free throw ignited an 18-7 run capped by a Sarina Johnson trey, which pulled ENMU to within 87-82 with three seconds left

Outside the Box Score

• Daeshi McCants registered her fifth double double of the season, the most since Tiana Bryant had seven in the 2005-06 season
• The game marked the fifth time ENMU has hit at least 10 treys in a game this season. Eastern is 4-1 in those games
• The contest marked just the sixth time the Hounds had been outrebounded this season

In the Numbers

• Jasmine Hotchkins led the Hounds in scoring for the second time this year. She also had four rebounds and two assists
• McCants finished with 11 points, 10 boards and two blocked shots
• Sarina Johnson added 10 points and four assists, while Kassandra Harris chipped in nine points
• Jasmine Prophet paced Angelo State with 23 points and 10 caroms