Thursday, January 25, 2018
CANYON, TEXAS —17
th-ranked West Texas A&M (15-4; LSC 7-4) led for 34:16 of play in Thursday night's Lone Star Conference game at the First United Bank Center, but the Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball (10-8; LSC 6-5) team chased them throughout the contest.
Mikaehla Connor's layup with five second left in regulation forced overtime, while
Daeshi McCants hit a jumper in overtime to give ENMU the lead for good.
Sarina Johnson paced ENMU to a 73-71 win with a season-high 18 points.
Dating back to last season's win over West Texas A&M, Eastern has won four contests at the First United Bank Center. Earlier this season, the Hounds picked up wins at the facility over Texas A&M-International and regionally-ranked Colorado State University-Pueblo.
In the Series
- The game marked ENMU's third road win in the series which dates back to the 1974-75 season
- The Hounds have won back-to-back road games in the series for the first time in program history
- The game marked the first overtime meeting between the teams
Beyond the Box Score
- The game marked the first time ENMU won after trailing by double figures since facing a 14-point deficit against Cameron last year (Jan. 12)
- Eastern reached double figures in three-point buckets for the first time since a November win over Texas A&M-International
- The Hounds have won the rebounding battle in four of the last five games
The Key Run
- ENMU faced a 37-22 deficit late in the third quarter but dominated the next 6:38 of play, limiting WT to a three-point basket from Lexi Hightower
- Over that span, the Hounds surged with an 18-3 run
- Sarina Johnson hit a three-point basket with 6:58 left in the third quarter to pull Eastern within 40-38
- After the Lady Buffs pushed the lead to 50-43 with 3:32 left in the quarter, the Hounds went to work again
- Kaylee Edgemon hit two three-point buckets sandwiched around a Mikaehla Connor layup to give ENMU its first lead with 9:46 left in regulation
- With 33 seconds left in regulation, the Hounds defense held WT until the shot clock expired to set up Connor's game-tying layup
- WT took the lead back with 19 seconds to play, but Connor tied the game again with five seconds left to force overtime
- The Hounds trailed just once in overtime and seized the lead for good on a three-point play from Daeshi McCants with 3:51 to play
- Amari Joseph hit a free throw with six seconds left to give Eastern a four-point lead
In the Numbers
- ENMU held a 20-8 edge in points off turnovers and a 16-5 advantage in second-chance points
- Eastern hit .846 from the free throw line
- The Hounds held a 22-16 advantage on the boards in the second half
- Connor finished the game with 15 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals
- McCants and Edgemon each chipped in 14 points
- Dasia Johnson dished out five assists
Up Next
- The Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team will visit UT Permian Basin on Saturday
- The contest is scheduled to tip off at 1 p.m. MT