PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico women's basketball returned to the win column on Saturday afternoon, following a 75-59 victory over University of Arkansas-Fort Smith (UAFS) at Greyhound Arena. The Greyhounds improve to 5-4 overall with a 1-2 conference standing. UAFS drop to 2-11, with a 0-4 Lone Star Conference (LSC) record.
 
The visiting Lions opened the game with a 5-3 lead in the opening minutes. From then, Eastern scored the next ten points over a three minute period, building a 13-5 advantage. Hanna Nussbaumer started the run with a layup, then Iyanna McCurdy converted a layup and following free throw. Then, Julia Chavez found two straight baskets and Laura Rowe closed out the streak with a layup. ENMU closed the first frame ahead 20-11.
 
The Hounds continued to score after the break, going on an 8-2 run in the first minutes of the second quarter, 28-13 ENMU. At that point, UAFS complied a run of its own with an 11-2 streak, setting the score at 30-22. Both teams would finish the half trading baskets, with the Greyhounds holding on to a 36-30 score line.
 
The third quarter began with both teams going back and forth over the first three minutes. That trend changed with a Natalie Stice 3-pointer at the 7:50 mark, followed by layups from Kamirah Decker and McCurdy, pitting the score to 46-33 Eastern. After a UAFS timeout, the Lions went on a 7-2 run, pushing the score to 48-40 ENMU. However, Eastern closed the quarter on a 11-7 run, extending its lead to 60-47. During the run, Nussbaumer hit three free throws, Alexsis Johnson popped up with two baskets, along with buckets from Stice and Anasha Hurst.
 
Both teams found the cup to start the quarter, with each basket having a reply by the opposing team. With the score at 63-53, the Hounds posted a 8-1 streak to give themselves an 18 point lead (72-54), its largest of the night. Decker led the streak with a jumper, followed by Stice knocking down a three pointer and two free throws, and Rowe adding two free throws. Eastern secured the win by a score of 75-59 at the final buzzer.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Greyhounds finished 47.4% (27-57) from the field, 42.1% (8-19) from range, and 72.2% (13-18) from the line. The Lions posted a field goal percentage of 38.7% (24-62), 37.5% (6-16) from behind the arc, and 83.3% (5-6) at the charity stripe.
• ENMU capitalized on UAFS mistakes, scoring 29 points off turnovers.
• Stice paced the Hounds with 21 points (6-16 FG, 5-8 3FG, and 4-4 FT), while Chavez added 12 points, McCurdy posted 11 points, and Decker contributed 10 points.
• Stice found the most rebounds of any player with nine, along with McCurdy securing seven rebounds, and Chavez collecting six boards.
• Chavez dished out a team high four assists, while Nussbaumer and Stice each found three steals during the game.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Eastern hold a 2-0 advantage in the head-to-head series. The Greyhounds won both games in Portales.
• Stice posted a season best 21 points along with a season high five made three-pointers.
• Chavez contributed a career best 12 points, six rebounds and four assists during first career start. Nussbaumer also found a career best for points (eight) and rebounds (four), along with making their first career start.
• Head Coach Meghan De los Reyes collected their first career win in LSC play.
• The Hounds hit the road for its next game against The University of Texas at Tyler, on Thursday Jan. 13^th, with first tip slated for 4 p.m. (MST).