PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico Women's Basketball fell in its home opener to #5 Eckerd College, 72-64, on Wednesday evening at Greyhound Arena. The Greyhounds move to 1-2 on the season, while Eckerd improve to 4-1.
 
The Greyhounds started the better team in the opening stages, taking a 7-2 lead in the first three minutes. Bella Stone and Ashley Shipley each a hit three in the opening flurry, with Shipley adding a free throw. However, the Tritons responded to take the lead at 12-10 and expanded its lead to 17-13 before the game's first intermission.
 
Eastern quickly brought the score back level in the opening five minutes of the second quarter. Deja Adrian started the scoring with a layup, then Julieta Ceja and Lazurea Saunders hit back-to-back threes to tie the contest at 21-21 at the 5:36 mark. However, the nationally ranked Tritons posted a 12-3 to end the half 33-24.
 
Eckerd took control of the start third frame, stretching its lead 44-30 at the halfway point of the quarter. The Greyhounds cut the Tritons lead to just 10 going into the final quarter, 49-39.
 
Both teams turned up the offensive in the final quarter. Eckerd began the final 10 minutes with 9-0 run to go up 60-39, holding its largest lead of the night. ENMU fought back slowly chipping away at the Eckerd lead. Over a four minute and 15 second run, the Greyhounds posted a 13-3 mark to bring the score to 68-61 with just 37 seconds to play. Adrian ended the big run with a layup and hitting the following free throw. However, the Tritons held on in the end to take a 72-64 win over the Greyhounds.

NOTABLE STATS

• Eastern finished the night with a 32.4 field goal percentage (22-68), shooting 31.3% from beyond the arc (10-32), and 58.8% from the foul line (10-17). Meanwhile, Eckerd finished with 37.7% shooting from the field, 36.7% from range, and 60% at the foul line (9-15).
• Both teams were even on the glass, with each team producing 46 rebounds.
• Adrian led all scorers with 22 points, while also contributing a team best 11 rebounds. Ceja and Stone both reached double-figures with 11 points and 10 points, respectively.
• Saunders and Shipley each pulled down 10 rebounds during the contest, just behind Adrian's 11.
• Defensively, Ceja paced the Hounds with four steals and a block, while Adrian chipped in with two steals and a block of their own.

FROM THE SOURCE

"Tonight we showed the potential we have as a group this season," said Head Women's Basketball Coach Meghan De los Reyes. "Despite being down double digits in the fourth, we continued to fight, making a huge run to cut it to six in the last minute of the game. It was a tremendous group effort that showcased our perseverance against a top team in the nation and being this early in the season with nine newcomers, I believe Greyhound fans have a lot to look forward to this season," said De los Reyes.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Adrian recorded their second straight double-double this season (22 points and 11 rebounds).
• Shipley played their first career game as a Greyhound, pulling down a career best 10 boards.
• Ceja contributed a personal best 10 points during the game. Corin Camara set a career best nine points in the game, sinking three 3-pointers. Saunders set a season best for rebounds with 10.
• Eastern New Mexico and Eckerd met for the first time in program history.
• ENMU look to bounce back against Western Colorado, on Saturday, Nov. 26, with first tip scheduled for 1 p.m. At Saturday's game, fans can receive a free general admission ticket with the donation of a canned good. All collected canned goods and non-perishable items will be donated to the Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico.