AUSTIN, Texas – Eastern New Mexico Women's Basketball began its conference schedule with a 76-56 win over St. Edward's University on Thursday evening at the Recreation and Convocation Center. ENMU move to 3-2 overall, with a Lone Star Conference (LSC) record of 1-0. Meanwhile, the Hilltoppers fall to 2-5 and 0-1 in conference play.
 
Deja Adrian opened the scoring for the Greyhounds, sinking two free throws. Both teams went back and forth with the home team jumping out to a 12-7 lead. Eastern knotted up the score up at 13-13, with Adrian connecting on a layup while Ashley Shipley knocked down a three to cut the deficit. SEU took a slight advantage just before the end of the quarter, 18-16.
 
The game stayed within one possession to open the second quarter, with St. Edward's holding on a 22-19 lead. However, the Greyhounds went on a 7-0 streak to take its first lead of the night, 26-22. Lazurea Saunders started the run with a jumper, two free throws from Bella Stone, and a Edecia Beck layup with a free throw helped the Hounds on the streak. SEU responded with nine unanswered points to storm ahead 31-26. The Greyhounds grabbed the final points of the half, tying the score at 31-31.
 
Both teams traded baskets in the opening three minutes of the third quarter, with St. Edward's holding a 37-35 lead. From then, the Greyhounds controlled the rest of the quarter, outscoring the Hilltoppers 24-5 over the final seven minutes. ENMU used a 12-0 run to go up 47-37, with Stone contributing seven points in the streak. Another large run (14-5), put the Greyhounds ahead 61-42 after the third period with KiKi Roberts hitting a buzzer-beater in the paint to cap off a 28-point quarter.
 
To start the final quarter, Eastern took its largest lead of the night following an Adrian layup to go up 65-44 midway through the period. The home team slowly chipped away at the Greyhounds lead but weren't troubled down the stretch to take a 76-56 win in its first conference game of the season.

NOTABLE STATS

• Eastern finished a solid shooting night 26-58 from the field (44.8%), 7-20 from three-point range (35.0%), and 17-25 from the charity stripe (68.0%). St. Edward's were held to 39.6% shooting (21-53), while finishing 33.3% from three (7-21), and 53.8% at the foul line (7-13).
• Adrian and Stone combined for 42 points in the game for ENMU, with Adrian leading with 22 points and Stone adding 20 points. Shipley also reached double-figures with 11 points in the contest.
• Stone led the rebounding effort with eight boards, while Adrian collected six rebounds, and Saunders contributed five boards.
• Additionally, Stone paced the Greyhounds in assists (five assists) and steals (four steals). Shipley dished out three assists, while Saunders poked away four steals.

FROM THE SOURCE

"We had incredible contributions from each player who stepped on the floor tonight," said Head Women's Basketball Coach Meghan De los Reyes. "We stayed the course and did a much better job taking care of the basketball in the second half, only committing three turnovers, while forcing 27 total. Bella Stone ignited us in the third with her aggression on both ends and the momentum carried us throughout the rest of the game," said De los Reyes.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Stone had a career night, posting a personal best for points (20 points), rebounds (eight rebounds), and made field goals (7-12 from the field). Adrian tied a season best 22 points, marking the third time this season Adrian has tallied 22 points.
• Shipley posted a season high 11 points, finishing 3-5 from behind the arc.
• The Greyhounds recorded a season's best for field goal percentage (44.8%), 3PT FG% (35.0%), steals (14 steals), and points (76 points).
• Eastern shift to 3-2 in the all-time series against the Hilltoppers and picked up its first conference win against SEU in Austin, Texas.
• 20 points is the largest margin of victory in the series by either team.
• Eastern now head to St. Mary's University on Saturday, Dec. 3, for a conference battle with the Rattlers. First tip is scheduled for 12 p.m.