PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico Women's Basketball prepare for a pair of pivotal home Lone Star Conference matchups this weekend before heading into the holiday break. First, the Greyhounds will battle The University of Texas at Tyler on Thursday, Dec. 15, with first tip set at 5:15 p.m. Then the Greyhounds will take on #23 Texas Woman's University on Saturday, Dec. 17, with the action beginning at 1 p.m.

ON THE AIR

Thursday's game will be broadcast on 1450 AM and Saturday's game will be broadcast on 105.9 KSEL-FM and KSELCountry.com with Donald "Doc" Elder calling the action.

LAST TIME OUT

The Greyhounds had their best statistical game of the season in an 83-48 win over Northern New Mexico, on Monday evening. Three student-athletes reached double figures, while the team set a season best for points, rebounds, steals, and assists.

SCOUTING THE HOUNDS

The Greyhounds enter this weekend as one of the three unbeaten team in LSC play, holding a 2-0 in conference play and 5-2 overall. Eastern are scoring at a rate of 67.4 points per game (ppg) and allowing just 55.9 ppg (winning margin of +11.6). ENMU holds a 37.3% field goal percentage, 31.3% shooting from behind the arc, and 70.1% at the free throw line. Additionally, the Greyhounds record 41.7 rebounds per game (rpg), 10.7 assists per game (apg), and 11.4 steals per game (spg).
 
Deja Adrian has emerged as the team's top scorer (19.0 ppg) and top rebounder (8.4 rpg) in the opening stages of the season. Edecia Beck finds 11.0 ppg, while Ashley Shipley chips in 9.6 ppg to the Greyhound offense. Lazurea Saunders contributes 7.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg, and leads the team defensively with 2.4 spg. Bella Stone runs the offense with 3.3 apg (team high) and adds 8.7 ppg.
 
So far this season, the Greyhounds hold several conference highs as a team and individually. Eastern have the top scoring defense in the conference (55.9 ppg) and hold the 2^nd best winning margin of LSC teams (+11.6). ENMU is 5^th for rebounding defense, allowing just 35.3 rebound per game, and stands in 3^rd for steal per game at 11.43. Individually, Adrian is the conference top scorer (19.0 ppg), 3^rd best for free throw percentage (88.9% free throw percentage), and 4^th for field goal percentage (49.5% shooting) and rebounding (8.4 rpg). Saunders currently is fourth in the conference for steals, with 2.4 spg.

SCOUTING THE PATRIOTS

Recently, UT Tyler picked up a pair of LSC wins over Cameron, 61-58, and Midwestern State, 91-79. UTT will be playing their first game in over 13 days, with their last contest on Dec. 2 against Midwestern State.
 
The Patriots enter the weekend with unblemished conference record, sitting at 2-0 in LSC play and 7-2 on the season. UT Tyler is posting 71.4 ppg, shooting 43.2% from the field (4^th best in the LSC), 31.8% from range, and 73.8 at the charity stripe (3^rd in LSC). UTT take care of the ball with a 0.93 assist/turnover ratio, the 4^th best in LSC, along with 12.33 spg (2^nd in LSC), and 14.56 apg (3^rd in LSC). In rebounding, the Patriots finish with 36.6 rpg.
 
Destini Whitehead and Tina Machalova are the key scorers for UT Tyler, averaging 13.7 ppg and 11.6 ppg, respectively. Frances King distributes 2.7 apg, while Lovisa Hevinder (4.8 rpg) and Ella Bradley (4.6 rpg) are the main rebounders for UTT. Montse Gutierrez leads the defense with 2.3 spg, which is 5^th in the LSC.

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS

Texas Woman's come to Portales with a national ranking, #23, according to the latest Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) poll. The Pioneers currently hold a five-game winning streak, having picked up wins over Midwestern State, 71-51, and Cameron, 85-63 in its last weekend of games. TWU have not lost in regulation this season, with their lone defeat coming in overtime against Harding, 74-70.
 
Overall, the Pioneers post a 7-1 standing, and are unbeaten in LSC play at 2-0. Texas Woman's score 71.4 ppg, with a field goal percentage of 40.8%, just 26.2% from three, and 68.2% at the free throw line. On the glass, TWU provide 40.3 rpg, contribute 10.8 apg, pick up 6.0 spg, and record 2.3 bpg.
 
Ashley Ingram, who was named 2022 LSC Preseason Player of the Year, paces the team with 14.3 ppg (1^st on team), 5.6 rpg (2^nd on team), along with 2.0 apg and 0.4 bpg (both 3^rd on team). Sadie Moyer contributes 11.8 ppg and a team best 1.5 spg. Ngozi Obimeke leads the Pioneers rebounding effort with 7.3 rpg and scores 9.4 ppg.