PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico Women's Basketball fell to UT Tyler, 76-60, on Thursday evening at Greyhound Arena in a Lone Star Conference clash. Eastern fall to 5-3 overall on the season, with a 2-1 LSC record. Meanwhile, the Patriots improve to 8-2 on the year and a 3-0 record in LSC play.
 
The opening quarter started slowly as the Greyhounds took a three-point advantage at the 4:29 mark in the quarter, following an Ashley Shipley three. With the score tied at 14-14 with 1:23 remaining in the 1^st quarter, the Patriots rattled off seven points to take a 21-14 lead at the first intermission.
 
Julieta Ceja began the second quarter with a jumper and two free throws to bring the Hounds closer to the Patriots, 25-21 UTT. From then, UT Tyler put up a 10-0 run to build a 35-21 lead, using a pair of three-pointers and two layups. The Greyhounds did their best to stop the Patriots run, with Deja Adrian picking up four points from a jumper and a layup. UTT ended the half ahead 41-26.
 
As the third period began, Eastern did their best to contain the Patriots brining the lead to just 11 points at 45-34 UTT. However, the Patriots ended the third frame on a 11-2 streak to go up 56-36 after the third quarter.
 
In the fourth quarter, UT Tyler kept a double-digit lead throughout, but the Greyhounds found positive streaks in the final quarter. A 7-3 run cut the UT Tyler lead 70-50, then the Greyhounds took the final seven points of the game. In the end, UT Tyler walked away with a 76-60 win over the Greyhounds.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Greyhounds finished the contest shooting 40.4% from the field (19-47), 23.1% from distance (6-26), and 16-26 at the free throw line (61.5%). UTT finished the contest 31-69 from the floor (44.9%), 10-25 from behind the arc (40.0%), and just 4-4 at the foul line.
• Three Greyhounds reached double figures in the contest: Ceja (13 points), Adrian (12 points), and Edecia Beck (12 points).
• Adrian led the rebounding effort with seven rebounds with Ceja pulling in six boards.
• Bella Stone and Beck picked up three assists in the game, while Beck also led the team with two steals.

FROM THE SOURCE

"We had some trouble getting things going with our early foul trouble tonight and their shooters got going early," said Meghan De los Reyes. "We gave up too many possessions turning the ball over, giving credit to Tyler's defense, they are a tough team. We made a good offensive push in the fourth and kept fighting, but couldn't quite get enough stops to overcome the deficit," said De los Reyes. "We'll take a lot from this one and look forward to taking on nationally ranked TWU back here on Saturday".

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The Greyhounds faced the Eagles for the first time in Greyhound Arena.
• ENMU look to bounce back on Saturday, Dec. 15, when nationally ranked #23 Texas Woman's come face the Greyhounds. First tip is scheduled for 1 p.m.