PORTALES, N.M. – A pair of late free throws for #23 Texas Woman's handed the Eastern New Mexico Women's Basketball program a 64-62 defeat on Saturday afternoon at Greyhound Arena. Eastern fall to 5-4 overall with a 2-2 conference standing. The Pioneers move ahead to a 8-1 record and 3-0 in Lone Star Conference (LSC) play.
 
The contest started with a back and forth over the opening five minutes, with Ashley Shipley converting a layup and free throw to tie the contest at 5-5. From there, the Pioneers opened a 13-5 run to end the quarter with a 18-10 lead.
 
Texas Woman's expanded its lead to 11 points to open the second quarter, but the Greyhounds were quick to respond with three field goals and a pair of free throws to trail 25-19. With five minutes to play in the half, both teams locked up defensively making baskets hard to come by. At the buzzer, the Greyhounds railed 30-24 heading into halftime.
 
Trailing just six points, ENMU matched the Pioneers basket for basket to start the third period. Eastern came within one point of the Pioneers at 35-34 after a Deja Adrian layup. The back and forth continued between the two teams, with Julieta Ceja connecting on a layup while getting fouled and hitting following free throw to end the quarter, 44-42 TWU.
 
To start the final quarter, Texas Woman's moved its lead back to 48-42, but the Greyhounds responded with six points to keep the score at 53-48 TWU. From then, Eastern took its first lead of the afternoon with a 10-4 run, 58-57 ENMU. Adrian started with two free throws, Edecia Beck, Shipley, and Lazurea Saunders each hit baskets, and a Beck layup gave the Hounds the advantage. However, TWU picked up four straight points to lead 61-58 with a one minute to play. With the score at 62-60, Beck delivered a layup with eight seconds to tie the contest at 62-62. However, the Pioneers hit two free throws in the dying seconds, and the potential tying basket from ENMU rattled out at the buzzer. The Greyhounds fell just short 64-62 against Texas Woman's.

NOTABLE STATS

• Eastern finished shooting 37.7 % from the floor (23-61), while connecting on 35.7% of three-point field goals (5-14) and marked the game with 73.3% shooting from the foul line (11-15). The Pioneers finished with 40.7% shooting from the field (24-59), scoring 30.0% of their three-pointers (6-20), and 76.9% at the free throw line (10-13).
• Saunders powered the Greyhounds effort with a team high 16 points and eight rebounds. Three other ENMU student-athletes reached double-digits: Adrian (13), Shipley (10), and Beck (10)
• Shipley and Beck both pulled down six boards in the game, while Bella Stone led the offense with four assists.
• Adrian led the defense with one block and five steals.

FROM THE SOURCE

"I'm really proud of this group for continuously showing our willingness to fight," said ENMU Head Woman's Basketball Coach Meghan De los Reyes. "We were down double-digits against another nationally ranked team and fought back to take the lead with two minutes to go in the game. We had multiple opportunities and just fell short, but our big take away is that this is a team that can play with anyone and will not give up," said De los Reyes.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Saunders posted their best scoring game for the Greyhounds, registering 16 points making a season best four three-point field goals.
• The Greyhounds still hold the all-time series record 34-24 against the Pioneers.
• Eastern now head into the holiday break, with their next contest on Friday, Dec. 30, against UT Permian Basin at Greyhound Arena. First tip is set for 5:15 p.m.