SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Behind a game-high 26 points from Deja Adrian, Eastern New Mexico Women's Basketball prevailed 72-65 over St. Mary's University on Saturday afternoon at Bill Greehey Arena. ENMU improve to 4-2 overall, including a conference standing of 2-0. St. Mary's slip to 5-2 on the season and 1-1 in Lone Star Conference play.
 
The contest began with both teams going back and forth to take an early stronghold of the game. Eastern took a slight lead after a 9-2 spurt, holding a 14-7 advantage. Lazurea Saunders started the scoring with a layup and a three-pointer, while Bella Stone and Adrian both hit jumpers in the run. The Greyhounds kept the slight cushion going into the first intermission, 18-13.
 
St. Mary's opened the second frame with a couple quick baskets to bring the score to 24-22. However, Eastern closed the final four minutes of the quarter on a 11-3 run to take a 35-25 lead into halftime. Adrian started the streak with a layup and free throw, Saunders and Stone both connected on a jumper, while Edecia Beck nailed four free throws.
 
Coming into the third stanza, the Greyhounds slowed the scoring as both teams played tough defense limiting good chances. St. Mary's used this to their advantage and chipped away at the Greyhounds lead to just five points, 44-39, at the end of the third quarter.
 
In the final portion of the game, both offenses caught fire as each team started scoring in bunches. First the Greyhounds used a 14-4 streak to take its largest lead of the game, 63-47. Ashley Shipley hit three free-throws to start it off, with Adrian converting two layups with a free throw, and then sinking a deep three to go up 16 points. However, the Rattlers brought themselves back with a 17-4 run of their own to take the score to 67-64. The Greyhounds were clam as they finished the game at the free throw line, hitting 15 of 17 free throws in the fourth quarter. Eastern took home the win by a final score of 72-65.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Greyhounds finished shooting 39.7% from the field (23-58), connecting on four threes' during the game, and had a major contribution at the foul line, shooting 22-27 from the charity stripe (81.5%).
• Adrian led all scorers with 26 points, with Beck providing 13 points from the bench (9-9 on free throws). Stone chipped in with 11 points, while Saunders finished with 10 points.
• Saunders pulled down a game high nine rebounds, with Adrian just behind with eight rebounds. Beck was also crucial in the rebounding department, finishing with seven boards.
• Both Stone and Beck finished with three steals, while Adrian, Shipley, and Beck all had one block.

FROM THE SOURCE

"Road wins in the Lone Star are always incredibly tough and our team showed great poise and togetherness throughout the game," said Head Women's Basketball Coach Meghan De los Reyes. "We weathered their runs by rebounding hard and knocking down our free throws. Lazurea (Saunders) played a great game for us on both ends and  we brought true intention to our rebounding the whole way through. We look forward to bringing two conference wins back to Portales for our next 5 games in a row at home," said De los Reyes.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Eastern have now beaten the Rattlers in four straight games and are perfect when the two teams meet in conference play (3-0).
• Adrian recorded the most points in their ENMU career (26 points), while Beck produced a season best 13 points from the bench.
• The Greyhounds made a season high 22 free throws during the game, resulting in the teams best single-game free throws percentage this season (81.5%).
• ENMU now step out of conference play as they welcome Northern N.M. for a contest on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 5 p.m. The game will be played at Clovis High School, with free admission to the game.