PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico Women's Basketball Head Coach
Meghan De los Reyes has added two Division I transfers to bolster the team for the upcoming 2022-23 season.
Edecia Beck and
Lazurea Saunders join the 2022-23 roster, with Beck coming to Portales as a senior and Saunders joining as a graduate student. Both student-athletes now make-up eight new additions to the ENMU Women's Basketball program, joining
Marley Freeman,
Deja Adrian,
Corin Camara,
KiKi Roberts,
Ashley Shipley, and
Julieta Ceja.
"These two powerhouse players are going to ignite our team with an exceptional level of toughness, athleticism, and experience," said Head Women's Basketball Coach
Meghan De los Reyes. "We are very excited to add both to our Greyhound Family".
Beck lands in Portales after spending stints at Wright State and Ohio University. Recently at Wright State, Beck averaged 7.7 points per game (ppg) and 4.5 rebounds per game (rpg) in 16 games, making 12 starts. Their best game with the Raiders came against Northern Kentucky (1/22), posting a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds (both were season highs). Before heading to Wright State, Beck spent three seasons with the Bobcats of Ohio University playing in 67 games total. In high school Beck suited up for Grand Rapids Christian, where they earned All-State honors in 2017 and received nominations for McDonald's All-American and Miss Basketball.
"Deesh has so much to offer us on the court. She is a fierce slasher who finds her way to the basket extremely well in traffic and has the strength to finish with contact," said De los Reyes. "Versatility and physicality are some of her best attributes along with the competitiveness she brings to the game. She keeps the defense honest with her jump shot which extends out to three and her elite athleticism makes her a tough matchup," said De los Reyes. "Deesh will flourish in our fast-paced game, she's tough to catch in transition, and can really contribute to our rebounding as well".
Saunders joins the Greyhound roster after competing at Alabama A&M University. With the last two season being hampered by injury, Saunders played in 31 games for the Bulldogs with 22 starts during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. In that time, Saunders provided 4.4 ppg and 3.8 rpg, with personal bests of 14 points against Tennessee State (11/13/18) and nine rebounds against Alcorn State (2/22/20). Before heading to Alabama A&M, Saunders contributed 12.2 ppg with 5.4 rpg and 4.2 spg at East Kentwood, receiving McDonald's All-American Nominee honors. While at East Kentwood, Saunders finished as the State Runner-Up in 2017 and was named to the All-Conference team three times, and garnered All-State accolades and All-Star MVP honors
"Lazurea is a truly athletic forward who will affect the game in a variety of ways. She brings a skillful attack from the low and high post, even extending out to the perimeter," said De los Reyes. "She has the ability to drive like a guard yet work back-to-the-basket down low. No matter where she is on the court, she will chase down and collect rebounds," said De los Reyes. "Her knowledge and understanding of the game allow her to make good decisions and find her teammates around her when she draws attention. She is a superior defender who uses her length and mobility extremely well to guard any position and will be an absolute force in transition," said De los Reyes.
Eastern New Mexico women's basketball qualified for the postseason for the seventh time in the last eight seasons in 2021-22, in in the first year of the De los Reyes era. This past season, the Greyhounds reached the first round of the LSC Conference Tournament before bowing out.
Iyanna McCurdy and
Natalie Stice both received all-conference recognition after the season, with McCurdy being named to the All-LSC Second Team and Stice received an honorable mention.
