PORTALES, N.M. – On Saturday afternoon at Greyhound Arena, Eastern New Mexico Women's Basketball lost to St. Mary's University, 65-56. Following the defeat, ENMU slips to 4-4 on the season with a 0-2 conference record. Meanwhile, St. Mary's shift to 1-5 on the season with a 1-1 conference record.
 
ENMU raced out to a 7-0 advantage over the first four minutes of the opening period, with St. Mary's finally getting on the scoreboard at the 5:38 mark. For the remainder of the quarter, the Rattlers outscored the Greyhounds 13-3 to hold the edge at the first intermission (13-10 StMU). Eastern's defense clamped down to start the 2^nd quarter, holding St. Mary's without a field goal for the first seven minutes during a 15-3 streak. The Greyhounds took a 28-22 advantage into the locker room.
 
During the third quarter, both teams went back and forth with each team connecting from the field. With 3:29 to play in the third period, St. Mary's opened a 9-0 stretch to take the lead 41-36 over ENMU. Eastern trailed heading into the final period, 43-39. Each team traded baskets to open the quarter, but the Greyhounds made it a tie game after an 8-1 streak (51-51). However, the Rattlers scored baskets at crucial moments in the final five minutes of play, finishing the game on a 14-5 run, with ENMU falling 65-56 to St. Mary's.

NOTABLE STATS

• ENMU sported a 32.2 field goal percentage (19-59), just 16.7% from the three-point line (4-24), and went 14-19 at the foul line (73.7%).  St. Mary's compiled 23-51 shooting from the field (45.1%), finishing 20.8% from deep (5-24), and 70.0% at the charity stripe (14-20).
• The Greyhounds had the edge on the boards (39-33), while St. Mary's won the turnover battle (21-19).
• Deja Adrian led the ENMU offense with 17 points during the game, while Vanessa Oduah contributed 12 points from the bench. Jamila Nansikombi-Gunter pulled down a game high 10 rebounds, along with nine points, while Adrian was just behind with six rebounds.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The two teams played in Portales for just the second time in the series' history, with nine meetings total between them.
• Laurie Calixte, Daci Smith, and Alecia Whyte made their first starts of the season.
• Eastern New Mexico now head on the road, traveling to Tyler, Texas to face UT Tyler on Thursday, Dec. 7. The first tip for the evening matchup is set for 4 p.m. (MST).