PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico Women's Basketball turned up the offense in the second half to pick up a 51-45 win over Western New Mexico on Thursday evening at Greyhound Arena. Eastern celebrated senior night after the game, recognizing five graduating seniors of the program. ENMU improved to 10-17 on the season, posting a 6-15 LSC record. Meanwhile, the Mustangs drop to 9-17 on the season with a 4-17 conference record.

Points were hard to come by for both teams in the opening frame, with the score being tied 9-9 with two and a half minutes remaining in the 1^st period. Ashley Shipley had five of the nine points from a three-pointer and a pair of free throws. Eastern only trailed one point after the first quarter, 13-12. After an early basket from Deja Adrian gave ENMU the lead, each team struggled to score for the remainder of the period. Both teams combined 5-21 from the field, but the Mustangs held onto a 19-17 lead at the break.
 
The Greyhounds kick-started their offense in the second half, with Vanessa Oduah tying the game with a jumper and Ishuana Hunter scoring in the paint to take the lead. Midway through the quarter, ENMU went on a 9-0 streak to go up 30-24, while a last second three from Shipley ended the quarter with ENMU ahead, 33-28. ENMU built a comfortable lead as the 4^th quarter began, with Hunter hitting two jumpers and Jaz Salon connecting on back-to-back three to take a 43-35 lead with less than five minutes to play. Solid defense and free throw shooting pushed ENMU over the line down the final stretch of the game, holding on for a 51-45 victory.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Greyhounds finished shooting 31.6% from the floor (18-57), connected on 5 of 18 three-pointers (27.8%), posting a 71.4%shooting percentage at the charity stripe (10-14). Western New Mexico shot 18-49 from the field (36.7%), finishing 2-12 from behind the arc (16.7%), while posting an 70.0% free throw percentage (7-10).
• Western New Mexico had the edge for rebounds (37-33), while ENMU had more assists (10-9), both teams finished with the same number of blocks (2) and steals (4).
• Ishuana Hunter led the team in scoring and rebounds from the bench, posting 14 points and eight rebounds. Adrian, Shipley, Salon, and Alecia Whyte each finished with eight points.
• Adrian added five rebounds and three assists to their total, while Shipley and Whyte also grabbed four rebounds.

FROM THE SOURCE

"Really proud of us getting the win on senior night, I'm really glad we could send our players out the right way for their last home game in Greyhound Arena," said Head ENMU Women's Basketball Coach Blake Huber. "It was a struggle for both teams offensively, but I'm glad we hit some big shots in the 4^th quarter and strung together some stops to get the win. It's always great to beat an in-state rival," said Huber.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• After losing their last two games to Western New Mexico, ENMU return to the win column and hold a 27-8 all-time series record.
• During the men's halftime, ENMU recognized the five graduating members of the program: Adrian, Shipley, Whyte, Alexandria Sariñana, and Oduah.
• ENMU play their season final on Saturday, Mar. 2, heading to Silver City, N.M. to face Western New Mexico at 12 p.m.