PORTALES, N.M. - The Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team will tip off its highly anticipated 2025-26 season on the road against Regis University on Friday, Nov. 15. The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. MT at the Regis Fieldhouse in Denver, Colorado.



The Greyhounds enter the season with momentum after a historic 2024-25 campaign that saw the team finish 21-10 overall and 15-7 in conference play, reaching the South-Central Regional semifinals. Eastern made program history by securing its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory with a 56-52 upset win over fourth-seeded Colorado Mesa.

Eastern was selected to finish fifth in the 2025-26 Lone Star Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Poll, receiving 657 points and two first-place votes from league coaches, sports information directors and media representatives.

"We're excited to get the season underway and see what this team can accomplish," said head coach Blake Huber, who begins his third season at the helm. "Last year's success has raised the bar for our program, but this group has embraced those expectations. We've had a great preseason, and I believe we have the right mix of returning talent and new additions to compete at a high level again this year."

The Greyhounds return ten players from last year's squad, led by senior Nataya Lockett, who earned preseason player-to-watch recognition after receiving All-LSC Third Team honors last season. Lockett was a key contributor for the Hounds, averaging 10.8 points and 2.0 assists per game while shooting an efficient 43.3% from the field.

Other key returners include Julieta Ceja (7.2 points per game, 22 starts, .422 shooting percentage), Tatiana Platonova (5.5 points per game, 17 starts, .379 three-point percentage), and Jaz Salon (5.5 points per game and .400 shooting percentage).

The Greyhounds have also bolstered their roster with six transfers: Caela Tighe (Iowa Western CC), Aaliyah Smith (Wabash Valley CC), Chloe Dallas (Kansas City), Toyah Montgomery (Midland CC), Shay Moseberry (West Virginia), and Mekhila Brown (Chipola CC).

Friday's matchup against Regis will be the third meeting between the programs, with the overall series tied at 1-1. The Greyhounds claimed victory in the most recent encounter in 2021, winning 71-59.

Regis enters the season under new leadership with head coach Jason Kohler taking the reins. The Rangers, who earned the No. 6 seed in the RMAC and a trip to the first round of the RMAC Tournament last season, return two key veterans in senior guard Mary Crossland (2.9 points per game, 1 start, .321 shooting percentage) and senior forward Jessica Bollwahn (5.7 points per game, 28 games started, 6.9 rebounds per game, and a .331 shooting percentage).

Following Friday's season opener, the Greyhounds will remain in Colorado for a matchup against Adams State, who is receiving votes in the preseason national polls.