PORTALES, N.M. - The Eastern New Mexico women's basketball team will look to extend its winning streak to five games when it travels to Richardson, Texas to face UT Dallas on Thursday, Dec. 11. Tipoff at the UTD Activity Center is set for 5:30 p.m. CST.

 

The Greyhounds (5-3 overall, 2-0 Lone Star Conference) have found their rhythm in recent weeks, winning four consecutive games after a challenging start to the season. Eastern defeated Cameron 76-36 on Dec. 4 before following up with a 63-50 victory over Oklahoma Christian on Dec. 6, both at the Steve Loy Family Foundation Arena in Portales, N.M.
 
Junior guard Aaliyah Smith leads the Hounds in scoring, averaging 11.4 points per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the field. The 5-foot-7 guard has been efficient from beyond the arc, connecting on 9-of-26 attempts (34.6 percent), and has converted 11-of-17 free throws (64.7 percent). Smith has also been active on the boards with 17 rebounds in seven games and has contributed eight assists while recording 13 steals.
 
Junior forward Julieta Ceja has been a steady presence for ENMU, averaging 11.3 points per game while shooting 50.7 percent from the field. The 6-foot forward has made 8-of-18 three-point attempts (44.4 percent) and has converted 8-of-14 free throws (57.1 percent). Ceja has been a force on the glass with 48 rebounds in eight games, including 23 on the offensive end, and has dished out 11 assists while recording 10 steals.
 
Senior forward Chloe Dallas has also provided a scoring punch for the Hounds, averaging 10.6 points per game while shooting 55.3 percent from the field. Dallas has gone 11-of-18 attempts (61.1 percent) from the charity stripe, and has grabbed 38 rebounds in five games while blocking five shots.
 
Senior guard Nataya Lockett contributes 10.4 points per game while shooting 35.5 percent from the field and 16.7 percent from three-point range. Lockett has been solid at the line, converting 27-of-36 attempts (75.0 percent), and has pulled down 26 rebounds in eight games while dishing out 13 assists.
 
As a team, the Greyhounds are averaging 73.6 points per game while holding opponents to just 61.0 points, a margin of 12.6 points per contest. ENMU is shooting 40.3 percent from the field and 34.2 percent from three-point range while converting 67.2 percent of its free throws. The Greyhounds hold a 37.0-35.3 rebounding advantage and average 13.9 assists per game while forcing 23.0 turnovers and committing just 17.0.
 
UT Dallas (3-3 overall) enters Wednesday's contest having won its last game, a 75-72 victory over Paul Quinn on Dec. 4. The Comets are averaging 72.7 points per game while allowing 61.8, good for a 10.8-point scoring margin.
 
Junior guard Umi Otsuka leads UT Dallas with 15.0 points per game while shooting 50.0 percent from the field. The 5-foot-8 guard has connected on 5-of-15 three-point attempts (33.3 percent) and has made 21-of-26 free throws (80.8 percent). Otsuka has also grabbed 26 rebounds in six games and dished out 12 assists while recording five steals.
 
Graduate guard Anna Yellen is averaging 12.5 points per game while shooting 37.5 percent from the field and 38.3 percent from beyond the arc. Yellen has been perfect from the free-throw line, making all nine attempts, and has pulled down 24 rebounds in six games while contributing 10 assists and 10 steals.
 
Senior forward Addy Self contributes 9.5 points per game while shooting 42.6 percent from the field. Self has grabbed 51 rebounds in six games and has recorded 16 assists while blocking 10 shots.
 
Graduate forward Sheridan Kavanagh adds 8.5 points per game while shooting 40.4 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from three-point range. Kavanagh has pulled down 37 rebounds in six games and has dished out 16 assists.
 
The Comets are shooting 42.6 percent from the field and 33.8 percent from three-point range while converting 71.2 percent of their free throws. UT Dallas holds a 39.8-34.8 rebounding advantage and averages 16.8 assists per game while forcing 17.8 turnovers.
 
This will be the first meeting between Eastern and UT Dallas in program history.