LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Aaliyah Smith scored a team-high 21 points to lead Eastern New Mexico to a 74-71 overtime victory over Simon Fraser on Saturday afternoon at the Coyote Event Center in North Las Vegas, Nev.

"I am pretty proud of the players." head coach Blake Huber commented. "This was probably the most connected we have been all season. The team was able to handle a lot of adversity throughout the weekend, especially when we got down by 10 points in the third quarter today."

Smith was dominant on both ends of the floor, adding three steals and three assists to her 21-point performance as the Greyhounds improved to 7-4 overall.

Tatiana Platonova provided a strong inside presence for the Greyhounds, finishing with 15 points and seven rebounds while teammate Shay Moseberry delivered an all-around performance with 11 points, seven rebounds and a team-high five steals.

The Greyhounds' depth proved to be a decisive factor as ENMU's bench contributed a remarkable 71 points.

Eastern New Mexico trailed 20-10 after the first quarter but responded with a 19-11 second period to cut the deficit to 31-29 at halftime. The Greyhounds continued to battle in the third quarter, however Simon Fraser won the quarter 17-15 to take a 48-44 lead heading into the final period.

The fourth quarter was tightly contested with both teams trading baskets. ENMU outscored SFU 22-18 in the final period to force overtime with the score tied at 66-66. In the extra session, the Greyhounds outscored the Red Leafs 8-5 to secure the three-point victory.

Simon Fraser (7-6, 2-0 Great Northwest) was led by Bree Neufeld's 27 points on 9-of-19 shooting, including 5-of-11 from three-point range. Rachel Loukes added 18 points while Sophie Bergeron contributed 12 points and seven rebounds for the Red Leafs.

ENMU shot 37.5 percent (27-of-72) from the field, including 21.7 percent (5-of-23) from three-point range. The Greyhounds were efficient at the free-throw line, converting 60.0 percent (15-of-25) of their attempts. Simon Fraser shot 39.7 percent (27-of-68) from the field and 36.4 percent (12-of-33) from beyond the arc.

The Greyhounds dominated points in the paint with 36 compared to Simon Fraser's 22. ENMU also held advantages in points off turnovers (22-14) and second-chance points (7-4). The Red Leafs held a slight edge in fast-break points, 10-7.

ENMU's defensive intensity was a key factor in the victory, forcing 18 Simon Fraser turnovers while committing just 15 of their own. The Greyhounds' ability to convert those turnovers into points proved crucial in the tight contest.

The game featured nine lead changes and was tied four times, showcasing the competitive nature of the matchup. Neither team led by more than 10 points at any point in the game, with the largest lead being ENMU's 10-point advantage in the first quarter.

The victory marked the first meeting between Eastern New Mexico and Simon Fraser. The Greyhounds have now won six of their last seven games and continue to build momentum as they approach the second half of the season.

"Hopefully we can get some rest and carry this momentum into the second half of our conference schedule." Huber continued.

Eastern New Mexico will take a break for the holidays before returning to action on Dec. 29 for an exhibition game against NCAA Division I New Mexico State in Las Cruces, N.M.