3.14_WBB_CMU_Smith (1)
Texas Woman's Athletic Communications
56
Winner Eastern N.M. EastNM 21-9,15-7 Lone Star
52
Colorado Mesa CMU 25-6,18-2 RMAC
Winner
Eastern N.M. EastNM
21-9,15-7 Lone Star
56
Final
52
Colorado Mesa CMU
25-6,18-2 RMAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Eastern N.M. EastNM 17 13 12 14 56
Colorado Mesa CMU 19 10 9 14 52

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Cameron Brennan

Women's Basketball Takes Down (4) #22 Colorado Mesa In NCAA Regional Quarterfinal, 56-52

The Greyhounds were superb defensively, holding the Mavericks to season low 52 points

DENTON, Texas – Eastern New Mexico Woman's Basketball (21-9) made history on Friday night, winning its first ever NCAA South Central Regional Tournament game, defeating (4) #22 Colorado Mesa (25-6), 56-52, during regional quarterfinal match up.

The Greyhounds grinded out the game defensively, with Nataya Lockett leading the Greyhounds with 17 points. Lockett finished 8-17 from the field, adding a team high four assists, and finding eight rebounds. Jayla Smith chipped in with 11 points, while posting five blocks and grabbing five defensive boards.

Kaitlyn Edmondson was crucial on both sides of the ball, coming up with a team high nine rebounds while adding 12 points. Four different Greyhounds recorded a pair of steals, as Julieta Ceja, Martrice Brooks, Smith, and Victoria Barrera all found a pair of takeaways.

Both teams were back and forth over the entire 40 minutes. Colorado Mesa never trailed during the 1st quarter, while Eastern went on a 6-0 run to begin the second frame to take its first lead. CMU replied with an 8-0 stretch, but Eastern tracked down the Mavericks to take a one-point lead at the half. Eastern clamped down defensively in the 3rd period, allowing just one field goal while taking a four-point lead into the final period. Each team traded baskets in the 4th quarter, as ENMU got out to an eight-point lead with under five minutes to play (50-42). Colorado Mesa did cut the game to one possession on a pair of occasions, but ENMU held off the Mavericks to take a 56-52 win.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

  • Eastern won the battle on the glass, out rebounding Colorado Mesa 42-37. The Greyhounds bench outscored the Mavericks, 22-2, while CMU held the edge in points in the paint, 34-32. Eastern had the edge on steals, 10-9, and blocks, 6-5.
  • The Greyhounds finished shooting 36.7% from the floor (22-60), going 3-7 from deep (42.9%), and connecting on 9-15 free throws (60.0%). Colorado Mesa went 20-60 from the field (33.3%), making just a pair of three pointers during the game (2-14, 14.3%), while going 10-11 from the foul line (90.9%).
  • Eastern New Mexico won their first ever NCAA Regional game, after reaching the regional tournament for the first time since 2020, and the fourth time ever.
  • The win marks the first against a nationally ranked opponent since 2020, while beating Colorado Mesa for the first time since 2001.
  • Smith posted a career-high five blocks, the most by a Greyhounds since Alivia Lewis (5) on the road against Tarleton State (3/5/20).
  • The Greyhounds now move onto the Regional Semifinals, where they will face top-seeded #1 Texas Woman's on Saturday, March 15, beginning at 7:30 p.m.