DENTON, Texas – Eastern New Mexico Woman's Basketball (21-10) fell in NCAA South Central Regional Semifinal against top seeded #1 Texas Woman's (33-1), 71-48, on Saturday evening at Kitty Magee Arena.
Jayla Smith led the Greyhounds on both sides of the floor, coming just short of a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds. The senior finished 6-12 from the floor, leading the defensive effort with two steals over 28 minutes.
Nataya Lockett reached double-figures with 10 points, while
Julieta Ceja finished with eight points, six rebounds, and three blocks.
Kaitlyn Edmondson supplied seven points and six rebounds from the bench, with
Tatiana Platonova chipping in with five points.
Texas Woman's started out quickly, racing out to a ten-point advantage within the first seven minutes (17-7). The Greyhounds kept pace with TWU for scoring the remainder of the quarter, but the Pioneers had accumulated a 15-point lead at the first stoppage. TWU shot 71% from the floor in the opening period, while ENMU were held 38.4% from the field in the opening quarter. Eastern did provide a comeback effort in the 3
rd quarter, going a 20-7 run to close the period, turning a 24-point deficit to just 11 points going into the 4
th quarter. However, Texas Woman's clamped down in the final period, taking the game 71-48.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
- The Greyhounds held the edge on rebounding, 35-34, while the Pioneers scored 40 points in the paint to ENMU's 30. Texas Woman's benefitted from 10 steals, scoring 18 points from turnovers.
- Eastern finished shooting 35.2% from the floor (19-54), going 2-11 from range (18.2%), and connecting on 8-12 free throws (66.7%). Texas Woman's sported a 50.0% field goal percentage (27-54), finding two three-pointers (2-11, 18.2%), and going 15-23 from the foul line (65.2%).
- Ceja tied a season high three blocks in a game, while Smith grabbed a nine or more rebounds for the eighth time this season.
- Eastern concludes the season with a 21-10 record, reaching the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament Semifinals for the first time ever. The Greyhounds lose three seniors: Ishuana Hunter, Trinity Hudson, and Smith. Head coach Blake Huber completed his second season as the head coach of the Greyhounds, increasing the win total by 10 between the two seasons.