PORTALES, N.M. - The Eastern New Mexico women's basketball team battled one of the nation's elite programs down to the final possession Thursday evening, falling 66-63 to No. 3 Texas Woman's University in front of 732 fans at the Steve Loy Family Foundation Arena.

The Greyhounds (12-7, 8-3 Lone Star Conference) pushed the third-ranked Pioneers (17-1, 11-0 LSC) to the brink in a tightly contested Lone Star Conference showdown that featured 1 lead change and two ties.

Chloe Dallas delivered an efficient offensive performance to pace the Greyhounds, finishing with a team-high 19 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field. Dallas also contributed five rebounds while providing a steady scoring presence throughout the contest.

Julieta Ceja logged a complete 40-minute performance, anchoring the Greyhounds on both ends of the floor. The workhorse forward nearly recorded a double-double, finishing with 11 points and nine rebounds while playing every minute of the hard-fought battle.

Shay Moseberry provided a significant spark off the bench, contributing 11 points in a reserve role. Moseberry was effective from beyond the arc, connecting on 2-of-4 attempts from three-point range to give the Greyhounds a perimeter threat.

As a team, the Greyhounds shot 39.6 percent (20-of-51) from the field and 22.2 percent (4-of-18) from three-point range. ENMU converted 19-of-23 free throw attempts for 82.6 percent from the charity stripe.

Eastern New Mexico scored 32 points in the paint and generated 14 fast-break points while forcing 11 Pioneer turnovers. The Greyhounds' bench contributed 31 points, showcasing the depth that has been a hallmark of the program this season.

Texas Woman's was led by Madi Lumsden's 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 2-of-5 from three-point range and a perfect 5-of-5 performance from the free-throw line. Lumsden also grabbed four rebounds and dished out four assists in the winning effort.

Averee Kleinhans added 19 points for the Pioneers, connecting on 5-of-13 from the field and a perfect 9-of-9 from the free-throw line. Kleinhans also pulled down five rebounds and recorded a steal in 33 minutes of action.

The Pioneers shot 44.4 percent (24-of-54) from the field and 20 percent (3-of-15) from three-point range. Texas Woman's was highly efficient from the free-throw line, converting 15-of-18 attempts for 83.3 percent. The visitors scored 36 points in the paint.

The game featured a back-and-forth first half, with Texas Woman's holding a slim 17-11 advantage after the opening quarter. The Pioneers extended their lead to 35-22 at halftime before ENMU mounted a spirited second-half comeback. The Greyhounds tied Texas Woman's 18-18 in the third quarter and outscored the Pioneers 23-13 in the fourth quarter, nearly completing the comeback against the conference's top team.

The loss snapped a competitive stretch for the Greyhounds, who have faced three consecutive ranked opponents, two at home. ENMU maintains a 34-28 advantage in the all-time series against Texas Woman's.

Eastern will look to bounce back quickly as the Greyhounds remain at home for their next contest. ENMU hosts UT Tyler on Saturday, Jan. 31, with tip-off scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Steve Loy Family Foundation Arena.