PORTALES, N.M. – The Eastern New Mexico women's basketball team will host RV St. Mary's University on Thursday, Jan. 8, at 5:30 p.m. MT at the Steve Loy Family Foundation Arena in Portales, N.M.
The Greyhounds have won three straight conference games and have won eight of their last nine contests, which includes back-to-back 40-point wins over Sul Ross State and Western New Mexico this past weekend. ENMU enters Thursday's matchup riding a wave of momentum after dominant performances in which five Hounds finished in double figures while forcing 30-plus turnovers in both games.
Julieta Ceja has been a force in the paint for Eastern, leading the Greyhounds with 11.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Ceja recorded back-to-back double-doubles with 12 points and 11 rebounds against SRSU and 10 points and 11 rebounds against WNMU. The forward has also been active defensively with 16 steals and is shooting an impressive .480 from three-point range.
Aaliyah Smith provides a balanced offensive attack, contributing 10.2 points per game while shooting .404 from the field. Smith has been a disruptive force on defense with 25 steals and has facilitated the offense with 25 assists.
Nataya Lockett adds 9.9 points per game and has been a catalyst in the backcourt with 21 assists and 24 steals. Lockett also contributes 2.8 rebounds per game.
Tatiana Platonova made history in the game against SRSU, becoming the first Greyhound to record a double-double with assists after finishing with 14 points and 11 assists.
As a team, ENMU is averaging 74.7 points per game compared to opponents' 59.0. The Greyhounds are shooting .409 from the field and .339 from three-point range while holding opponents to .383 and .290, respectively. Eastern is outrebounding opponents 38.4 to 36.8 per game and dishing out 14.9 assists per game compared to opponents' 12.2. The Greyhounds are forcing 23.9 turnovers per game while committing just 16.5, and ENMU leads in steals with 13.4 per game compared to opponents' 7.6. The Greyhounds average 1.8 blocks per game compared to opponents' 2.1, and Eastern is shooting .675 from the free-throw line compared to opponents' .686. Eastern leads the Lone Star Conference and sits fourth in the nation in bench points per game at 38.2.
The Rattlers are coming off a huge weekend where StMU took down Midwestern State 72-54 followed by a win against No. 7 Lubbock Christian 66-64 on Sunday. The Rattlers sank nine triples and shot 34.6 percent from the arc while posting a season-best 50 percent from the floor on 25-of-50 shooting.
Christin Callens leads the Rattlers individually, averaging 12.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Callens is shooting .460 from the field.
Allie Garcia contributes 8.6 points per game and has a .409 shooting percentage with seven blocks.
Raynne Malik adds 5.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game with 29 blocks and a .339 shooting percentage.
As a team, St. Mary's is averaging 60.0 points per game compared to opponents' 55.8. The Rattlers are shooting .395 from the field and .299 from three-point range while holding opponents to .339 and .284, respectively. St. Mary's is outrebounding opponents 39.5 to 35.4 per game and dishing out 11.9 assists per game compared to opponents' 10.7. The Rattlers are committing 15.3 turnovers per game while forcing 13.3, and St. Mary's averages 5.8 steals per game compared to opponents' 6.4. The Rattlers average 5.5 blocks per game compared to opponents' 2.6, and St. Mary's is shooting .686 from the free-throw line compared to opponents' .677.
The Greyhounds will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 10, when they host St. Edward's at 1 p.m. at the Steve Loy Family Foundation Arena in Portales.
