PORTALES, N.M. - Eastern New Mexico women's basketball returns to the NCAA Division II South Central Region tournament for the second consecutive season, facing top-seeded and top-ranked Texas Woman's Friday at 4 p.m. MT in Denton, Texas.


 
The Greyhounds (20-10, 15-5 LSC) enter the regional tournament after falling to the Pioneers 73-61 in the LSC tournament semifinals Saturday at the Comerica Center. Despite the loss, Eastern has proven its mettle throughout the season with an impressive eight-game winning streak that included victories over several ranked and quality opponents.
 
Junior guard Aaliyah Smith has been a catalyst for the Greyhounds' success, averaging 10.7 points per game while distributing 76 assists and recording 44 steals. In the semifinal loss to TWU, Smith matched her season high with 23 points, connecting on 9-of-19 shooting and adding two 3-pointers. The junior guard also contributed three rebounds and three steals in the effort.
 
Senior forward Chloe Dallas leads Eastern's offensive attack, averaging a team-high 14.0 points per game while pulling down 7.3 rebounds per contest. Dallas has been efficient from the field, shooting 53.6 percent, and has been a defensive presence with 32 steals and 25 blocks.
 
Junior forward Julieta Ceja provides a versatile scoring threat, averaging 9.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Ceja has been dangerous from beyond the arc, connecting on 41.3 percent of her 3-point attempts while adding 25 steals on the defensive end.
 
Senior guard Nataya Lockett contributes 8.3 points per game and has been a steady playmaker with 51 assists. Lockett has also been active defensively with 44 steals while shooting 38.3 percent from the field.
 
Junior forward Mekhila Brown has provided a significant spark off the bench, averaging 7.1 points and 2.8 rebounds per game while shooting 53.1 percent from the field. In the semifinal loss, Brown scored 10 points on perfect 4-of-4 shooting from the free-throw line and led the Greyhounds with six rebounds.
 
Eastern's bench has been a strength all season, leading the Lone Star Conference and ranking seventh nationally in bench points per game at 31.8. The Greyhounds have also been disruptive defensively, averaging 10.8 steals per game, fourth in the LSC and 53rd in the nation.
 
The Greyhounds have been efficient on both ends of the floor this season. Eastern averages 69.7 points per game while holding opponents to 60.4 points. The Hounds shoot 41.6 percent from the field compared to 37.7 percent for opponents and have dominated the glass with a 38.7 to 35.3 rebounding advantage. Eastern also forces 20.1 turnovers per game while committing just 17.0.
 
The Greyhounds' path to the regional tournament included a thrilling 62-59 overtime victory over Lubbock Christian in the LSC Tournament quarterfinals before falling to TWU in the semifinals, ending an eight-game winning streak. That streak featured impressive victories over Cameron (76-47), No. 8 West Texas A&M (61-57 OT), UT Dallas (69-51), Texas A&M International (69-59), Texas A&M-Kingsville (57-56), UT Permian Basin (72-67), Angelo State (64-50) and Lubbock Christian.
 
Texas Woman's enters the regional tournament as the No. 1 seed and top-ranked team in Division II after capturing its third consecutive LSC Tournament championship with a 54-46 victory over No. 2 seed West Texas A&M. The Pioneers became the first LSC school since West Texas A&M (2008-10) to win three straight conference tournament titles.
 
The Pioneers (28-0) have been dominant all season, extending their winning streak to 28 games. TWU is led by LSC Tournament MVP Gabby Elliott, who recorded her 18th double-double of the season in the championship game with 16 points and 17 rebounds. Elliott averages 16.6 points and 11.9 rebounds per game, ranking first in the LSC and 11th nationally in rebounding. The junior forward shoots 54.7 percent from the field and has recorded 334 total rebounds with 44 blocks.
 
Averee Kleinhans, the 2024 LSC Tournament MVP, provides 16.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the field. Kleinhans has distributed 78 assists and recorded 41 steals while earning all-tournament honors for the second consecutive season.
 
Madi Lumsden adds 10.2 points per game while shooting 44.5 percent from the field and has dished out 60 assists.
 
Texas Woman's has been stifling defensively, holding opponents to just 54.2 points per game while scoring 69.6 points. The Pioneers shoot 44.5 percent from the field compared to 34.4 percent for opponents and dominate the boards 39.2 to 32.0. TWU also excels at the free-throw line, converting 77.6 percent of attempts, and forces 16.3 turnovers per game while committing just 14.3.