FRISCO, Texas - The Eastern New Mexico women's basketball team extended its winning streak to eight games with a thrilling 62-59 overtime victory over Lubbock Christian in the first round of the Lone Star Conference Tournament on Friday evening at the Comerica Center.

The Greyhounds (20-9, 15-5 LSC) overcame a drought against the Lady Chaps, snapping a 10-game losing streak in the series while claiming their first win over LCU since 2020. The victory also gave ENMU a 25-24 edge in the all-time series.

Senior guard Chloe Dallas paced the Greyhounds with a game-high 14 points while adding six rebounds, two steals and a block. The LSC newcomer of the year was instrumental down the stretch, scoring four consecutive points in overtime to keep ENMU within striking distance.

Junior guard Aaliyah Smith contributed 13 points, connecting on three 3-pointers and adding two steals. Toyah Montgomery rounded out the double-figure scorers with 12 points, three rebounds and two steals.

"Our team has a lot of trust in one another so when things start to not go our way we have a sisterhood and we trust one another to where we can come together and play as one," Montgomery said.

The contest was a defensive battle throughout, with neither team able to establish a comfortable lead. Lubbock Christian (23-7, 15-5 LSC) controlled much of the second half but could never pull away from the resilient Greyhounds.

With the game tied at 49 and one minute remaining in regulation, LCU's Martie McCoy drilled a 3-pointer to give the Lady Chaps a three-point advantage. Smith answered immediately, knocking down a clutch three-pointer with 33 seconds left to tie the game at 52. The Lady Chaps committed a shot-clock violation on their next possession, but ENMU couldn't convert on an inbounds play with two seconds remaining, sending the game to overtime.

McCoy struck again early in the extra session with another 3-pointer that gave LCU a 57-52 lead. But just as they had done throughout the second half, the Greyhounds refused to fold.

Dallas scored four straight points to trim the deficit to one before junior forward Julieta Ceja stepped to the free-throw line and calmly sank two free throws to give ENMU a 58-57 lead. Two crucial steals in the final minute sealed the victory for the Greyhounds.

"I always tell myself that I have to find a way to help my team and sometimes it's not by scoring maybe it's by grabbing more rebounds or something," Ceja said.

The win marks a historic achievement for the program, as ENMU advances to the LSC Tournament semifinals for the first time since 1997. The Greyhounds have never won the tournament title and have made just two championship game appearances in program history. ENMU improved to 11-25 all-time in LSC Tournament play.

The victory was particularly impressive given ENMU's recent struggles in low-scoring affairs. The Greyhounds entered Friday's game with a 4-6 record in contests where they scored fewer than 63 points. Despite managing just 62 points against LCU's stingy defense, ENMU improved that mark to 5-6.

The win also carries significant implications for the NCAA Division II Tournament selection process. ENMU is currently ranked eighth in the latest South Central Regional rankings and bolstered its resume by defeating the fourth-ranked team in the region.

Head coach Blake Huber praised his team's resilience while acknowledging the challenge ahead.

"It doesn't get any easier as we face the number one team in the country next but I am super proud of our players to get this win tonight. We have a lot of respect for LCU and that program," Huber said.

The Greyhounds will face top-ranked and top-seeded Texas Woman's in the LSC tournament semifinals. Tip-off time is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT in the Comerica Center.