Hounds Rally From 17-Point Deficit for Overtime Road Win Over #17 Lady Buffs 1/25/2018 | Women's Basketball

Thursday, January 25, 2018

CANYON, TEXAS -17^th-ranked West Texas A&M (15-4; LSC 7-4) led for 34:16 of play in Thursday night’s Lone Star Conference game at the First United Bank Center, but the Eastern New Mexico University women’s basketball (10-8; LSC 6-5) team chased them throughout the contest. Mikaehla Connor’s layup with five second left in regulation forced overtime, while Daeshi McCants hit a jumper in overtime to give ENMU the lead for good. Sarina Johnson paced ENMU to a 73-71 win with a season-high 18 points.

Dating back to last season’s win over West Texas A&M, Eastern has won four contests at the First United Bank Center. Earlier this season, the Hounds picked up wins at the facility over Texas A&M-International and regionally-ranked Colorado State University-Pueblo.

In the Series

The game marked ENMU’s third road win in the series which dates back to the 1974-75 season
The Hounds have won back-to-back road games in the series for the first time in program history
The game marked the first overtime meeting between the teams

Beyond the Box Score

The game marked the first time ENMU won after trailing by double figures since facing a 14-point deficit against Cameron last year (Jan. 12)
Eastern reached double figures in three-point buckets for the first time since a November win over Texas A&M-International
The Hounds have won the rebounding battle in four of the last five games

The Key Run

ENMU faced a 37-22 deficit late in the third quarter but dominated the next 6:38 of play, limiting WT to a three-point basket from Lexi Hightower
Over that span, the Hounds surged with an 18-3 run
Sarina Johnson hit a three-point basket with 6:58 left in the third quarter to pull Eastern within 40-38
After the Lady Buffs pushed the lead to 50-43 with 3:32left in the quarter, the Hounds went to work again
Kaylee Edgemon hit two three-point buckets sandwiched around a Mikaehla Connor layup to give ENMU its first lead with 9:46 left in regulation
With 33 seconds left in regulation, the Hounds defense held WT until the shot clock expired to set up Connor’s game-tying layup
WT took the lead back with 19 seconds to play, but Connor tied the game again with five seconds left to force overtime
The Hounds trailed just once in overtime and seized the lead for good on a three-point play from Daeshi McCants with 3:51 to play
Amari Joseph hit a free throw with six seconds left to give Eastern a four-point lead

In the Numbers

ENMU held a 20-8 edge in points off turnovers and a 16-5 advantage in second-chance points
Eastern hit .846 from the free throw line
The Hounds held a 22-16 advantage on the boards in the second half
Connor finished the game with 15 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals
McCants and Edgemon each chipped in 14 points
Dasia Johnson dished out five assists

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