Game Recap: Women’s Basketball | 2/3/2022 10:30:00 PM | Cameron Brennan

Despite erasing an 11 points deficit, Eastern New Mexico women’s basketball was on the end of a 63-57 loss to Texas Woman’s University on Thursday evening at Greyhound Arena. The Hounds fall to 8-8 on the season, and 4-6 in LSC play. Meanwhile, the Pioneers advance to 14-5 overall, and 7-1 in Lone Star Conference play.

Both teams meant business at the start of the contest, holding each other to an 8-8 score line after the first five minutes. Four different Greyhounds found a basket in the opening stages, with Iyanna McCurdy and Kamirah Decker converting layups, and Natalie Stice and Bella Stone hitting jumpers. The quarter continued going back and forth, but the Pioneers held on to a slim 14-12 advantage after the first 10 minutes.

The visitors wasted no time in the second quarter to build on its lead, outscoring the Hounds 9-1 in the first three minutes and fifty-three seconds of the quarter, 25-13 TWU. At that moment, ENMU scored five consecutive points to cut the lead to seven, 25-18 TWU. The half ended with each team trading baskets, with Texas Woman’s holding a 32-22 lead at halftime.

Texas built its lead to 11 points at the 4:12 mark in the third quarter with each team matching each other’s points, 41-30 TWU. However, Eastern closed the quarter on an offensive outburst with an 8-1 run to take the score to 42-38 into the final quarter. Stice connected on two jumpers, then McCurdy found a layup, and Decker hit a jumper as time expired.

The momentum continued into the final frame, as the Greyhounds outscored the Pioneers 6-2 in the first two and a half minutes, tying the game at 44-44. Stice and Decker found layups, and Anasha Hurst tied the game with a fast break layup. With the game tied, both teams traded a three pointer, then Decker gave the Hounds the lead with a free throw at 4:48, 48-47 ENMU. From then, Texas Woman’s rattled off eight straight points taking a 55-48 lead. The Greyhounds bounced back bring the score to 55-52 with 1:24 to go, bringing it down to the wire. TWU hit its free throws down the stretch and escape Greyhound Arena with a 63-57 win over ENMU.

COACH’S QUOTE

“Our team fought tremendously hard tonight, from being down 11 in the first half to take the lead in the fourth quarter against the team currently at the top of the Lone Star Conference” said Head Woman’s Basketball Coach Meghan De los Reyes. “We have shown that we can rally and comeback from double digit deficits, and if a couple plays went our way down the stretch, it could have been a different outcome” De los Reyes continued. We look forward to taking this fourth quarter momentum into our next game in Greyhound Arena on Saturday afternoon”.

NOTABLE STATS

• The Hounds finished 39.3% (24-61) from the field, 2-15 from behind the arc, and 7-13 at the foul line. Meanwhile, the Pioneers compiled a 37.1% (23-62) shooting night, 4-19 at a distance, and 13-20 at the foul line.
• Both teams were evenly matched with the Hounds edging the Pioneers in points in the paint, 36-32, and securing more rebounds 43-39.
• Stice led Eastern with 18 points, Decker supplied 13, and McCurdy secured another double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
• Stice was next in the rebounding category with eight, while Decker found six, and Hurst collected five boards.
• McCurdy, Stice, and Julia Chavez all supplied three assists on the night.
• Decker posted three blocks on the evening, while Stice led the Hounds in steals with two.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• McCurdy recorded their sixth double-double of the season and third consecutive.
• Decker tied a career best three blocks and set a season high 13 points during the game. Decker’s blocks were also a single game high this season for an ENMU student-athlete.
• Stice tied a career mark for field goals made with eight during the contest.
• The Hound recorded a single season best five blocks during the game.
• Eastern still hold the all-time series record at 34-23.
• ENMU return to the floor Saturday, Feb. 5, for an LSC battle with Midwestern State. First tip is set for 2 p.m.