Commerce women top ENMU

Staff report

COMMERCE, Texas — Forward Artaejah Gay scored 15 points to lead three players in double figures, and Texas A&M-Commerce moved above .500 in Lone Star Conference women’s play with a 69-59 win over Eastern New Mexico University on Saturday.

Gabby Scott and Shomari Harris added 12 points each for the Lions (15-12, 8-7 LSC), including a 9-of-10 effort at the line for Harris. Texas A&M-Commerce scored the game’s first nine points, and led comfortably most of the day following a 23-8 first-quarter margin.

The Greyhounds (10-15, 5-10), losers of two straight, trailed by as many as 24 in the third quarter as Gay and Harris combined for eight points during a 12-3 run early in the period.

Eastern did get inside single digits midway through the fourth. An 11-3 run, with layups by Sarah Stinnett and Mikaehla Connor. got the Greyhounds within six twice. But the next three possessions ended in missed 3-pointers, and Scott iced the game by hitting 2-of-4 free throws in the final 1:05.

Connor scored a season-best 18 points to lead ENMU, while Stinnett added 15.

Junior Kassandra Harris just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds before fouling out in the closing minutes.

The Greyhounds are off until Saturday, when they host West Texas A&M. Eastern needs a win or a Cameron win over Midwestern State (5-20, 4-11) the same day to lock up the seventh seed in the LSC tournament.

Should the Greyhounds and Mustangs both finish 5-11 in conference, Midwestern State would take the seventh seed via tiebreaker with its season split over Tarleton State.

The Lions are locked into the conference’s fifth seed, and will face either Tarleton State or Texas Woman’s to open the eight-team tournament. Tarleton State currently holds a half-game lead for the third seed, but the Pioneers swept the season series from the TexAnns and play their final two at home starting with a matchup today against Angelo State.