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ENMU women's basketball team falls in season debut

DURANGO, Colo. — Marissa Hirchirt sparked a 9-1 third-quarter run with a three-point play, and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology never lost the lead in posting a 65-57 victory over Eastern New Mexico in the season opener for both teams at Whalen Gym.

Taylor Molstad scored 12 points to lead three players in double figures for the Hardrockers, who won a back-and-forth game that featured four ties and seven lead changes.

Mikaehla Connor had game highs of 16 points and seven rebounds for the Greyhounds, who held advantages of 15-9 on the offensive glass and 45-33 on overall rebounds. Guard Jasmine Hotchkins was ENMU’s only other double-figure scorer with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting, but guard Brandi Gomez posted eight points and four boards.

The Greyhounds opened the game on a Shelby Jones three that kickstarted a 10-4 opening burst, and the Greyhound lead stayed in that range for most of the quarter until an Anna Haugen buzzer-beater made it 14-11.

Neither team led by more than six until the fourth quarter, when Sammi Steffeck scored eight of her total 11 points during a 13-3 run that pushed the Hardrocker lead to 57-47 with seven minutes remaining. The game never got closer than six over the final minutes.

The Greyhounds will continue play at Whalen Gym tonight at 7 against Fort Lewis.

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