Hounds dominate against A&M

PORTALES - Start strong, finish stronger.

That's been the mantra for the Eastern New Mexico women's basketball team. And though the Greyhounds haven't always succeeded, they've done it enough to find themselves near the top of the Lone Star Conference standings.

A dominant effort from start to finish Thursday gave the Greyhounds an 80-64 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville and a chance to tie Angelo State for the LSC's No. 1 spot on Saturday.

Treyanna Clay and Alivia Lewis, the offensive and defensive stalwarts for the Greyhounds (17-6, 12-3) all season, each had arguably their best game of the season.

Clay, a senior transfer from Division-I Iona, had 18 of her game-high 25 points in the first half, while Lewis had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

The Greyhounds put things away midway through the second with a 15-0 run, and led the game by double digits for the final 24:30.

"Getting off to good starts is what we've been emphasizing," ENMU women's coach Josh Prock said. "We didn't shoot well early, but we had good energy and worked for shots."

The same could be said for the Javelinas (8-14, 5-10), but they were done in by early turnovers and not getting calls when guards Brynae Thompson and Danielle Meador drove the lane.

"We got a lot of shots we wanted," Kingsville coach Wade Scott said, "but we didn't make them. We had a couple of bad turnovers in the middle of the floor, and you've got to give them credit."

Prock thought the defensive effort, including just 15 personal fouls, was key against a Javelina team with two of the top six free-throw shooters by volume in the conference.

"They do a good job of trying to draw contact," Prock said. "I think we did a good job of not getting fouls. Allowing them to only get 16 free throws isn't too bad."

Clay, a 6-foot-1 post, had 18 points total in the Greyhounds' first game against Kingsville in January. That was matched at halftime on Thursday.

"I think I was more aggressive this game," Clay said. "I was looking to score more, get to the basket, draw fouls."

Thursday marked the ninth consecutive game, and 23rd overall, where Clay has led the team in scoring.

"The coaches and the team did a great job of accepting me," Clay said. "I really tried to see what I could do to add to the team, and not try to take over."

Senior Shelby Jones just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds, while freshman Zamorye Cox brushed off a tough shooting night to post eight points, five assists and three steals.

Thompson led the Javelinas with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting.