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No. 5 Tritons turn back ENMU 72-64

PORTALES — Nicole Scales wasn’t much of a factor in the first half of Wednesday’s women’s basketball game between Eckerd College and Eastern New Mexico University at Greyhound Arena.

That all changed quickly when play resumed.

Averaging less than seven points through four games this season, the junior guard funneled in 20 after the break — including 14 of Eckerd’s 16 third-quarter tallies — and the fifth-ranked Tritons held off a late Greyhounds rally for a 72-64 victory in ENMU’s home opener.

Scales, from Park Ridge, Ill. and one of just two non-international members of Eckerd’s 10-player roster, hit four 3-pointers and a pair of free throws in the third quarter to help the Tritons outscore ENMU 16-15 and maintain a 10-point lead.

“I wasn’t surprised by that,” said 17th-year Tritons coach Paul Honsinger, also an Eckerd alum. “She’s a capable player and a good shooter. We normally have a balanced attack, but I was happy to see her break out.”

Eckard (4-1) was coming off a seven-point loss at Angelo State on Tuesday afternoon after winning its first three games by an average of nearly 30 points.

“I’m happy we got the win,” Honsinger said. “We lost yesterday, and it was a long drive (into Portales).

“Our shooting kind of came alive in the second half. I thought we were a little flat at first.”

Junior guard/forward Deja Adrian poured in 22 points and also led the Hounds (1-2), playing for the first time in 11 days, with 11 rebounds and five assists.

“Deja is something when she’s getting to the basket,” ENMU coach Meghan De los Reyes said. “She’s pretty hard to guard when she’s doing that.”

ENMU hit the Tritons with 3s from junior guard Ashley Shipley, sophomore guard Bella Stone and freshman forward Julieta Ceja to open an early 10-5 advantage.

Eckard, though, rallied to lead 21-15 in the second stanza before 3s by Ceja and senior forward Las Saunders and a free throw by Saunders gave the Hounds a one-point advantage three minutes into the second segment.

Junior guard Sofia Persson had a pair of 3s, though, and senior guard Cirkeline Rimdal added another as the Tritons closed the half on a 12-2 run for a nine-point cushion.

Eckerd then scored the first nine points of the final canto for a 60-39 edge. ENMU got as close as six in the final seconds, making four 3-pointers in the period.

Persson and 6-foot-2 senior post Maya Price each added 13 points for Eckerd. Ceja finished with 11 points and Stone 10 for the Hounds, while Saunders and Shipley both grabbed 10 rebounds.

“I think we can take a lot of confidence from this game,” De los Reyes said. “We fought back, and that shows the character of our team. We’re not quite there yet, but we’re building toward that.”

The Hounds were slated to host Western Colorado on Saturday in their final pre-Lone Star Conference tilt. They open LSC play with games at St. Edward’s on Thursday and St. Mary’s on Saturday.

 
 
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