ENMU women end pre-LSC slate with romp

PORTALES — Eastern New Mexico University’s women rode their bench to an easy win on Monday night.

All 10 players in uniform scored and ENMU got 51 points from its subs in routing Northern New Mexico 83-48 at Greyhound Arena in the team’s final non-conference outing of the season.

The game was originally slated for Saturday at The Rock in Clovis, but was moved to Portales after a flu outbreak closed CHS on Thursday and Friday.

The Greyhounds (5-2) will take a 2-0 Lone Star Conference mark into league tilts at home against Texas-Tyler on Thursday night and Texas Woman’s on Saturday afternoon.

Junior guard Ashley Shipley’s season-best 17 points accounted for more than half the scoring for ENMU starters, none of whom played more than 20 minutes. Meantime, freshman guard Corin Camara and senior forward Edecia Beck came off the pines for personal bests of 15 and 14 points, respectively, including 5-of-9 from 3-point range by Camera.

All five subs played between 20 and 24 minutes, with freshman guard Marley Freeman posting a game-high six assists and Beck adding four steals.

Leading just 8-5 with three minutes left in the opening stanza, the Hounds blitzed the Lady Eagles 17-2 over the first six minutes of the second period to open a 34-13 advantage and turn the game into a runaway.

ENMU posted season bests in points, field goals (29), 3-point baskets and percentage (11-of-25, 44 percent), rebounds (50), offensive rebounds (20), assists (16) and steals (15). 

Northern New Mexico (3-12), which collected a pair of wins over SAGU American Indian College in Phoenix last week to end an 11-game losing streak, dressed only seven players for the contest and four of its starters played at least 33 minutes. Sophomore guard Briana Marquez, who went 38 minutes, and freshman guard Paulina Lopez-Cervantes, who played all 40, led the team with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

ENMU will take a four-game winning streak into Thursday’s clash with the Patriots.