Hounds improve postseason position

PORTALES – In a game reminiscent of their earlier meeting in Lawton, Okla., the Eastern New Mexico University and Cameron women's basketball team found scoring somewhat hard to come by for a long time on Saturday.

The Greyhounds, though, were able to find some rhythm in the third quarter and pulled away to a 60-48 victory at Greyhound Arena in a game between teams trying to crack the Lone Star Conference tournament next month. The Hounds won the first meeting 55-42.

It was a key win for the Hounds (11-10, 8-8 LSC) who gained a bit of separation from the Aggies (10-13, 7-10) with league powers West Texas A&M (18-6, 11-5) and Lubbock Christian (16-8, 11-5) coming in on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

"Those teams are beatable at home," ENMU women's coach Meghan De los Reyes said. "We just have to defend their post play and try and take away the 3-point line."

Junior guard-forward Deja Adrian scored 19 points, junior guard Ashley Shipley added 12 points and eight rebounds and senior forward Edecia Beck earned her third double-double of the campaign with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

"Edecia Beck had her best game of the year, and Ashley and (sophomore guard Bella) Stone were impressive at both ends," De los Reyes said. "They did a great job."

The Hounds were down 25-23 at halftime, but used a 10-0 surge to break away from a tie early in the third segment with Beck accounting for four points. If the eight-team LSC meet started today, the Hounds would hold the No. 7 seed while the Aggies would be just outside the field at No. 9.

"We came out with energy (early)," ENMU women's coach Meghan De los Reyes said. "I thought we made some great adjustments at halftime, and did a better job of controlling the paint."

A 12-5 charge to start the final quarter pushed the lead to 17, with freshman guard Corin Camara hitting a pair of 3s and Adrian and Shipley adding one apiece during that stretch.

"We had to pick it up in the second half," Beck said after ENMU went into the break trailing 25-23. "Early in the third quarter we had three or four 3s, and that really helped us."

The teams shot in the neighborhood of 30 percent from the field. The Hounds had a sizable edge at the free throw line, going 15-of-24 to Cameron's 8-of-11.

"Both teams struggled to put the ball in the hole," Aggies first-year coach Jeff Mahoney said. "They made some shots at key times and we didn't. They're really physical and athletic.

"They do a good job of pounding the glass. We didn't really play like a playoff team today."

Junior guard Kailyn Lay was the only player to reach double digits for the Aggies with 10 points.

Even a split this week would give the Hounds a big boost.

"I just think if we play our game, we'll be all right," Beck said. "It's going to be a fight, but we'll come out ready to play."