ENMU basketball squads return to action

Andrew Helton would certainly like to have a better record than 5-6 at this point in the season, but he says it's all relative.

JOSHUA LUCERO: CMI correspondent

ENMU redshirt freshman guard Ashlee Pierson of Clovis makes her way around Texico freshman Jaylyn Cooper during Zias practice on Saturday at Greyhound Arena. ENMU squads return to action on Monday with Lone Star Conference games at home against Midwestern State. Coach Lindsey Wilson is hoping the Zias can build on their victory in the last game of their three-day visit in mid-December to Anchorage, Alaska

"We're better than our team was a year ago, and we were 9-4 (at this point)," the fourth-year Eastern New Mexico University men's basketball coach said. "It's a function of our schedule — we haven't played a bad team yet."

The Greyhounds resume their slate after a holiday break with a 4 p.m. Lone Star Conference clash against Midwestern State (7-3, 3-0 LSC) on Monday at Greyhound Arena. Women's teams collide in the first half of the doubleheader.

ENMU brings a three-game losing streak into the fray, but the last two were against NCAA Division I opponents — 60-57 at Cal Poly and, four nights later, 95-62 at BYU.

"We played pretty well against Cal Poly — not great, but we had a chance to beat a team that beat UCLA," Helton said.

He wasn't as happy with their outing at BYU, although the Cougars clearly had a lot to do with that.

Midwestern State was picked second behind Tarleton State in the LSC this season, despite returning only one starter.

JOSHUA LUCERO: CMI correspondent

ENMU sophomore Lakeeyscia Griffin takes a jump shot while running plays during Zias practice on Saturday at Greyhound Arena.

"They have a new team, but they've played better as the season has gone on," Helton said. "I think they'll be near the top (of the LSC when the season ends)."

The Hounds, meantime, currently stand 2-1 in the league, with a win over Angelo State and a two-point victory at Abilene Christian.

"To have played two road games and one home game, we're off to a decent start," Helton said.

The Hounds began the season without three players due to eligibility issues, but two of them have now been cleared. Senior center Greg McFarland has played the last three games, while senior guard Devone Davis will be redshirted.

Helton is still hoping to get senior guard Versia Hodges cleared and, if so, said he would likely join the active roster.

ENMU's women (1-10) finally broke into the win column in the last game of their three-day visit in mid-December to Anchorage, Alaska, blowing out BYU-Hawaii 66-45. Coach Lindsey Wilson is hoping the Zias can build on that.

"It was nice to end the first semester with a win," she said. "Midwestern will be a good team; they'll be a tough test for us."

She said things are slowly coming together for a team with a bunch of underclassmen.

"It's still taking us some time with so many new pieces, but I definitely think we're getting things together," she said. "I think we're still OK with what we're doing, especially with us being as young as we are."

She said beating the Seasiders was the boost the Zias were looking for.

"It came in the third game of the trip," she noted. "It was definitely a big one for us. It kind of gave us a little bit of confidence."