Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Kassandra Harris gathers before going up for the score during ENMU's 84-81 win over Texas Women's Thursday night.
PORTALES - A strong opening quarter helped the Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team stake out a large lead, which they'd need all of to survive a late comeback attempt by Texas Woman's for an 84-81 victory.
Kassandra Harris led the effort with 18 points and seven rebounds on the night, just topping Mikaehla Connor's 17-point, 10-rebound night. Brand Gomez added 11 and Johna McClelland 10. The Pioneers (14-9, 7-8) were led by Kenesha Saygo, who posted a season-high 36 points.
The win marks the end of a four-game stretch in a period of seven days for Eastern (18-5, 14-2), including two tough road games and a double-overtime win. Surviving the stretch, Greyhound coach Josh Prock said, makes the win that much better.
"I was proud of our kids, when you think about what we've had to do in a week's time ... then having to play a tough Texas Woman's team here at the end. I'm very proud of our kids to start off the game the way they did, really shows their toughness."
The Greyhounds took a 12-0 lead to start the game off and sailed to a 47-30 halftime lead. What looked like another runaway win for Eastern suddenly took a different look in the second half, with the Pioneers coming out of the locker room with Saygo spurring a 30-point third.
Saygo, who came in as the LSC's No. 2 scorer behind Western New Mexico's Jordan Gutierrez, jumped into first (18.8 ppg) and tied the single-game scoring high for the season - also held by Gutierrez.
"I think a little bit of it was fatigue," Prock said, "but also you have to realize, (Saygo) is a heck of a player, really good. It's one of the reasons she is a top-five player in the league."
ENMU would hang on though, punctuated by a Brandi Gomez blocked shot with 35 seconds left and the Greyhounds hanging on to a 78-76 advantage. After that, the Greyhounds would make their next six free throws to seal the win.
The win keeps Eastern alone atop the Lone Star Conference, with Angelo State falling to Texas A&M-Commerce Thursday night.
The Greyhounds resume LSC play with a 5:30 p.m. tipoff at Midwestern State Thursday.
