Gomez helps Eastern women prevail

LAWTON, Okla. — Junior guard Brandi Gomez preserved a lead on a steal, then sealed the game on a pair of free throws as Eastern New Mexico University inched ahead in the Lone Star Conference standings with a 57-53 win Thursday night at Cameron.

Mikaehla Connor had 16 points to lead the Greyhounds (8-6, 4-3), who won their third-straight and fifth in six games to remain in a tie for fourth place in the LSC standings.

The biggest difference is the tie is now among just two teams, ENMU and Angelo State. There were six LSC teams with 3-3 conference marks entering Tuesday and five entering Thursday night’s slate of games.

The top eight teams, out of 11 overall, qualify for March’s LSC postseason tournament.

Daeshi McCants posted a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Connor scored nine of her points during an early run to help ENMU stake out a 19-8 lead late in the first.

Gomez, a Clovis native who transfered to ENMU from Cameron two seasons ago, finished with seven points and nine rebounds to go with a team-high three steals.

The Greyhounds led for all but two minutes and by as much as 11, but it wasn’t easy by any means with three ties and nine lead changes. Eastern was stymied by 23 turnovers, compared to just 10 for the host Aggies (5-10, 3-4) and 34.6 percent shooting from the field.

Eastern actually shot better from outside the arc than inside of it — 6-of-16 versus 12-of-36. Sarina Johnson shot 2-for-4 from 3-point land while McCants was 2-of-5 from long range.

The Aggies were hindered by even worse shooting on the night, 26 percent, but gave themselves a chance in the second half. They were seemingly down for the count with ENMU enjoying a 44-34 lead and the teams exchanging baskets before Briana Underwood’s layup sparked a 14-3 run that produced a 48-47 lead on Lejha Smith’s free throws with 5:49 to go.

Jamie Bonnarens scored a game-high 17 points, including a pair of free throws to give the Aggies a 53-52 advantage with 2:40 to go. But it was the final time Cameron would score, with 0-of-3 shooting and three turnovers on their final six possessions.

Smith posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 of Cameron’s 44 rebounds.

McCants’ double-double is the ninth of her career, tying her for second-place on the school list with Til-Louis Fifer and Tiana Bryant).

The Greyhounds return to LSC action Saturday, with a 1 p.m. MST tipoff at Midwestern State.