Pair earn honor

RICHARDSON, Texas — Eastern New Mexico University’s basketball teams, both coming off of a 2-0 week, had their defensive efforts recognized by the Lone Star Conference.

A pair of seniors — Chukuka Emili for the men and Treyanna Clay for the women — were named by the LSC as the defensive players of the week, according to a release from the league office.

This is the first defensive award for each, and the second weekly award for each as well. Emili was the men’s offensive player of the week the previous week, while Clay was named offensive player of the week Jan. 21.

According to the release:

• Emili averaged eight rebounds, four blocks and 1.5 steals during the Greyhounds’ wins over Texas A&M-Kingsville (76-72) and Angelo State (83-71), which pushed the team’s winning streak to five games. He was also credited with a defensive effort that held the Javelinas and Rambs to 35.8 percent shooting and helped ENMU rally from a 42-28 halftime deficit to Angelo.

The wins improved the Greyhounds to 12-11 overall and put them alone at fourth place in the LSC standings at 9-6.

Freshman guard Qua Grant of West Texas A&M was the offensive player of the week after averaging 19 points, six rebounds and two assists per game to help the No. 5 Buffs extend their home winning streak to 22 games.

• Clay averaged 24 points, 7.5 rebounds and three steals in ENMU’s wins over Texas A&M-Kingsville (80-64) and No. 17 Angelo State (71-67). Clay tied a career high with 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting Thursday, then scored 15 of her 23 points in the second half to help the Greyhounds rally from a 12-point deficit. She also had a career-high 11 rebounds and tied a career mark with four steals. The wins helped ENMU (18-6, 13-3) join a three-way tie for first place in the LSC with Angelo State and West Texas A&M, and set a program mark with a 12-1 home record for the season.

Clay’s award marks a conference-high fourth time an ENMU player has won the defensive player of the week. Sophomore Alivia Lewis is responsible for the other three.

West Texas A&M’s Lexy Hightower was the women’s offensive player of the week after averaging 24 points per game on 57.6 percent shooting in wins over Angelo State and Texas A&M-Kingsville.

The Greyhounds go on the road this week with games Thursday at Texas A&M-Commerce and Saturday at Tarleton State.