ENMU women cruise in opener

SILVER CITY — Eastern New Mexico University’s women erased an early four-point deficit with a 29-3 first-half and routed Fort Lewis 76-57 on Friday in the LSC/RMAC Conference Challenge.

Senior guard Laura Rowe had three 3-pointers and led three Greyhounds in double figures with a career-high 17 points and also led the team with seven rebounds in the season opener for both teams. Senior post Kamirah Decker added 12 points, while senior guard Anasha Hurst chipped in a pair of 3s and 10 points.

ENMU went on a 12-1 surge to lead 17-10 at the quarter, then outscored the Skyhawks 17-2 to start the second stanza and build a 22-point cushion. It was 44-21 at halftime after a 27-point second period.

The Skyhawks, who got 17 points from Sydney Candelaria and 15 from Kelsey Sorenson, outscored the Hounds 36-32 in the second half, but never got closer than 16 points.

The Hounds were to complete play in the event on Saturday against New Mexico Highlands.

Meantime, ENMU’s men were at The Pit in Albuquerque for the Challenge, and faced Fort Lewis on Saturday. They are slated to take on Highlands in a 1 p.m. tipoff today.

This week, the women return to action with a 7 p.m. game at Regis in Denver on Wednesday and a 5:30 p.m. start against Colorado School of Mines on Thursday. Meantime, the men host Northern New Mexico at 6 p.m. on Friday at Greyhound Arena.