ENMU women suffer first loss of season 81-59

WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Senior guard Averi Zinn led a balanced Southwestern Oklahoma attack with 17 points and the Lady Bulldogs pulled away with a 29-point third quarter on Thursday to beat Eastern New Mexico University 81-59.

Senior guard/forward Hailey Grant added 16 points and senior guard Mason Jones 13 for former Lone Star Conference member Southwestern Oklahoma (3-0), which now plays in the Great American Conference. Eleven of 12 players scored for the Lady Bulldogs.

Ten players scored for the Greyhounds (2-1), but freshman forward Kaitlyn Edmondson was the only one in double digits with 15. After leading much of the first frame and making 5-of-11 shots in the period, ENMU went just 16-for-46 (35 percent) the rest of the way.

It was the teams' first meeting in nearly 14 years. Southwestern returns its entire starting unit from last year's 15-16 contingent and was picked for third place this season in the GAC.

ENMU opened a 7-2 advantage after four minutes, and the lead changed hands six times in the segment, which ended in a 17-17 tie.

The Hounds pulled even 19-19 on a basket by sophomore point guard Jaz Salon a minute into the second frame, but Zinn's 3-pointer on the next possession put the Lady Bulldogs in front for good.

ENMU stayed within six until Southwestern went on a 16-4 surge over the final 4 ½ minute of the third stanza. The Lady Bulldogs, who went 26-for-36 from the foul line for the game, hit 13-of-16 in that canto – the Hounds were just 12-of-16 for the game – and led 64-46 after three.

ENMU held a 42-30 edge on the boards, paced by senior Ishauna Hunter's eight carroms, but couldn't overcome its floor errors, which led to 28 Southwestern Oklahoma points.

The Hounds began a four-game homestand on Saturday night against Navajo Tech at Steve Loy Arena. They host Adams State in a 5 p.m. tipoff on Tuesday.

ENMU 133, Navajo Tech 33 (men, Thursday) – ENMU opened its home schedule and a six-game homestand with a completely lopsided win over the undermanned Skyhawks (0-2), setting school records for points and assists (43) in a single game.

All 14 Greyhounds played between 10 and 20 minutes and everyone scored, with six players in double figures. In addition, each player had at least one assist and one rebounds.

Senior guard Cougar Downing and junior forward Jose Murillo each scored 18 points, including 6-for-7 on 3-pointers for Downing and 9-for-10 with six dunks from the 6-foot-9 Murrillo, while senior forward Mario Whitley netted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

The Hounds (2-1) got 75 points from their nine reserves, with junior guard/forward Jaden Clarke shooting 8-of-10 en route to 17 points, junior forward Andrija Maric going 7-of-10 and finishing with 16 points, and freshman forward Brendon Kehres added 16 points on 6-of-7 from the field.

Meantime, Crownpoint-based Navajo Tech – which lost on Tuesday at Sul Ross State 129-23 – dressed only five players, with center/forward Ira Mayweather going 8-for-19 from the field and finishing with 20 points. The Skyhawks are members of the 72-school United States Collegiate Athletic Association.

ENMU shot 65 percent from the floor (58-of-89), connecting on 12-of-23 from 3-point range, while posting an overwhelming 50-13 advantage on the glass. The Hounds limited the Skyhawks to 27 percent shooting (12-of-44) and forced them into 37 turnovers, including 26 steals.

NTU trailed just 11-10 after a 3-pointer by Joshua Kee five minutes in, but the Hounds went on a 28-4 run over the next nine minutes. They scored the first 19 points of the second stanza, and finished on a 15-0 run over the final three-plus minutes of the game.

A much tougher test looms for the Hounds on Wednesday when they welcome Metro State for a 7 p.m. contest at Steve Loy Arena.