ENMU women notch 91-38 triumph over Panhandle

Julieta Ceja has waited a long time to get back on the basketball coach.

The Eastern New Mexico University sophomore from Jiquilpan, Mexico, has wasted little time making her presence felt. After sitting out all of the 2023-24 campaign due to an ACL injury suffered in warmups during the season finale the previous year, Ceja has started all seven games for the Greyhounds and on Saturday recorded her first double-double (12 points, 12 rebounds) in a 91-38 blowout of Oklahoma Panhandle State at Steve Loy Arena.

Ceja was one of five players in double figures for the Hounds (6-1), who had only nine players in uniform. All nine scored, while eight had at least one rebound and seven at least one assist.

“It was very nice,” she said of the double-double. “After being out with my ACL, it was a long journey (to) recovery.

“It was one of the most painful experiences I’ve ever had. But my trainer (Alba Ontiveros) told me, ‘You’ll be back.”

Ceja had two baskets and sophomore guards Tatiana Platonova and Daci Smith added 3-pointers as the Hounds stepped out to a 17-4 lead with 3 ½ minutes left in the opening frame. It was never close after that.

ENMU coach Blake Huber rested several regulars, some with minor injuries, but the Hounds had way too much firepower for the Aggies (1-8), who came in averaging just 44 ppg.

“It gave our freshmen some opportunities,” Huber said. “For the most part, I think they executed well.”

Ceja said the Hounds didn’t take the Aggies lightly, despite their record.

“At the college level, every team is good,” she said. “The moment you start playing differently is the moment you start to go down as a player.

“I do my job. When you have good intentions, you have good results.

ENMU scored the final 10 points of the half to lead 49-22, and steadily pulled away from there. The Hounds held the Aggies to 30 percent from the floor (14-of-46), including 0-of-7 from beyond the arc, and forced them into 27 turnovers while committing just seven of their own.

Freshman guard Abbi Holder posted 15 points, and team highs of seven assists and four steals for the Hounds. Platonova and freshman forward Kaitlyn Edmondson each added 14 points, while Smith added 10.

ENMU’s bench outscored OPSU’s reserves 39-13, led by Edmondson and Smith. The Hounds shot 46 percent from the floor and made 10-of-23 from 3-point range.

“We have a lot of ‘hoopers’ on the team, as coach says,” Ceja said. “We’re al l friends on and off the court, and we’re ready to keep going.”

Freshman guard Zamari Reece led Panhandle with 12 points, including 8-of-9 from the foul line. It was the teams’ first meeting in 11 years to the day (Nov. 30, 2013), a game the Hounds won 73-66.

ENMU, which beat rival West Texas A&M 74-57 at home in its Nov. 23 Lone Star Conference opener, completes a six-game homestand against Oklahoma Christian at 5 p.m. on Thursday and against Cameron at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

“I’m proud of our group,” Huber said. “We have four conference games now until the Christmas break. Now we have to have a good week of practice and get ready for Oklahoma Christian.’”