PORTALES, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands women's basketball team hung with Eastern New Mexico on the road after a quarter, but couldn't find its offensive footing the rest of the way as the Cowgirls fell to the Greyhounds 66-38 Friday night in both teams' season opener.
NMHU (0-1) jumped out to an 8-4 lead after 3-pointers from
Ari Baca and
Jordyn Lewis and a layup by
Allyah George. The Cowgirls held the lead for the majority of the quarter until a 3-point by Zamorye Cox with 34 seconds left in the first gave ENMU (1-0) an 18-16 lead. But a short jumper from
Alisson Hill with a second left tied the game at 18-18 heading into the second.
The Cowgirls took what turned out to be their last lead of the contest when
Brianna Stewart scored to open the quarter and make it 20-18 as the Greyhounds went on a 10-0 run to take a 28-20 lead – an advantage it wouldn't relinquish the rest of the contest. ENMU led 30-23 at the half and 46-29 after three.
Baca led the Cowgirls with 10 points, including going 2-for-3 from 3-point range. Stewart finished with seven points while Lewis had six. A cold-shooting second half hurt NMHU as they shot 18.5 percent (5-for-27) from the field, including 0-for-8 from 3-point range.
Shelby Jones led ENMU with 12 points while Treyanna Clay added 11 points and nine rebounds.
The Cowgirls return to action 5:30 p.m. Saturday as they take on Western New Mexico.
