The Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team secured a decisive 89-54 win over Newman University at the Newman Classic held in Wichita, Kansas. The game took place on Saturday at Fugate Gymnasium.
Eastern New Mexico (2-3) applied strong defensive pressure from the start, which led to numerous turnovers by Newman (2-3). This resulted in the Greyhounds having 30 more shot attempts than their opponents during the game.
Aaliyah Smith, a junior guard for ENMU, was key to the team's defense. She recorded seven steals and scored 19 points. Smith made a significant impact in the first half with 13 points and five steals, disrupting Newman's offensive efforts.
Nataya Lockett led all players with 22 points and had an efficient shooting night, making 10 of her 15 attempts. Her play inside helped ENMU outscore Newman in the paint by eight points.
Julieta Ceja contributed 15 points and collected four rebounds—three on defense and one on offense. Daci Smith added nine points after making three of her four shots from beyond the arc.
ENMU's defensive strategy resulted in scoring opportunities, as they tallied 23 points off turnovers compared to Newman's 16. Their full-court press created problems for Newman throughout the contest, leading to rushed shots and disrupted offensive plays for the Jets. The Greyhounds also generated 14 fast-break points due to their collective defensive effort.
By halftime, Eastern New Mexico had built a strong lead that continued to grow in the second half. The team scored 25 points in the third quarter and finished with another 27 in the fourth quarter.
Eastern New Mexico will next play its home opener against Southwestern Oklahoma State on December 1 at Steve Loy Family Foundation Arena.
