The Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team is set to face Southwestern Oklahoma State University on Sunday, December 1, at 6 p.m. The game will take place at the Steve Loy Family Foundation Arena in Portales and marks the Greyhounds' final non-conference matchup of the season.
Currently, Southwestern Oklahoma State leads the all-time series between the two programs with an 8-4 record.
Aaliyah Smith, a junior guard for ENMU, has been leading the team's offense with an average of 14.3 points per game and a field goal percentage of 51.2%. She has also contributed defensively with 11 steals this season, including seven in the team's most recent win.
Senior forward Chloe Dallas has been consistent inside, averaging 13 points and nine rebounds per game while shooting 55.3% from the field. Dallas has also recorded four blocks in five games.
Junior guard Julieta Ceja is another key scorer for ENMU, averaging 10.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game and shooting 50% from three-point range. In their last outing, Ceja scored 15 points and grabbed four rebounds.
Eastern New Mexico comes into this contest after an 89-54 victory over Newman University at the Newman Classic on November 22 in Wichita, Kansas. Nataya Locket led all scorers with 23 points on efficient shooting, along with five rebounds and two assists. Smith added 19 points, seven steals, and six assists in that win.
So far this season, ENMU is averaging 76.6 points per game while allowing opponents an average of 67.8 points. The team has been effective defensively by forcing over 21 turnovers per game and averaging nearly twice as many steals as their opponents.
Southwestern Oklahoma State holds a record of two wins and two losses (0-0 GAC) entering Sunday's matchup after a narrow defeat to Lubbock Christian University on November 24. The Lady Bulldogs lost by one point after surrendering a buzzer-beating three-pointer in the closing seconds.
SWOSU features strong performances from Landry Allen (12.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 16 blocks), Sincere Jackson (12 ppg, 6.3 rpg), and Elle Papahronis (12 ppg, 10.8 rpg,13 steals). The Lady Bulldogs have averaged more than forty-one rebounds per game this season and have excelled defensively with over five blocks per contest.
After Sunday's game against SWOSU, Eastern New Mexico will begin Lone Star Conference play by hosting Cameron on December 4 at home.
