ENMU squads win over Adams State

Nov. 18—ALAMOSA, Colo. — Freshman guard Jaz Salon poured in 21 points and Eastern New Mexico University's women improved to 3-0 for the season with a 70-58 triumph over Adams State on Thursday night.

The 5-foot-3 Salon, from Melbourne, Australia, notched 16 of her tallies in the first half to help ENMU open a 16-point lead late in the second quarter before the Grizzlies (3-2) rallied back to make it close.

Senior guard Vanessa Oduah chipped in 16 points while senior guard Jamila Nansikombi-Gunter posted her first double-double with the Greyhounds, finishing with 13 points and 14 rebounds.

Junior guard Angelline Nageak led Adams State, coming off a 102-point outing in a victory over Midwestern State, with 17 points while junior guard Elaina Watson added 14. ENMU held the Grizzlies to 36 percent shooting from the field and outrebounded them 49-28.

Adams State led 2-0 and 4-3 before the Hounds went on a 10-0 run, with Salon accounting for seven tallies, and never trailed again. ENMU extended a 17-10 advantage at the quarter to 36-20 with under two minutes left in the half before the Grizzlies netted the final seven points of the segment.

Adams State continued its surge when play resumed, closing to 39-36 before the Hounds opened it to 50-44 at period's end. They led by 10 midway through the fourth after a 3-pointer by senior guard Ashley Shipley and a basket by Oduah, and never let the Grizzlies get closer than five down the stretch.

It was the fifth Lone Star Conference opponent in a row for Adams State. In addition to beating MSU, the Grizzlies lost 69-65 at Lubbock Christian and own victories over West Texas A&M and Cameron.

ENMU faced off with Western Colorado on Saturday night in Gunnison, Colo. The Hounds return to the Centennial State this weekend for games against Colorado State-Pueblo at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and against Colorado-Colorado Springs at 5 p.m. on Saturday to finish the non-conference portion of their schedule.

ENMU men 92, Adams State 82 — At Durango, Colo., the Greyhounds overcame a 10-point, first-half deficit, pulling away down the stretch to turn back the Grizzlies behind personal bests of 29 points from senior guard/forward Jahcoree Ealy and 27 by sophomore center Jose Murrillo on Friday's first night of the Skyhawk Hardwood Classic, hosted by Fort Lewis.

They faced a rematch with the 15th-ranked Skyhawks (2-1) on Saturday night after losing to them 82-62 last weekend in the South Central Region Challenge at Greyhound Arena. On Friday, Fort Lewis defeated Western New Mexico 87-68.

ENMU shot 58 percent (35-of-60) from the floor, led by Murrillo (11-of-13) and Ealy (10-of-15). Sophomore forward Blazej Czerniewicz added 16 points.

For the Grizzlies (2-1), senior guard Destan Williams finished with 23 points and sophomore guard Jude Tapia chipped in 11.

ENMU (2-1) trailed much of the early going and fell behind 26-16 after Williams' driving layup midway through the half. A layup by Murrillo and two baskets by Ealy, including a dunk, cut the margin to four points but the Grizzlies went up 31-22 on a driving layup by junior forward John Harge at the 8:18 mark.

The Hounds countered with an 8-0 run to close within a point, and took a 35-33 lead on junior guard Tre'Von Love's 3 with 3:49 remaining. The game seesawed the rest of the half, with Williams' 3 in the final minute staking Adams State to a 42-41 lead at the intermission.

Sophomore guard Alex Hurr's trey opened the second half for the Grizzlies, but the teams were neck-and-neck for most of the first 11 minutes. Ealy's two free throws put ENMU in front for good 67-66 with 9:09 left, and his dunk capped a 7-0 run for a 72-66 advantage.

Williams hit a step-back jumper with 2:04 to play to pull ASC to 83-80, but Czerniewicz nailed his third 3-pointer of the night at the 1:07 mark and the Hounds finished the contest on a 9-2 run.

ENMU is off this week, returning to action in its 7:30 p.m. Lone Star Conference opener on Nov. 30 against St. Edward's at Greyhound Arena.