CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M's Lexy Hightower drew a foul and hit a pair of free throws with under a second remaining on Friday afternoon as the #16 Lady Buffs fought back from an 11-point deficit to top the rival Greyhounds of Eastern New Mexico and punch their ticket to the semifinal round of the 2019 NCAA Division II South Central Regional Championship at the First United Bank Center in Canyon.
 
THE BASICS
The Matchup:#16 West Texas A&M 68, Eastern New Mexico 67
Records: West Texas A&M (29-3), Eastern New Mexico (19-11)
Venue:First United Bank Center
Location:Canyon, Texas
Series History (Streak):Lady Buffs lead 70-12 (W3)
 
LEADING THE WAY (Statistical Leaders) 
- Points: Lexy Hightower (WT, 25 Points), Shelby Jones (ENMU, 15 Points), Zamorye Cox (ENMU, 15 Points)
- Rebounds: Treyanna Clay (ENMU, 8 Rebounds), Shelby Jones (ENMU, 8 Rebounds), Lexy Hightower (WT, 7 Rebounds)
- Assists:Zamorye Cox (ENMU, 5 Assists), Alivia Lewis (ENMU, 4 Assists), Shelby Jones (ENMU, 4 Assists)
- Steals: Deleyah Harris (WT, 5 Steals), Nathalie Linden (WT, 2 Steals), Chelsea Hunter (ENMU, 2 Steals)
- Blocks: Abby Spurgin (WT, 2 Blocks)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Lady Buffs were led offensively by Lexy Hightower who went 9-of-17 from the floor including 4-of-9 from behind the arc and 3-of-4 from the free throw line with a game-high 25 points followed by Tyesha Taylrow and Abby Spurgin with nine each, Hightower grabbed seven rebounds on the afternoon while Deleyah Harris had five steals and five boards in the win.
- Shelby Jones and Zamorye Cox led the way for the Hounds with 15 points each followed by Alivia Lewis with 14 and Treyanna Clay with 10, Clay and Jones grabbed eight rebounds each while Cox dished out five assists to go along with a steal in her 37 minutes of action.
 
FIRST HALF
- The Lady Buffs finished the first half going 9-of-31 (29%) from the floor including 4-of-16 (25%) from deep and 5-of-8 (62.5%) from the charity stripe with 16 rebounds (five offensive, 11 defensive), four assists, 10 turnovers, one block and five steals.
- Eastern New Mexico went 14-of-28 (50%) from the field in the first half including 1-of-6 (16.7%) from behind the arc and 5-of-7 (71.4%) from the free throw line with 17 rebounds (five offensive, 12 defensive), eight assists, 11 turnovers, no blocks and four steals.

SECOND HALF
- WT finished the game going 24-of-60 (40%) from the floor including 8-of-26 (30.8%) from deep and 12-of-19 (63.2%) from the charity stripe with 30 rebounds (11 offensive, 19 defensive), 11 assists, 13 turnovers, two blocks and 10 steals in the win.
- The Greyhounds went 27-of-55 (49.1%) from the field including 3-of-13 (23.1%) from behind the arc and 10-of-12 (83.3%) from the free throw line with 32 rebounds (10 offensive, 22 defensive), 16 assists, 17 turnovers, no blocks and six steals on the afternoon.
 
UP NEXT
The Lady Buffs advance to tomorrow night Regional Semifinal to take on the #21 Belles of Angelo State with tipoff set for 5 p.m. at the First United Bank Center in Canyon. WT and ASU have already faced each other three times this season with the Lady Buffs taking all three meetings including last Sunday's Lone Star Conference Championship in Frisco, 71-55.