Sports Release
February 20, 1999

TARLETON STATE DEFEATS ENMU, 74-55
Zias Still Headed to LSC Tournament
PORTALES, NM — Tarleton State University built a 44-16 halftime lead on its way to a 74-55 victory over Eastern New Mexico University, Feb. 20 at Greyhound Arena. For the ENMU Zias, playing three games in three days was too much for a peak performance in the final game.

The Zias clinched a Lone Star Conference Tournament berth with wins on Thursday, and Friday, and did not need a victory over TSU to reach postseason play. ENMU concluded the regular season at 15-11 overall and 8-8 in the LSC South Division. TSU improved to 10-16 overall and 6-10 in the LSC South.

Eastern New Mexico claimed fourth place in the LSC South, earning the Division’s final LSC Tournament berth. The Zias will open tournament action on Tues., Feb. 23 at East Central University in Ada, Okla. (Time TBA). ECU and Southeastern Oklahoma shared the North Division title at 10-4 in Conference play, but ECU received the top seed in the North by winning the LSC tie-breaker procedure. ENMU defeated East Central, 65-52, in Portales, N.M. on Dec. 5.

In Saturday’s ENMU-Tarleton game, TSU was led by senior forward/guard Rachel Britt, who scored 16 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and earned 2 steals. Senior forward Danelle Liles added 13 points, 5 rebounds and 5 steals, while freshman post/forward Alyson Galbraith contributed 10 points.

For ENMU, sophomore post player Bobbie Wallin (Moriarty, NM/Moriarty H.S.) achieved a double-double, earning 10 points and 11 rebounds. Junior guard/forward Sharon Max (Kirtland, NM/Central H.S.) and sophomore post/forward Katheryne Hickman (San Antonio, TX/Castle Hills First Baptist H.S.) each scored 9 points for the Zias. Junior post player Amanda Mendez (San Antonio, TX/Madison H.S.) moved into ENMU’s list of Top 10 scorers on a layup with 0:59 left in the game. She scored 6 points against TSU, giving her 911 career points, 10th on the ENMU list.

Eastern struggled in the first half, sinking just 3 of 30 field goals (10%) and sinking 10 of 17 free throws. ENMU improved to 44.4% from the floor over the final 20 minutes (12 of 27), but got no closer than 16 points.