Athletic Report
December 9,2000

ZIAS DEFEAT MISSOURI SOUTHERN, 86-70 ENMU Finishes 2-0 in Zia Classic, Tied with LCU
PORTALES, NM — Senior forward Katheryne Hickman (San Antonio, TX/Castle Hills Baptist H.S.) scored 20 points, grabbed a game-high 9 rebounds, and provided 5 assists, as Eastern New Mexico University defeated Missouri Southern State College, 86-70, on the second day of the Zias Classic, Dec. 9 at Greyhound Arena. ENMU, which improved to 4-3 on the season, finished 2-0 in the Zia Classic. Missouri Southern, now 5-2 overall, concluded the Zia Classic at 0-2.

ENMU and Lubbock Christian University tied for first place in the Zia Classic. LCU defeated Oklahoma Panhandle State University, 84-64, in the first game Dec. 9. The Lady Chaps upped their record to 6-5 overall and 2-0 in the Zia Classic. OPSU dropped to 4-5 overall and 0-2 in the Zia Classic.

In Eastern’s win over Missouri Southern, the Zias built a 26-10 lead over the first 12:23. MSSC followed ENMU’s fast start with an 18-12 run that cut the ENMU advantage to 38-28 at halftime. Hickman scored 10 points in the first half, while Katie Gariss provided 10 first half points on 5 of 5 shooting for the Lady Lions.

ENMU held a 49-38 lead with 14:29 to go, but Missouri Southern went on a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to 49-45. The Lady Lions pulled within three points, 56-53, on a 3-point basket by Erica Gonzalez with 9:53 left.

The Lady Lions were also within three points, 58-55, at the 8:34 mark, but never got closer the rest of the way, as Eastern opened a 16-2 run by scoring 7 straight points. The ENMU run began with a lay-up and foul shot by Breanne Baker (Sr., F/P, Sudan, TX/ Sudan H.S.) with 8:15 left.

Later in the ENMU run, Hickman sank four consecutive free throws with 4:47 to go, giving ENMU a 71-57 lead. The string of charity shots came after a foul on Elena Lovato plus a technical foul against MSSC Head Coach Amy Townsend. When the run by the Zias was over, Eastern owned a 74-57 advantage.

Hickman, who scored 25 points in ENMU’s 77-74 overtime win over Oklahoma Panhandle State on Friday (Dec. 8), connected on 5 of 11 shots and 8 of 9 free throws in the win over Missouri Southern. She was joined in double figures by Sharon Max (Sr., G/F, Fruitland, NM/ Kirtland Central H.S.), with 13 points, and by Baker with 10 points. Baker also contributed 5 rebounds. Senior point guard Jody Avent (Stinnett, TX/South Plains College) added 8 points, 6 assists and 3 rebounds for the Zias.

The Lady Lions received 22 points from Lovato on 6 of 10 shooting, including 5 of 7 three-point attempts. Gariss concluded the game with 17 points, while Gonzalez produced 13 points. Jayme Callahan supplied 6 assists, while earning 5 rebounds and scoring 3 points.

ENMU connected on 54.0% of its shots (27 of 50). The Zias also converted 30 of 37 free throws (81.1%) and earned a 35-30 rebounding margin. MSSC shot 41.2% for the game (21 of 51) and made 18 of 29 free throws (62.1%). The Lady Lions sank 10 of 23 three- pointers, including 6 of 11 in the second half.