Athletic Report
December 6, 2001

LINDY LOMBARD SCORES 35 POINTS AS MIDWESTERN STATE DEFEATS ENMU, 68-58
PORTALES, NM — Senior guard Lindy Lombard scored 35 points for Midwestern State University, leading the Lady Indians to a 68-58 victory over Eastern New Mexico University, Thursday, Dec. 6, at Greyhound Arena. Midwestern State improved to 5-2 overall, while the Zias fell to 1-5 on the season.

MSU sank 7 of its first 8 shots, and finished the half at 57.9% from the floor (11 of 19). The Lady Indians sank 5 of 8 three-pointers in the first half, and were 11 of 14 at the line. Even so, the Zias owned a 32-28 advantage with 3:42 left in the half, after Tia Doss (Fr., F, Albuquerque, NM/Highland H.S.) hit a pair of free throws.

MSU ended the half with a 10-0 run, and led 38-32 at the intermission. Lombard scored 18 first half points on 5 of 8 shooting (2 of 4 three-pointers) and 6 of 6 at the line. She finished the game 7 of 11 on field goals and 19 of 20 on charity shots. Doss, who scored 17 points for ENMU, was the only other player from either team to reach double digits.

Midwestern State added five unanswered points at the start of the second half, as the Lady Indians extended their run to 15-0. A three-point basket by Doss with 16:48 remaining provided Eastern’s only points in the first six minutes of the second period. MSU led 48-35 with 13:56 left following two free throws by Adrian Fincher.The Lady Indians were in front, 56-39, at the 10:29 mark, after Martha Sturns connected on a pair of free throws.

ENMU gradually reduced the 17-point deficit. Laci Lee (Fr., G, Portales, NM/Portales H.S.) recorded a layup with 4:38 left to pull the Zias within eight points, 58-50. After Doss sank two charity shots just 28 seconds later, Lee added another basket, as the Zias cut the margin to four points, 58-54, with 3:28 to go.

The Zias never got closer, as Midwestern State went 10 for 10 at the free throw line the rest of the way. Lombard provided most of the points, converting 8 of 8 charity attempts and helping MSU end the game with a 10-4 run. Sturns contributed the remaining MSU points by sinking 2 of 2 free throws during the offensive surge. Lombard not only led all scorers, but also earned 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals.

Rosalind Lawrence added 8 points for Midwestern State, while Sturns and Katrina Jordan scored 7 points apiece. Sturns also hauled down 8 rebounds, with Jordan supplying 7 rebounds. Doss earned her 17 points on 6 of 12 shooting and 4 of 4 free throws. She also grabbed 4 rebounds.

Monica Trimble (Jr., Post, Amarillo, TX (South Plains College) scored 9 points and achieved 2 steals. Loren Scarlett (Fr., Post, Throckmorton, TX/Throckmorton H.S.) tallied 7 points for ENMU, as did Juliana Morrison (So., G/F, Amarillo, TX/Palo Duro H.S.). Scarlett brought down 4 boards, while Morrison dished out 3 assists and recorded 3 steals. Lee earned 6 points and 6 rebounds. Jill Stout (So., G, Sudan, TX/Sudan H.S.) provided 5 assists and 5 rebounds.

The Zias shot 35.5% (11 of 31) in the second half, while MSU converted just 29.4% of its field goals (5 of 17) over the final 20 minutes. The Lady Lions took control of the game by canning 20 of 25 free throws in the second half, compared to 3 of 8 free throws for the Zias. MSU finished 31 of 39 at the charity stripe.

Eastern does not play again until Jan. 3, 2002, when the Zias travel to the University of Central Oklahoma. Tipoff in Edmond, Okla., is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. (MST).

REMINDER: Eastern New Mexico’s game against Oklahoma Panhandle State, originally set for Sat., Dec. 8, as been canceled due to overscheduling by OPSU, which changed coaches during the off-season.