Athletic Report
January 12, 2002

STOUT LEADS ZIAS PAST EAST CENTRAL, 63-60
PORTALES, NM – Sophomore guard Jill Stout (Sudan, TX/Sudan H.S.) hit a 3-point basket with 13 seconds left to tie the game, then put the Zias in front for good by making the second of two technical foul shots with 3.4 seconds to go, as Eastern New Mexico University defeated East Central University, 63-60, Jan. 12 at Greyhound Arena.ENMU ended a six-game losing streak and improved to 2-8 on the season. ECU fell to 7-6 overall.

Stouts heroics helped ENMU score the game’s final six points after falling behind 60-57 with 28 seconds remaining. After Stout’s 3-pointer tied the score, ECU brought the ball down the court, but senior guard B.J. Kiser was called for a charging foul near the baseline. Kent Franz, head coach of the Lady Tigers, was whistled for a technical following the play, and Stout went to the other end of the court to shoot free throws for ENMU. She missed her first technical shot, but swished the second attempt, as the Zias took a 61-60 lead.

The teams moved back to the ECU offensive end of the court, where ENMU in-bounded the ball to Laci Lee (Fr., G, Portales, NM/Portales H.S.). Lee was fouled with 2.4 seconds left. She converted both charity shots to complete the scoring. Eastern New Mexico trailed 18-12 at the 9:05 mark of the first half, but took a 22-21 lead with 4:50 remaining in the period on a basket by Jenny Johnson (Fr., F/P, Jayton, TX/Jayton H.S.).

The Zias led 30-27 at the intermission. An 8-2 run at the start of the second half extended the Zias’ lead to nine points, 38-29. ENMU led by eight points, 47-39, following a 3-pointer by Stout with 9:52 left. The Zias were ahead 50-44 at the 7:20 mark, but ECU rallied to tie the game 52-52 with 5:40 to go. The Lady Tigers led by five points, 59-54, after Laura Gragg connected on a 3-point shot with 3:18 to play. ECU, however, scored just one more point, a free throw by Kiser with 28 seconds remaining.

Stout’s 18 points trailed only her 21-point performance in ENMU’s 70-61 win over New Mexico Highlands University on Nov. 26. Against East Central, Stout was 7 of 13 from the field, while converting 3 of 7 three-point attempts. She also grabbed 7 rebounds, provided 5 assists and earned 3 steals.

Johnson added 13 points and 8 rebounds for the Zias, while Lee contributed 12 points, 4 boards and 4 assists. Monica Trimble (Jr., F, Amarillo, TX/South Plains College) scored 6 points to go with 4 assists. ECU connected on 10 of 23 three-point shots (43.5%), but committed 20 turnovers and was outrebounded by ENMU, 39-37.

Stormy Griffith led the Lady Tigers with 19 points, and topped all players with 11 rebounds. She was 6 of 11 on field goals and 7 of 8 at the line. Griffith also supplied 3 assists, but made 9 turnovers during the game. Gragg was East Central’s only other double-digit scorer. She tallied 15 points on 5 of 9 3-pointers, and also provided 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Lesli Shores added 8 rebounds, 4 points and 4 assists, while Lindsay Furche and Emily Rowton each scored 6 points for the Lady Tigers.

The ENMU/ECU game was the final Lone Star Conference crossover game of the season for both teams. LSC crossover games do not count in the divisional standings. LSC South Division play gets underway for the Zias on Thursday, Jan. 17, when they take on Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, at 5:00 p.m. (MST). ENMU plays at Texas Woman’s University on Saturday, Jan. 19, at 6:00 p.m. (MST).