Athletic Report
January 22, 2002

NMHU RALLIES PAST ENMU, 65-53
LAS VEGAS, NM – Becky Gonzales scored 21 second-half points, as New Mexico Highlands University rallied from a three-point halftime deficit to defeat visiting Eastern New Mexico University, 65-53, in a non-conference women’s basketball game, Jan. 22, in Las Vegas, New Mexico. The Cowgirls improved to 4-9 on the season, while ENMU fell to 2-11.

The Zias, on the strength of 7 first-half points from Loren Scarlett (Fr., Post, Throckmorton, TX/Throckmorton H.S.) and 6 first-half points from Jill Stout (So., G, Sudan, TX/Sudan H.S.), owned a 28-25 lead at the intermission. Eastern shot 40.7% from the field (11 of 27) in the first half, while holding NMHU to 25.0% (6 of 24).

In the second half, Highlands shot 56.0% from the field (14 of 25), including 6 of 9 on 3-pointers. Meanwhile, ENMU converted 38.5% of its second-half shots (10 of 26), while sinking only 1 of 6 three-point attempts. Even so, the Zias led 31-25 with 18:55 left and 39-32 with 14:43 to go. The games was tied four times in the second half, including 51-51 with 6:06 remaining. The Zias were outscored, 14-2 the rest of the way.

Gonzales, who was 0 for 5 with no 3-point attempts in the first half, converted 6 of 8 field goals over the final 20 minutes, including 5 of 5 on 3-point attempts. She scored 28 points overall, as she finished 6 of 13 from the field and 11 of 13 at the free throw line. Gonzales scored 7 points during NMHU’s decisive 14-2 run.

The Zias fell behind 56-51 after a 3-pointer by Gonzales with 4:10 left, but ENMU cut the deficit to three points, when Laci Lee (Fr., G, Portales, NM/Portales H.S.) hit a jumper at the 3:46 mark. It was Eastern’s final basket of the game. NMHU led 59-53 after a layup by Kristin Branson with 3:30 left and one free throw by Gonzales with 2:09 remaining.

The lead reached 62-53, following a free throw by Kristal Upchurch with 1:49 to go and two charity shots by Gonzales at the 1:33 mark. Gonzales led all scorers. She was also the only player in double figures for NMHU. Branson and Patricia Vigil each tallied 9 points for the Cowgirls. Vigil and Rochelle Alcon led Highlands with 6 rebounds each.

ENMU’s Juliana Morrison (So., G/F, Amarillo, TX/Palo Duro H.S.) scored 13 points and provided 4 assists. Scarlett finished the game with 10 points and 4 rebounds, while Monica Trimble (Jr., F, Amarillo, TX/South Plains College) contributed 9 points and was 4 of 8 from the field. Tia Doss (Fr., F, Albuquerque, NM/Highland H.S.) led all players with 9 rebounds, and also scored 5 points.

Eastern outrebounded NMHU, 35-31, and committed just 7 turnovers, while forcing 13 miscues by the Cowgirls. Highlands, however, converted 17 of 22 free throws for the game, while ENMU made 7 of its 9 charity tosses. The Cowgirls also gained an edge on 3-point shots, hitting 8 of 17 (47.1%), while limiting the Zias to 4 of 15 (26.7%).

The Zias, who have played 9 of their first 13 games on the road, return to Greyhound Arena for a 5-game homestand starting on Thursday, Jan. 24, against Abilene Christian University. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. (MST). The homestand also includes games against Angelo State (Jan. 24), West Texas A&M (Jan. 26), Texas A&M-Commerce (Jan. 31) and Texas A&M- Kingsville (Feb. 2).