Athletic Report
January 24, 2002

ABILENE CHRISTIAN HOLDS OFF ZIAS, 73-70
PORTALES, NM – Sophomore post player Melanie Carter scored 23 points, leading Abilene Christian University to a 73-70 Lone Star Conference victory over Eastern New Mexico University, Jan. 24 at Greyhound Arena. ACU improved to 7-9 on the season, including 2-2 in the LSC South. The Zias dropped to 2-12, 0-3 in the LSC South.

Eastern’s only lead of the night was 1-0 on a Jill Stout (So., G, Sudan, TX/Sudan H.S.) free throw 1:21 into the game, but the Zias stayed close throughout the contest. ACU did take a temporary 10-point lead at 13-3, but ENMU countered with a 11-2 run that cut the deficit to a single point, 15-14, with 11:09 remaining in the first half.The Wildcats never achieved another double-digit lead, but led by eight points, 37-29, at the intermission.

ENMU quickly tied the score, 37-37, with an 8-0 run that included one basket each by Monica Trimble (Jr., F, Amarillo, TX/South Plains College) and Juliana Morrison (So., G/F, Amarillo, TX/Palo Duro H.S.), plus two layups by Tia Doss (Fr., F, Albuquerque, NM/ Highland H.S.). ACU pulled out to a 47-39 lead with 13:57 to go, but Eastern battled back within a single point, 52-51, when Stout grabbed an offensive rebound and sank a 3-pointer at the 10:21 mark.

The Wildcats later held leads of 69-63 with 1:35 left and 71-66 with 50 seconds left. The Zias again cut the deficit to one point, 71-70, on a basket by Morrison with 33 seconds on the clock and a jumper by Loren Scarlett (Fr., Post, Throckmorton, TX/Throckmorton H.S.) with 9 seconds remaining.

Jenny Jackson of ACU completed the scoring by hitting a pair of free throws with 5 seconds left. Carter led three Wildcats in double figures. Brenda Jacoby added 15 points and Jackson scored 11 points. Carter also topped the ACU stats with 8 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. Jackson grabbed 5 rebounds and Leah Wilson contributed 3 assists. The Wildcats were 6 of 14 on 3-point shots (42.9%) and 17 of 21 (81.0%) at the free throw line.

ENMU was paced by Stout with 17 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals. Morrison tallied 14 points, 5 assists and 3 steals, while Scarlett added 11 points and 8 rebounds. Doss provided an additional 10 points, 5 boards and 3 steals.

Each team shot well for one half. The Wildcats connected on 59.1% of their shots (13 of 22) in the first half, but sank just 41.4% in the second half (12 of 29). The Zias, who made only 12 of 39 shots in the first half (30.8%), improved to 15 of 30 (50.0%) over the final 20 minutes.For the game, ACU shot 49.0% (25 of 51), while ENMU was 27 of 69 (39.1%).

Eastern outrebounded the Wildcats, 35-33, and committed only 12 turnovers, while forcing 20 turnovers by ACU. The Wildcats, however, made three more 3-pointers and four more free throws than the Zias while earning the win. The game began a 5-game homestand for the Zias.

ENMU remains at home for games against Angelo State University (Jan. 26), West Texas A&M University (Jan. 28), Texas A&M University- Commerce (Jan. 31) and Texas A&M University-Kingsville (Feb. 2). All of the games will be played at Greyhound Arena, starting at 6:00 p.m. (MST).