Zias Start 2002-03 Season with 84-64 win over Panhandle State

PUEBLO, CO – Junior forward Juliana Morrison (Amarillo, TX/Palo Duro HS) and sophomore post player Tia Doss (Albuquerque, NM/Highland HS) scored 16 points apiece, as Eastern New Mexico University defeated Oklahoma Panhandle State University, 84-64, on the first day of the Al Kaly Tournament, Nov. 22 at the University of Southern Colorado. The game was the season-opener for both teams.

It was a solid start for ENMU’s first-year head coach, Dan Buzard, who was an assistant last season, as the Zias struggled to a 5-20 overall record. Last year, the Zias played with no seniors and seven freshmen. This year, Eastern has three seniors and nine returning players.

The game also provided a successful start to the ENMU career of freshman forward Elizabeth Richards (Texico, NM/Texico HS), who scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in her first collegiate game. Richards was 5 of 9 from the field (2 of 3 three-pointers) and 2 for 2 at the line.

Eastern built a double-digit lead just over eight minutes into the game, and held a 38-26 advantage at halftime. ENMU led by 14 or more points for most of the second half, and owned a 19-point advantage several times in the final 11 minutes. Eastern led 73-54 with 4:28 left, and achieved its largest lead, 21 points, at 79-58 and 81-60 in the final 2:12.

While tying for the ENMU scoring lead, Doss converted 6 of 9 field goals and was 4 for 4 at the charity stripe. Morrison connected on 5 of 14 field goals and sank 4 of 4 free throws. She scored baskets on 2 of 4 three-point shots.

Junior forward LaTasha Mathiew also reached double figures for ENMU. She scored 10 points in 17 minutes off the bench. The Zias also received eight points, three assists and three steals from Laci Lee (So., G, Portales, NM/Portales HS), while Valencia Rollins (Sr., Post, Long Beach, CA/Western Wyoming College) provided six points and six rebounds.

The Lady Aggies were led by Joy Herzog, who topped all players with 19 points. She also earned eight rebounds and supplied two assists. Starlet Bohannon contributed 15 points and eight boards, while Kasia Plachta earned 11 points and five rebounds. Cassidy Francis also hauled down eight boards for OPSU. Ami Neff was credited with a team-high five assists.

ENMU shot 47.7% for the game (31 of 65), including 52.9% (18 of 34) in the second half. The Zias were a stellar 18 of 22 (81.8%) at the free throw line. Meanwhile, Panhandle State shot just 31.8% overall (21 of 66), after hitting on just 26.5% of its field goals (9 of 34) during the first 20 minutes.

Both teams controlled the ball reasonably well, with Eastern committing 14 turnovers and OPSU losing the ball 13 times. The teams were credited with 42 rebounds apiece.
ENMU will take on host Southern Colorado on Saturday, Nov. 23, on the second day of the tournament. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. (MST). Southern Colorado defeated William Penn University (Iowa), 83-49, in the first round. Although second round pairings were scheduled prior to the event, ENMU and USC will play for the tournament championship, while OPSU and WPU will battle it out for third place.