Zias Pull Away from UCO for 69-54 Win
Scarlett Leads ENMU with 15 Points; Lee Adds 12 Points, 13 Boards, 5 Assists

EDMOND, OK - Loren Scarlett (Jr., P, Throckmorton, TX/Throckmorton HS) scored 15 points, and Laci Lee (Jr., G, Portales, NM/Portales HS) provided 12 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists, as Eastern New Mexico University defeated the University of Central Oklahoma, 69-54, Dec. 4, at the Hamilton Field House. ENMU led 33-32 at halftime, then outscored the Bronchos 36-22 in the second half. The Lone Star Conference crossover win improved ENMU to 3-3 overall, while UCO fell to 2-3. LSC crossover games do not count in the divisional standings.

ENMU opened the game with a 6-2 run, but the Bronchos tied the game, 8-8. The Zias again moved out by six points, 14-8, and led 18-11 following a layup by Elizabeth Richards (So., F/P, Texico, NM/Texico HS) with 10:11 left in the first half.

Central Oklahoma tallied the next six points to cut the deficit to one, but ENMU retained the lead until Lindsay Young and Tara Stewart scored back-to-back layups to tie the game, 25-25, at the 5:22 mark. The Zias countered with two free throws by Heather Brown (Fr., G, Hereford, TX/Hereford HS) and a three-pointer by Richards. UCO put together a 7-1 run for a 32-31 lead with five seconds remaining in the half, but ENMU's Kristi McGuire (So., G, The Woodlands, TX/U. of Texas-Pan American) hit a jumper at the buzzer, giving the Zias a one-point lead.

The teams were deadlocked at 38-38 with 18:08 to go, but the Zias went on a 16-2 run during the next 10 minutes to build a commanding 54-40 lead with 8:22 left. Scarlett started the run with a 3-pointer, then added a jumper for a 43-38 advantage. Brown and Richards scored on both sides of a basket by UCO, making the score 47-40.

McGuire tacked on a 3-point basket for a 10-point margin. The Zias completed the run with a jumper by Lee and a layup by Brown. UCO rallied to within eight points two times, at 58-50 with 5:13 left and at 60-52 with 2:40 remaining. Eastern closed out the game with a 9-2 run.

Scarlett, whose 15 points led all players for both teams, was 7 of 12 from the floor and blocked three UCO shots. Lee's 12 points were matched by McGuire, and her 13 rebounds were equalled by Richards. ENMU finished with four players in double figures, including 10 points by Brown. Richards and Jereena Bosket (Sr., P, Las Vegas, NV/Barstow CC) added nine points each.

Lee contributed five assists, a blocked shot and a steal. McGuire was 5 of 7 on field goals (2 for 2 on 3-pointers), and earned four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Brown provided six boards and two assists.

Young was UCO's only double-digit scorer. Erica Bramlett and April Woods each recorded eight points, while Jackee' Brown chipped in seven points and Tara Stewart scored six. Stewart also earned five rebounds and a steal. The Bronchos shot just 31.9% for the game (22 of 69) and were 5 of 24 (20.8%) from behind the three-point arc. UCO committed just 10 turnovers and forced 16 turnovers by ENMU.

The Zias were 27 of 61 from the field (44.3%) and made 5 of 15 three-point shots (33.3%). Eastern gained a huge edge in rebounding, as the Zias hauled down 50 boards to just 33 caroms for UCO. ENMU also converted 10 of 14 free throws, while UCO hit 5 of 6 charity shots.

Eastern New Mexico University has not yet played a home game. The Zias will complete a stretch of seven consecutive road games on Saturday, Dec. 6, against Northeastern State University. The LSC crossover game will start at 1 p.m. (MST) in Tahlequah, Okla.