Northeastern State Defeats Zias, 53-49
Lady Reds Hit Nine Three-Point Shots

TAHLEQUAH, OK - Northeastern State University ended the game with a 19-9 run, including a trio of 3-point baskets, as the Lady Reds defeated Eastern New Mexico University, 53-49, in a Lone Star Conference crossover game, Dec. 6 at Jack Dobbins Fieldhouse. NSU upped its record to 6-1, while ENMU fell to 3-4. Northeastern State sank nine 3-pointers during the game, and took advantage of 28 turnovers by the Zias.

LSC crossover games do not count in the divisional standings. ENMU will play its first LSC South game of the year on Dec. 16, when West Texas A&M University comes to Greyhound Arena for a 6 p.m. (MST) start. The contest will be the Zias' first home game of the season.

In Saturday's game at Northeastern State, ENMU led 40-34 with 8:34 remaining in the game. The Lady Reds recorded six straight points to tie the score, then moved in front for good on a 3-point shot by Leslie Warner with 4:19 to go. NSU led 46-42 at the 2:36 mark, then took a 49-42 advantage on another 3-pointer by Warner. Eastern scored on a layup by Laci Lee (Jr., G, Portales, NM/Portales HS) with 1:21 to go, but the Lady Reds answered with a 3-pointer by Jenna Miller that made the score 52-44 with 1:02 left.

The Zias pulled within three points, 52-49, when Mika Robertson (Jr., F, Levelland, TX/Midland College) hit two free throws with 10 seconds left. Rikki Hall sealed the win for NSU by hitting the first of two free throws less than a second after Robertson's second charity shot.

In the first half, Northeastern led 5-2, but the Zias ran off eight straight points to take a 10-5 lead. ENMU led by eight points, 18-10, following a three-point play by Lee with 6:58 left in the half. The Lady Reds tallied the next 10 points to lead 20-18 with just under four minutes remaining in the period.

Eastern took a 21-20 advantage on two free throws by Robertson and one for two at the line by Jereena Bosket (Sr., P, Las Vegas, NV/Barstow CC). Northeastern State scored the next six points on two free throws by Miller, a two-point basket by Mindy Foster and two free throws by Kelli Griffith. The Lady Reds led 26-21 with 1:33 to go before halftime. Lee scored a basket for ENMU with 28 seconds left and Griffith completed the first-half scoring on a basket with six seconds left.

Warner paced the NSU offense with 14 points. She was 5 of 10 from the field, including 4 for 6 from 3-point range. Hall added 10 points, nine rebounds and three steals, while Griffith scored eight points to go with six assists and four steals.

Lee scored 15 points, and was the only Zia in double figures. She connected on 5 of 10 field goals and converted 5 for 5 at the line. She also grabbed five rebounds and earned two steals. Elizabeth Richards (So., F/P, Texico, NM/Texico HS) led all players with 12 boards, and also contributed seven points, four steals and two assists.

Bosket scored seven points and had three rebounds, but committed seven turnovers. Heather Brown (Fr., G, Hereford, TX/ Hereford HS) also had seven turnovers for the Zias. She scored five points and grabbed four rebounds.

The Zias limited Northeastern State to 35.8% shooting (19 of 53), but the Lady Reds gained an edge by sinking nine of 29 three-pointers. NSU was 6 for 9 at the free throw stripe.

Eastern earned a 31-25 margin on the boards. The Zias were 15 of 33 (45.5%) from the field, but hit just 2 of 9 three-point tries. The Zias shot 85.0% at the line, sinking 17 of 20 charity shots.