CSU Pueblo Slips Past ENMU, 74-72, in Overtime
Lee Forces OT with 8-Foot Jumper at the Buzzer

PORTALES, NM — Junior guard Laci Lee (Portales, NM/Portales HS) sank an 8-foot jump shot at the buzzer to send Eastern New Mexico University into overtime against Colorado State University-Pueblo, but the visiting Thunderwolves prevailed in the extra session for a 74-72 win over the Zias, Dec. 18 at Greyhound Arena. ENMU dropped to 4-5 with the loss, while CSU-Pueblo upped its record to 5-4 with the win.

Nadia Fercha, a senior post player for the Thunderwolves, scored 30 points and brought down 11 rebounds to lead all players in both categories. She had eight points at halftime, then tallied 18 points in the second half and added four points in the overtime period. She was 11 of 15 from the field and 8 of 11 at the line.

ENMU trailed 63-58 after Ebony Walker scored on a layup with 1:14 remaining in regulation. Lee made one of two free throws with exactly one minute left to cut the deficit to four points, then scored from the floor with 40 seconds to go. She completed the comeback with her 8-foot jumper at the buzzer. The Thunderwolves missed a jump shot, and had two turnovers, in the final minute of regulation.

The Zias scored the first four points of overtime, on a pair of baskets by Loren Scarlett (Jr., P, Throckmorton, TX/Throckmorton HS). ENMU led 67-63 with 3:34 left, but scored just one point over the next 2:24, as CSU-Pueblo countered with an 8-1 run. The big play for the Thunderwolves was a 3-pointer by Tara Palko with 2:28 on the clock, that vaulted CSU-Pueblo into the lead, 70-68. Fercha hit one of two free throws at the 1:10 mark to increase the lead to three points.

Lee sank two free throws with one minute left, to pull ENMU within a single point at 71-70, but Walker made two free throws with 38 seconds left to extend the lead back to three points. Lee scored again for ENMU on a jumper with 18 seconds remaining.

The Zias tried to steal the in-bounds pass, but CSU-Pueblo kept control of the ball. It took Eastern several seconds to recover before the Zias fouled Fercha with eight seconds left. She sank the first of two free throws to clinch the win. ENMU was unable to shoot before time expired.

Lee topped Eastern’s scoring chart with 21 points on 9 of 17 field goals and 3 of 6 free throws. She tied three other Zias for the team lead with eight rebounds. She also earned three assists. Jereena Bosket (Sr., F/P, Las Vegas, NV/Barstow CC) supplied 15 points, eight boards and two steals. Elizabeth Richards (Sr., F/P, Texico, NM/Texico HS) recorded 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. Scarlett and Kristi McGuire (Jr., G, The Woodlands, TX/Univ. of Texas-Pan American) each tallied nine points, with Scarlett adding eight rebounds.

ENMU trailed by as many as eight points in the closing minutes of the first half. The Zias were behind just 19-18 with 7:56 on the clock, but the Thunderwolves went on a 9-2 run for a 28-20 lead at the 3:41 mark. Each team scored once over the next 35 seconds, before ENMU went on a 10-2 run to tie the score, 32-32, with 43 seconds remaining. Lee had four points and an assist during the run.

Terri Joy made one of two free throws at the 30-second mark, and Fercha connected on one of two charity shots with one second left. CSU-Pueblo held a 34-32 lead at halftime.

Eastern moved in front, 41-40, a 3-pointer by Elizabeth Richards with 14:00 to go. The trifecta was part of an 11-0 surge that gave the Zias a 45-40 advantage with 11:05 remaining. ENMU led 49-42 with 9:42 to play, following a layup by McGuire.

The Thunderwolves score the next six points to reduce the margin to one, then Eastern went on a 5-2 run for a 54-50 lead. Palko connected on a 3-pointer at the 5:35 mark, and Fercha scored just over half-a-minute later, to give CSU-Pueblo the lead. Bosket hit one of two free throws with 4:40 to play, as the Zias tied the score at 55-55. There were three more lead changes before the Thunderwolves completed a 6-0 run on Walker’s layup with 1:14 left.

Walker scored 18 points for CSU-Pueblo to join Fercha in double figures. Walker also earned eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. Joy provided five assists.

The teams finished the game with similar shooting percentages from the floor. ENMU shot 41.2% (28 of 68) and CSU-P shot 42.9% (27 of 63). The Thunderwolves gained an edge at the line, where Pueblo was 17 of 21 (81.0%) and Eastern was 13 of 20 (65.0%). Both teams struggled from 3-point range, with CSU-Pueblo hitting 3 of 19 (15.8%) and ENMU making 3 of 13 (23.1%).

ENMU achieved a 46-36 rebounding lead, after holding a slim 18-17 rebounding margin at halftime. The Zias committed 19 turnovers during the game, while the Thunderwolves lost the ball 18 times.

Eastern has completed its pre-Holiday schedule. The Zias will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 3, against Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Tip-off at Greyhound Arena is scheduled for 2 p.m. (MST).