East Central Shoots 65.5% in Second Half to Rally for 84-76 Win over Zias

ADA, OK – East Central University shot 65.5% from the floor (19 of 29) in the second half, and finished the game at 57.1% overall (28 of 49), as the Lady Tigers defeated Eastern New Mexico University, 84-76, in a Lone Star Conference crossover game, Jan. 11 in Ada, Okla. The Tigers, who trailed 41-33 at halftime, improved to 7-6 on the season. ENMU fell to 2-9.

East Central competes in the LSC North, while ENMU is a member of the LSC South. Crossover games do not count in the LSC division standings.

ENMU started the game with a 16-3 run, and led for most of the first half. Laci Lee (So., G, Portales, NM/Portales HS) scored six points during Eastern’s game-opening run. The Zias held their 13-point lead with 14:07 left in the half, but gave up an 18-5 run that allowed ECU to tie the game, 21-21, at the 6:18 mark. The teams battled back-and-forth for the remainder of the half, until the Zias ended the period with an 10-0 run.

The Eastern advantage swelled to 12 points, 47-35, at the 18:46 mark of the second half, following a 6-2 run by the Zias. ENMU also led 49-37 with 17:39 left in the game, but ECU countered with a 17-4 run to take a 54-53 lead with 12:56 remaining. Kelli Donovan, who finished the game with 17 points, completed the rally with a 3-point basket.

A layup by Juliana Morrison (Jr., F, Amarillo, TX/Palo Duro HS) of ENMU tied the game, 55-55, with 11:54 remaining. ECU moved back in front, on a jump shot by Audra Rupeikaite 15 seconds later, and the Lady Tigers never relinquished the lead.

Including Rupeikaite’s go-ahead basket, East Central went on a 17-2 run to take a 72-57 lead with 7:30 left in the game. ENMU reduced its deficit to nine points, 72-63, following a free throw by LaTasha Mathiew (Jr., F, Houston, TX/Howard CC) with 4:57 to go, but the Lady Tigers scored the next four points.

ENMU closed the distance to eight points, 81-73, on a jumper by Lee at the 33-second mark, and pulled within seven points, 83-76, with 17 seconds left. Laura Gragg of ECU closed out the scoring by hitting the second of two foul shots with six seconds remaining.

Donovan led East Central in scoring, and also contributed four rebounds and five assists. Rupeikaite added 16 points and nine rebounds. Lesli Shores provided 12 points, five rebounds and three assists, while Stormy Griffith scored 11 points for the Lady Tigers. Rashaundra Singleton tallied 10 points, and led all players with 12 rebounds. She also earned five assists and four steals, while playing 39 of the game’s 40 minutes.

Singleton’s rebounding helped the Lady Tigers claim a 49-35 rebounding margin. East Central, however, committed 21 turnovers, compared to 18 turnovers by the Zias.
Eastern received 17 points from Morrison, who sank seven of 13 field goals, including three of eight on three-point attempts. Tia Doss (So., Post, Albuquerque, NM/Highland HS) scored 12 points and grabbed four rebounds, before fouling out with 3:52 left in the game. It was the fourth consecutive game in which Doss scored in double figures.

Lee also reached double figures for ENMU. She scored 10 points on five of 10 shooting, and also recorded three rebounds, three assist and two steals. Elizabeth Richards (Fr., F, Texico, NM/Texico HS) supplied nine points and three assists. Monica Trimble (Sr., F, Amarillo, TX/South Plains College) also tallied nine points for the Zias.

ENMU shot 38.5% for the game (25 of 65), including seven of 28 three-pointers (25.0%). The Zias made 19 of 24 free throws (79.2%).

The Lady Tigers converted five of 12 three-pointers during the game (41.7%) and made 23 of 41 free throws (56.1%). ENMU was whistled for 31 fouls, while East Central was called for 21 fouls.

Eastern New Mexico University returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 16, when the Zias will host Cameron University in an LSC crossover game. Tip-off at Greyhound Arena is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. (MST).