Southwestern Oklahoma Defeats Zias, 64-56
Bulldogs End Game with 11-5 Run to Extend 53-51 Lead

PORTALES, NM – Southwestern Oklahoma State University took a 27-22 halftime lead, held off a second-half rally by Eastern New Mexico University, and scored 11 of the game’s final 16 points to earn a 64-56 victory over the Zias, Jan. 18 at Greyhound Arena. The Lone Star Conference crossover win improved the Bulldogs to 6-9 on the season. ENMU fell to 3-10 overall.

SW Oklahoma led by eight points, 17-9, at the 9:40 mark of the first half, after Paige Adams rebounded her own missed jumper and scored on a layup. The Zias scored the next seven points, on a 3-pointer by Monica Trimble (Sr., F, Amarillo, TX/South Plains College) and two free throws and a layup by Laci Lee (So., G, Portales, NM/Portales HS), as ENMU cut the lead to 17-16.

The Bulldogs countered with five unanswered points for a 22-16 edge. SWOSU led 24-22 entering the final minute of the half. Adams sank a 3-pointer with 44 seconds to go to increase the Bulldogs’ lead to five points.

Adams also scored the first basket of the second half, starting SW Oklahoma on an 8-2 run. SWOSU owned a 35-24 advantage with 16:44 remaining.

ENMU also trailed by 11 points, 37-26, at the 14:09 mark, but used field goals by Trimble and Loren Scarlett (So., Post, Throckmorton, TX/Throckmorton HS), plus a 3-pointer by Elizabeth Richards (Fr., F, Texico, NM/ Texico HS), to get within four points, 37-33, with 11:38 left. Jenny Johnson (So., Post, Jayton, TX/ Jayton HS) added jumper with 10:49 to go, cutting SWOSU’s lead to 37-35.

The Bulldogs scored the next basket, but a 3-pointer by Trimble pulled ENMU to within a single point, 39-38, at the 9:03 mark. SW Oklahoma scored three layups over the next two minutes, as the lead increased to 45-38. Eastern eventually moved within two points, 53-51, when Valencia Rollins (Sr., Post, Long Beach, CA/Western Wyoming College) put in a layup with 2:36 to go.

Amanda Burris hit a 3-pointer for SW Oklahoma at the 2:14 mark, and Eastern never got closer than five points the rest of the way. The Bulldogs’ lead was 60-53 with 23 seconds left, following two free throws by Ashlee Hamar. SWOSU made four more free throws in the final 15 seconds to clinch the win. The Bulldogs were 14 of 17 at the line overall.

The Bulldogs shot 43.4% for the game (23 of 53), including 52.0% over the final 20 minutes (13 of 25). Eastern finished the game with 39.2% shooting (20 of 51), but shot just 29.2% in the first half (7 of 24). The Zias were 13 of 27 (48.4%) in the second half.
SW Oklahoma earned a sizeable advantage on the boards, as the Bulldogs hauled down 42 rebounds and ENMU managed just 26 caroms. The Bulldogs grabbed 13 offensive boards.

Eastern’s improved shooting in the second half, helped the Zias finish eight of 19 on 3-point shots (6 of 12 in the second half). Richards, who went three of five from behind the arc, led ENMU with 14 points. She also recorded five steals and four rebounds. Lee and Trimble each contributed 11 points, with Lee also providing seven assists and one steal. Trimble scored nine of her points by sinking three of six 3-point attempts.
Rollins added eight points, three rebounds and two steals. Jennifer Strebeck (Fr., G, Texico, NM/Texico HS) earned three assists.

The Bulldogs placed four players in double figures, led by Kiki McClellan, who scored 16 points and registered eight rebounds. She was seven of 11 on field goal attempts. Adams added 13 points and four rebounds, while Burris completed the game with 13 points, five rebounds and two steals. Hamar tallied 10 points and led the Bulldogs with six assists.

ENMU will open LSC South Division action on Thursday, Jan. 23 at Abilene Christian University. Tip-off in Abilene, Texas, is set for 5 p.m. (MST).

Eastern will complete the road trip at Angelo State University on Saturday, Jan. 25. The Rambelles are 13-1 on the season and ranked #15 in NCAA Division II. Game time in San Angelo, Texas, is 5 p.m. (MST).