Southeastern Oklahoma Rallies Past Zias, 71-64

DURANT, OK – Vanessa Tice scored a game-high 22 points, and Tera Newnam added 17 points and 17 rebounds, as Southeastern Oklahoma State University rallied from a 34-27 halftime deficit to defeat visiting Eastern New Mexico University, 71-64, on Thursday, Jan. 9, in Durant, Okla. The Lone Star Conference crossover victory upped SE Oklahoma’s overall record to 4-6, while Eastern dropped to 2-8 on the season. Crossover game do not count in the LSC division standings.

SE Oklahoma, which competes in the LSC North, led 6-2 early in the game. ENMU, from the LSC South, overtook the Lady Savages with an 8-1 run. Eastern expanded its lead to 20-10 with 7:54 remaining in the half.

The Zias held their largest lead, 34-23, at the 2:12 mark of the opening period, following an 8-0 run. Newnam sank a free throw for with 1:57 left in the half, and Lindsey Wilson made a 3-pointer with 27 seconds remaining, as SE Oklahoma closed within seven points at the break.

Eastern’s lead evaporated when the Lady Savages produced a 16-6 run over the first ten minutes of the second half. SOSU tied the game at 40-40 with 10:53 remaining, then completed the run with a layup and free throw by Monica Sanders at the 10:03 mark.
ENMU responded by taking a 49-45 lead after a jumper by Elizabeth Richards (Fr., F, Texico, NM/Texico HS) with 8:31 to go. The Lady Savages moved back in front, 53-51, on a 3-pointer by Tice with 6:06 on the clock. Tice’s basket was part of an 11-2 run that gave SOSU a 56-51 advantage with just 4:46 left.

Monica Trimble (Sr., F, Amarillo, TX/South Plains College) pulled Eastern within one point, 56-55, when she converted two free throws with 3:24 remaining. Valencia Rollins (Sr., Post, Long Beach, CA/Western Wyoming College) did the same for ENMU at the 2:55 mark, cutting the Lady Savages’ lead to 58-57.

A basket and foul shot by Newnam started an 8-2 run that gave SE Oklahoma a 66-59 edge with just 52 seconds remaining. Newnam scored six points and Tice added two points during the run. The Lady Savages led by as many as eight points during the final minute, although Eastern briefly cut the deficit to five points, 69-64, on a 3-pointer by Laci Lee (So., G, Portales, NM/ Portales HS) with eight seconds left.

Although Tice led all players in scoring with 22 points, Newnam may have had the more impressive performance. She not only scored 17 points to go with 17 rebounds, but also supplied four assists, three blocked shots and a steal. She was 7 of 9 from the floor, and was the only SE Oklahoma player to earn more than three rebounds. She played 38 minutes, and had her only struggle at the free throw line, where she converted just three of 10 shots.

Joining Vice and Newnam in double figures was Reed, who tallied 12 points and hit three of four 3-point attempts. Randi Wilson supplied a team-high five assists, while Morgan Moylan led the Lady Savages with three steals.

Lee hit five of eight field goals, including two of three 3-pointers, to lead Eastern in scoring with 15 points. She also achieved five assists, four rebounds and two steals. Tia Doss (So., Post, Albuquerque, NM/Highland HS) tacked on 12 points and was six of 10 from the floor. Rollins scored 11 points, hauled down five rebounds and earned three steals.

Richards also played well for ENMU. She scored eight points, grabbed seven rebounds, supplied three assists and registered three steals. She also led the Zias with 34 minutes played.

Eastern connected on 41.0% of its field goals (25 of 61), while SE Oklahoma shot 47.1% from the field. The Lady Savages also connected on six of 15 three-pointers (40.0%) and held ENMU to just four three-pointers on 20 attempts (20.0%).

ENMU was perfect at the free throw line (10 of 10), but took twenty fewer free throws than Southeastern. The Lady Savages hit 17 of 30 charity shots. ENMU was called for 25 fouls, while SOSU recorded 12 fouls.

The Zias will travel to Ada, Okla., for an LSC crossover game on Saturday, Jan. 11, against East Central University. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. (MST).