ENMU Opens Season with 65-55 Victory Over the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Richards Scores 14 Points to Lead Zias

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - Eastern New Mexico University led 37-31 at halftime, scored the first six points of the second half and never trailed the rest of the way, as the Zias opened the 2003-04 season Nov. 16 with a 65-55 victory over the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. The Zias held Colorado Springs to 32.3% shooting (20 of 62), including 27.3% (9 of 33) in the second half. ENMU also achieved a 59-33 rebounding advantage.

Elizabeth Richards (So., F/P, Texico, NM/Texico HS) led the Zias to the win with 14 points, while Loren Scarlett (Jr., P, Throckmorton, TX/Throckmorton HS) added 12 points and Jereena Bosket (Sr., F/P, Las Vegas, NV/Barstow CC) contributed 10 points. ENMU shot only 37.5% from the floor (21 of 56), but converted 22 of 27 free throws (81.5%). CU-Colorado Springs made just 9 of 20 charity shots (45.0%).

Six Zias grabbed seven or more rebounds, led by Bosket with a game-high 14 boards. Scarlett hauled down nine rebounds, with Richards, Laci Lee (Jr., G, Portales, NM/Portales HS) and Mika Robertson (Jr., F, Levelland, TX/Midland College) each providing eight boards and Heather Brown (Fr., G, Hereford, TX/Hereford HS) achieving seven rebounds. Eastern's huge rebounding margin allowed the Zias to win despite committing 31 turnovers. The Mountain Lions had 22 turnovers.

Meghan McGee and B.J. McNeally scored 14 points apiece to lead CU-Colorado Springs. McGee also topped the Mountain Lions with eight rebounds, while McNeally led Colorado Springs with six assists and nine of the team's 15 steals. Julie Richards scored 11 points to go with three blocked shots and three rebounds for the Mountain Lions.

CU-Colorado Springs led 10-5 just 3:36 into the game and held a nine-point lead, 18-9, with 13:01 remaining in the half. Eastern scored the next nine pints to tie the game with 11:31 on the clock, and neither team led by more than three points until the final two minutes of the half.

Richards hit two free throws for a 34-29 ENMU lead at the 1:42 mark. The Mountain Lions reduced the margin to 34-31 on a layup by Janine Ota with 47 seconds left, but the Zias scored the final three points of the half on a basket and foul shot by Lee with 40 seconds to go.

The second half opened with Lee hitting a jumper at the 19:21 mark and Richards scoring on a layup with 18:51 left. Bosket added a jump shot with 18:12 remaining, as ENMU increased its lead to 43-31. CU-Colorado Springs ended the run with a 3-point basket by McGee with 18:02 on the clock.

McGee's 3-pointer started a 7-0 run for the Mountain Lions, who cut the ENMU lead to five points, 43-38, with 15:39 left. The Zias countered with a 3-pointer by Kristi McGuire (So., G, The Woodlands/UT-Pan American) and one of two free throws by Bosket for 47-38 lead.

CU-Colorado Springs kept the Zias from returning to a double-digit lead, and the Mountain Lions eventually pulled within four points, 56-52, with 6:13 remaining. ENMU scored nine of the next 10 points, including three baskets by Scarlett, to take a 65-53 advantage with 0:28 left. CU-Colorado Springs scored the final points on a layup by Courtney Wallace with nine seconds remaining.

ENMU will compete at the Grand Canyon Classic next weekend in Phoenix,. Ariz. The Zias are set to take on host Grand Canyon University on Friday, Nov. 21, at 6 p.m. (MST). If ENMU defeats Grand Canyon, the Zias will play the winner between Fort Lewis College and Westmont College in the championship game on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 4 p.m. (MST). If ENMU loses, the Zias will take on the loser of the FLC-WC game in the third place contest on Saturday at 2 p.m. (MST).