Grand Canyon Overcomes Big Halftime Deficit, But Zias Rally in Closing Minutes for 59-57 Win

PHOENIX, AZ - The Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team saw a 36-17 halftime lead disappear in the second half, but reversed things in time, as the Zias rallied from a five-point deficit in the final 4:27 to improve to 2-0 with a 59-57 win over Grand Canyon University, Nov. 21 in the 2003 Canyon Classic at Antelope Gymnasium. The game was the regular season opener for Grand Canyon.

ENMU will take on Fort Lewis College at 4 p.m. (MST) on Saturday, Nov. 22, in the Canyon Classic championship game. Fort Lewis defeated Westmont College (Calif.), 87-80, in the other first round game. Grand Canyon and Westmont will battle for third place at 2 p.m. (MST).

The Zias shot 56.5% in the first half (13 of 23) in building their 19-point halftime margin. ENMU made 5 of 9 first half 3-pointers and held Grand Canyon to just 6 of 28 shooting (21.4%) from the floor. The Antelopes made only 1 of 12 three-point attempts in the first half.

GCU turned the ball over on its first possession of the second half. ENMU recorded a layup off the turnover, as the Zias' lead increased to 21 points, 38-17.

Grand Canyon countered with a strong rally that eventually gave the Antelopes the lead, 46-44, on a 3-pointer by Jennifer Cobb with 7:38 remaining. The offensive surge by GCU was part of a 37-11 run after Eastern's transition basket to open the half. When the 'Lopes run was over, Grand Canyon owned a 54-49 lead with 4:27 left in the game.

ENMU closed the contest with a 10-3 run. Jereena Bosket (Sr., F/P, Las Vegas, NV/Barstow CC) scored seven of Eastern's points during the run, as she finished the game with 10 points. Bosket also recorded an assist during the rally.

Junior guard Laci Lee (Portales, NM/Portales HS) led the Zias with a double-double. She scored 11 points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds. She also had three assists and one steal. Junior post Lauren Scarlett (Throckmorton, TX/Throckmorton HS) also tallied 11 points. She grabbed three rebounds, blocked three shots and earned two assists. Bosket and Kristi McGuire (So., G, The Woodlands, TX/U. of Texas-Pan American) each contributed 10 points, as the Zias finished with four players in double figures. Elizabeth Richards (So., F/P, Texico, NM/Texico HS) produced five boards, four assists and two steals, but committed nine turnovers. ENMU overcame a total of 27 turnovers by shooting 45.3% for the game (21 of 46) and by achieving a 36-31 rebounding edge. Eastern's 3-point shooting cooled off in the second half (1 for 6), as the Zias finished 6 of 15 (40.0%) for the game.

The Antelopes shot 57.1% in the second half (16 of 28), while holding the Zias to 34.8% (8 of 23) over the final 20 minutes.

Denica Davis led Grand Canyon with 21 points, including 20 points in the second half. She was 8 of 14 from the floor and 5 of 8 at the line. She also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Cobb and Kelly McRee each tacked on nine points for GCU. Cobb was credited with five steals, two assists and a blocked shot.