Zias Fall to Fort Lewis, 63-60, in Final Minute of Grand Canyon Classic Championship Game

PHOENIX, AZ - Fort Lewis College made three free throws in the final minute to break a 60-60 tie and defeat Eastern New Mexico University, 63-60, in the championship game of the Grand Canyon Classic, Nov. 22 at Antelope Gymnasium on the Grand Canyon University campus. Fort Lewis improved to 4-0. ENMU, which lost for the first time this season, fell to 2-1.

Fort Lewis led 34-27 at halftime, and scored the first basket of the second half, but the Zias rallied with a 13-5 run to pull within 41-40, with 12:39 remaining. Three-point baskets by K.T. Creech and Jamie Pratt extended the lead to 47-40 and began a 13-5 run by the Skyhawks. Fort Lewis owned a 54-45 advantage with 7:02 left.

Once again the Zias rallied. ENMU cut the deficit to 54-42 on a jumper by Laci Lee (Jr., G, Portales, NM/Portales HS) at the 3:05 mark. Toni Kinsey tacked on two free throws for FLC with 2:25 to go, but the Zias pulled back within one point, 56-55, on a basket and free throw by Jereena Bosket (Sr., F/P, Las Vegas, NV/Barstow CC) with 2:11 left.

Fort Lewis held three-point leads two more times before Elizabeth Richards (So., F/P, Texico, NM/Texico HS) sank a 3-point shot with 53 seconds remaining to tie the score, 60-60. The Skyhawks picked up the final three points at the line, and held the Zias scoreless the rest of the way. Karen Thies made one of two free throws for Fort Lewis with 23 seconds left, then hit two charity shots with 14 seconds on the clock.

ENMU led early in the game 8-2 and 10-4. The Skyhawks answered with a 9-2 run for a 13-12 lead with 10:53 left in the first half.

Eastern scored the next six points on a three-point play by Heather Brown (Fr., G, Hereford, TX/Hereford HS) and a three-point basket by Richards. The Zias led 18-13 with 8:44 remaining in the half and held a 20-17 lead at the 6:34 mark. Fort Lewis went on a 12-2 run to take a 29-22 lead with 1:54 on the clock, and increased the lead to 34-24 after Amy Mohr hit two free throws with 32 seconds to go. ENMU recorded the final three points of the half on a layup and foul shot by Brown at the 15-second mark.

Mohr finished the game with 20 points, and was FLC's only player in double figures. She also led the Skyhawks with 10 rebounds and had two steals, a blocked shot and an assist. Thies scored nine points for the Skyhawks, while Kellie Becker and Jamie Pratt collected eight points each. Kinsey scored seven points and led all players with eight assists.

Fort Lewis shot 35.6% from the field (21 of 59), including 6 of 15 three-pointers (40.0%). The Skyhawks were just 15 of 23 (65.2%) at the line, but committed only nine turnovers.

Eastern placed three players in double figures, led by Lee with 15 points. Lee also contributed six rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Richards added 13 points and eight rebounds. Brown scored 11 points and was 4 for 5 from the field. Bosket tallied nine points and six rebounds for the Zias.

ENMU shot 42.9% for the game (21 of 49), including 50.0% (11 of 22) in the second half. The Zias also converted 6 of 12 three-pointers (50.0%) and 12 of 14 free throws (85.7%). Eastern achieved a 40-32 rebounding edge, but committed 25 turnovers.

The Zias will return to action at the Dr. Pepper Classic at West Texas A&M University on Friday, Nov. 28, and Saturday, Nov. 29. ENMU will take on West Texas A&M at 5 p.m. (MST) on Friday, and will play Emporia State University at 1 p.m. (MST) on Saturday.