ENMU Falls 64-53 at Tarleton State
Lee Tallies 17 Points for Zias

Box Score

STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS — Tarleton State used a 12-0 run early on in the second half to pull away from a 20-18 halftime lead and defeat Eastern New Mexico University, 64-53, in a Lone Star Conference crossover game on Saturday, Dec. 11. With the win, the TexAnns improved to 3-4 on the season. The Zias dropped to 5-4.

Laci Lee (Sr., G, Portales, NM/Portales HS) led all scorers with 17 points, shooting 5 of 9 from the floor and converting on 7 of 9 free throw attempts. The senior added six rebounds and three steals for the Zias. Tia Doss (Jr., P, Albuquerque, NM/Highland HS) added 12 points on 5 for 10 shooting for Eastern, while Loren Scarlett (Sr., P, Throckmorton, TX/Throckmorton HS) led ENMU with eight rebounds.

Both teams had difficulty controlling the ball in the first half, as the Zias had 14 turnovers and the TexAnns lost the ball 11 times. Neither team shot well over the first 20 minutes either, with TSU hitting 6 of 26 shots (23.1%), while ENMU was 6 of 20 (30.0%). Tarleton held a 20-18 halftime lead.

In the second half, both teams improved their offenses, as the Zias shot 13 of 24 from the floor (54.2%) and the TexAnns went 15 for 29 (51.7%). At the 17:50 mark of the second, a free throw by Tiana Bryant (Jr., P, Roswell, NM/University of New Mexico) gave ENMU its first and only lead of the half. Tarleton scored the game’s next 12 points over a span of 3:09 to open up a double-digit lead and never look back on its way to the 11-point victory.

Tarleton State was led by TaNeshia Lamb’s 13 points, while Amanda Franklin tallied 11 and Katie Crawford had 10. Ashton Jenkins led the TexAnns with eight rebounds to go along with Lamb’s six. Lamb also led the team with three steals on the night.

The Zias do not play again until Thursday, Jan. 6, at Greyhound Arena against the University of Central Oklahoma. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. MST.