ENMU Sets School Record with 68.3% Shooting As Zias Roll Past Tarleton State, 84-63

PORTALES, NM — The Zias of Eastern New Mexico University shot a school record 68.3% from the field, including 7 of 9 three-pointers, as ENMU defeated visiting Tarleton State University, 84-63, in a Lone Star Conference crossover game, Jan. 15 at Greyhound Arena. Eastern improved to 7-8 on the season. Tarleton State fell to 7-7.

ENMU placed all five starters in double figures. Jereena Bosket (Sr., F/P, Las Vegas, NV/Barstow CC) was Eastern’s leading scorer with 18 points. She was 5 of 10 from the field and made 8 of 10 free throws.

Loren Scarlett (Jr., P, Throckmorton, TX/Throckmorton HS) registered a nearly-perfect night as a shooter for the Zias. She connected on 5 of 5 field goals, including four three-pointers, and sank 3 of 4 free throws. She finished the game with 17 points.

Junior guard Laci Lee (Portales, NM/Portales HS) also scored 17 points. She was 8 of 11 on field goals and hit her only three-point attempt of the game. Elizabeth Richards (So., F/P, Texico, NM/Texico HS) made 6 of 9 field goals and went 2 for 2 at the line to score 14 points. Heather Brown (Fr., G, Hereford, TX/Hereford HS) was 3 of 4 from the floor (2 of 3 on 3-pointers) and connected on 6 of 6 charity shots to end the game with 14 points.

The Zias shot 66.7% in the first half (12 of 18) and 69.6% in the second half (16 of 23) to conclude the evening with 28 baskets on 41 shots. Eastern also was successful on 21 of 24 free throw shots (87.5%).

Scarlett hit three 3-pointers during the first half, helping the Zias build a 39-28 advantage. ENMU led 7-2 after Scarlett sank her first 3-pointer just 3:14 into the contest. Scarlett’s second 3-pointer expanded ENMU’s lead to six points, 12-6, with 14:07 remaining in the half. Her third trifecta gave the Zias a 21-10 lead with 10:22 left in the period.

TSU reduced Eastern’s margin to three points with a 12-4 run that pulled the TexAnns within 25-22 with 6:41 left in the first half. TaNesiah Lamb scored seven points during the run. Eastern increased the lead to 13 points, 39-26, late in the half, but Casey Davies of Tarleton State scored the final basket of the stanza with 41 seconds left.

Scarlett, Bosket and Brown each had nine points at halftime. The Zias not only hit 12 of 18 field goals in the first half, but also made 4 of 5 attempts from behind the 3-point line and were 11 of 11 at the free throw stripe. Meanwhile, TSU shot 38.2% in the first half (13 of 34) and connected on just 1 of 7 three-pointers. Lamb sank TSU’s only free throw attempt of the half.

The Zias led 55-38 following a jumper by Bosket with 13:24 left in the game. Less than a minute later, Bosket hit the second of two free throws to give ENMU another 17-point lead at 56-39 with 12:37 remaining.

Tarleton State scored 17 of the next 20 points to reduce the lead to 59-56 at the 8:29 mark. Lee scored a basket for ENMU with 7:50 left, then Lamb sank a jump shot with 7:10 to go, pulling TSU back within three-points, 61-58.

The TexAnns never got closer, as ENMU finished the game with a 23-5 run. Eastern scored five unanswered points before Tarleton State recorded a basket to cut the lead to 66-60. The Zias then scored 12 unanswered points for a 78-60 advantage with 2:46 left. Michelle Martin sank a 3-pointer on TSU’s next possession, but the Zias scored the final six points.

Eastern’s dominance of the boards was nearly as impressive as its highly-successful shooting. The Zias concluded the night with 32 rebounds, compared to just 17 boards for TSU. Bosket and Brown hauled down seven rebounds apiece, while Richards and Lee each provided six rebounds. Tarleton State’s top rebounders were Davies and Ashton Jenkins with three each.

Brown recorded six assists and Lee added five, as the Zias accumulated 18 assists on 28 baskets. Even so, Eastern had to overcome 30 turnovers, compared to 16 turnovers for TSU.

Lamb scored 17 points for Tarleton State. Davies added 12 points and was 5 of 7 on field goals. She fouled out with 5:13 remaining. Katie Crawford was credited with six assists, while Lamb contributed six steals and Martin had four steals. The TexAnns registered 17 steals overall.

ENMU returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 22, in an LSC South game against the Lions of Texas A&M University-Commerce. Game time in Commerce, Texas, is slated for 5 p.m. (MST). The Zias are currently 1-1 in the LSC South, after splitting a pair of conference games against West Texas A&M University.