Zias Defeat Texas A&M-Commerce, 79-74, Behind Laci Lee’s 21 Points, Nine Rebounds
ENMU Improves to 8-8, Including 2-1 in LSC South

COMMERCE, TX — Junior guard Laci Lee (Portales, NM/Portales HS) scored 21 points and hauled down nine rebound to lead Eastern New Mexico University to a 79-74 win over Texas A&M-Commerce, in a Lone Star Conference South Division game, Jan. 22 at the A&M-C Field House. ENMU recorded its fourth win in the last five games and improved to 8-8 on the season, including 2-1 in the LSC South. TAMU-Commerce, which opened LSC South play with a 75-50 win at TAMU-Kingsville on Jan. 19, dropped to 4-11 overall, 1-1 in the LSC South.

The Zias led 42-35 at halftime and never trailed in the second half. Even so, Texas A&M-Commerce trailed by only two points with less than three minutes left, and cut the lead to a single point with just under a minute remaining.

After A&M-C got within 72-70 on a free throw by Amy Putman with 2:43 on the clock, the Zias answered with a 3-pointer by Elizabeth Richards (So., F/P, Texico, NM/Texico HS) at the 1:45 mark. The Lions scored the next four points on jumpers by Tamikki Williams, with 1:28 left, and by Putman, with 58 seconds left. The 4-0 run reduced ENMU’s lead to 75-74.

TAMU-Commerce missed all three of its field goal attempts the rest of the way and did not score again. Eastern added insurance points on two free throws by Heather Brown (Fr., G, Hereford, TX/Hereford HS) with 32 seconds remaining, plus a pair of free throws by Lee with two seconds to go.

Lee was 5 of 10 from the field, including 3 of 5 on three-point shots. She converted 8 of 8 free throws, as the Zias sank 17 of 20 free throws overall. Brown added 17 points and was 7 of 8 at the charity stripe. Jereena Bosket (Sr., F/P, Las Vegas, NV/Barstow CC) contributed 16 points and seven rebounds. She was 7 of 14 from the floor.

Richards chipped in eight points and eight rebounds, while Tiana Bryant (So., P, Roswell, NM/Univ. of New Mexico) supplied eight points and five boards. Junior post Loren Scarlett (Throckmorton, TX/Throckmorton HS) played just 19 minutes due to foul trouble, but scored seven points and had six rebounds.

Eastern controlled the glass, earning 46 rebounds, compared to 28 rebounds for the Lions. The Zias shot 45.0% for the game (27 of 60), while connecting on 8 of 21 three-pointers. A&M-C sank 44.4% of its field goals (28 of 63) and made 6 of 16 three-pointers. The Lions made just 12 of 19 free throws (63.2%).

TAMU-Commerce placed four starters in double figures, topped by Putman with 20 points on the night. She was 7 of 11 on field goals, and produced eight rebounds and three assists.

Williams scored 19 points for the Lions, to go with six assists and four steals. Hazel Woods also scored 19 points, and led A&M-C with four 3-pointers on nine attempts. Althea Byfield registered 10 points on 5 of 7 shooting. Jennifer McCord, the remaining starter, scored just three points, but contributed six assists.

The first half featured several offensive spurts by both teams. ENMU quickly earned an 11-2 advantage in the first 3:25 of contest, but TAMU-Commerce put together its own 11-2 run to tie the score, 13-13, with 13:49 left in the half. The Zias led just 24-20 at the 8:01 mark, but ENMU went on a 16-5 run to take a 40-25 lead with 2:58 remaining. Lee and Brown each hit a 3-pointer during the run. A&M-C reduced the difference to seven points by scoring 10 of the final 12 points of the half.

Richards gave ENMU a 10-point lead just 24 seconds into the second half, when she sank a 3-point shot. Eastern owned a 50-39 margin at the 17:17 mark, but the Lions worked their way back within four points, 54-50, with 12:53 remaining. A three-point play by Williams with 9:47 left, brought A&M-C within 60-57. The Zias used a 9-2 run to take a 69-59 lead, but had to hold off the Lions in the closing minutes.

ENMU will play at Texas A&M University-Kingsville on Saturday, Jan. 24. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. (MST). The Zias will return home for back-to-back games against Abilene Christian University on Jan. 29 and Angelo State on Jan. 31.