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ENMU arrow Athletics arrow News arrow Press Releases arrow 2005 Archive arrow 12/20 Seawolves Overcome 13-Point Deficit to Edge Zias
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Seawolves Overcome 13-Point Deficit to Edge Zias, 62-61, in Alaska
Ratliff Earns 14 Points, Six Rebounds for ENMU

Box Score

ANCHORAGE, AK — For the second time in as many nights, poor shooting in the second
half proved costly for Eastern New Mexico University, as the University of Alaska-Anchorage rallied from a 13-point deficit early in the second half to defeat the Zias, 62-61, on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex. Tristan Burnett scored the tying and winning points for UAA on a pair of free throws with eight seconds left. Megan Ratliff (Jr., G, Farmington, NM/Cochise College), who led ENMU with 14 points, missed a potential game-winning shot as time expired.

Alaska-Anchorage, which has played all nine of its games in Anchorage, improved to 7-2 overall. The Seawolves are 7-0 at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex and 2-0 at Sullivan Arena. Eastern New Mexico University fell to 6-4 on the season. The Zias are 1-3 since two starters and a key reserve suffered season-ending knee injuries in three consecutive games.

In last night’s 64-59 loss to Anchorage, the Zias led 32-31 at halftime, but shot just 30.8% (8 of 26) in the second half. In the rematch, ENMU held a 34-26 halftime lead, only to see the lead disappear after shooting 27.6% (8 of 29) over the final 20 minutes.

Eastern was in front 39-26 with 18:27 left, and held a 12-point lead, 49-37, at the 15:45 mark. The Zias scored just 12 points the rest of the way, while converting 4 of 22 field goals (18.2%).

The Seawolves used a 15-4 run in 4:15 to reduce the lead to a single point, 53-52, with 11:16 remaining. UAA hit a trio of 3-point baskets during the run. Sarah Jones connected on two of the trifectas, while Burnett added five points, including the other three-pointer.

Neither team scored for just over four minutes, until Kelsey Larsen recorded a basket to move Anchorage into the lead, 54-3, with 7:15 left. The remainder of the contest was close, with eight lead changes, five ties and no lead larger than a single point.

ENMU entered the final minute with a 61-60 advantage on the strength of two free throws by Erika Cook (So., G, Portales, NM/Portales HS) with 1:03 on the clock. Burnett missed a layup for UAA with 49 seconds left and Eastern turned the ball over at the 18-second mark. Burnett was fouled 10 seconds later and converted the free throws to win the game.

Burnett led all players with 18 points and 10 assists. She hit 6 of 14 field goals, including 3 of 4 three-point attempts. She also connected on 3 of 4 free throws and grabbed five rebounds. Rebecca Kielpinski contributed 16 points and five rebounds before fouling out with 2:41 to go. Kielpinski was the top scorer in Monday’s game with 26 points.

Jones scored nine points for the Seawolves, while Kelsey Larsen tallied six points and brought down 13 rebounds. Alaska-Anchorage claimed a 39-25 rebounding edge, but the Seawolves made 20 turnovers, while the Zias committed just 12 turnovers.

ENMU achieved its first-half lead by shooting 44.4% (12 of 27), including 5 of 9 on 3-point shots. Ratliff scored 10 points during the opening stanza and was the only player for either team in double figures at the intermission. The Zias overcame an 18-7 deficit with 10:22 remaining in the period, as Eastern concluded the half on a 27-8 run.

Tiana Bryant (Sr., Post, Roswell, NM/University of New Mexico) increased Eastern’s lead to 37-26 early in the second half, when she sank a 3-point basket at the 18:51 mark. Ratliff tacked on a jumper less than half-a-minute later.

Ratliff’s 14 points led four Zias in double figures. Cook followed with 13 points, as she netted 4 of 7 field goals, including 3 of 4 three-pointers. Bryant and Ashley Sutton (Jr., G, Italy, TX/Tyler JC) each contributed 10 points. Bryant also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and recorded four assists, while Ratliff hauled down six boards.

The Zias shot 35.7% for the game (20 of 56), while converting 8 of 18 three-point attempts (44.4%). Eastern limited UAA to 39.3% from the field in the first half (11 of 28), but the Seawolves hit 48.0% of their field goals (12 of 25) in the second half.

ENMU plays one more game before New Years Day. The Zias will be in Canyon, Texas, on Friday, Dec. 30, to take on West Texas A&M University in the Lone Star Conference South Division opener for both teams. WTAMU, 7-0, is ranked 15th in the NCAA Division II Poll. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m. MST.

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