Zias Lose to 19th-Ranked Angelo State, 77-60
Brown Leads Zias in Scoring with 17 Points

Box Score

PORTALES, N.M. — The Eastern New Mexico University Zias were overpowered under the basket at both ends of the floor and fell to Angelo State University, 77-60, in a Lone Star Conference South Division game on Saturday, Feb. 5, at Greyhound Arena. ENMU fell to 9-12 overall and 3-5 in the LSC South. Angelo State improved its record to 18-2 overall and a league-leading 6-1 in the LSC South.

The Zias were outrebounded 43-27 by the Rambelles, who lead the conference in rebounding. Angelo State was led by the LSC’s fourth leading scorer, Natalja Tsurbakova, who finished with game highs of 20 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocked shots. ASU shot 51.9% (28-54) from the field for the game. Courtney Nowlin, the second leading scorer in the LSC, was kept somewhat under control, as the Zias held her to 16 points, three below her season average.

ENMU was once again led by point guard Heather Brown (So., G, Hereford, TX/Hereford HS), who finished with 17 points, four assists, and three steals. Brown, who has scored in double figures in 10 consecutive games, is sixth in scoring and eighth in steals in the LSC.

Tia Doss (Jr., F, Albuquerque, NM/Highland HS) was the only Zia to shoot over 50% from the field, going 5 for 8, on her way to 14 points and five rebounds. Tiana Bryant (Jr., Post, Roswell, NM/Univ. of New Mexico), one of three Zias in double figures, added 12 points, six rebounds, and three steals.

In the first half, the officials allowed the teams to play, calling only five fouls. This allowed the Rambelles to control the interior play, which gave them easy looks leading to 60.0% field goal shooting (21-35) in the half. The Zias were pounded on the boards, 23-11, in the opening 20 minutes of play, as ASU built a 45-30 halftime lead.

Eastern came out of the locker room with a bit more intensity in the second half, going on an 11-5 run in the first 4:42, including a three-pointer by Mika Robertson (Sr., F, Levelland, TX/Midland College). Doss added five points and a steal during the run, as the Zias cut the lead to nine points, 50-41. ENMU could not get any closer than nine points, and were kept scoreless between the 12:45 and 6:20 marks, as ASU increased its lead to as many as twenty points.

ENMU will be on the road for the next four games, starting with games at Abilene Christian University on Thursday, Feb. 10, at 5 p.m. MST, and at Angelo State University on Saturday, Feb. 12, at 5 p.m. MST. The Zias will then travel to Texas A&M-Commerce on Thursday, Feb. 17, and to Midwestern State on Saturday, Feb. 19.

Eastern will return home on Thursday, Feb. 24, to face Texas Woman’s University at 7 p.m. MST. On Saturday, Feb. 26, the Zias will play their final LSC regular season game against Texas A&M University-Kingsville at 5 p.m. MST. Both games will be played at Greyhound Arena.