Zias Fall in Overtime at SE Oklahoma, after ENMU
Rallies from 23 Points Down in Second Half
Doss Scores 18 Points in 81-71 Loss

Box Score

DURANT, OKLA. — The Eastern New Mexico University Zias trailed 35-15 at halftime and by 23 points early in the second half, but rallied to tie take the lead late in regulation, before falling in overtime to Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 81-71, in a Lone Star Conference crossover game on Thursday, Jan. 13. SOSU sank 11 of 21 three pointers, while improving to 2-12 on the season. ENMU, which committed 26 fouls compared to 17 fouls on the Lady Savages, lost its fourth game in a row and dropped to 5-8 overall.

The Zias led 63-61 with 55 seconds left in regulation on a 3-pointer by Erika Cook (Fr., G, Portales, NM/Portales HS), but SE Oklahoma eventually tied the game on a free throw by Lauren Martin with nine seconds left. ENMU led by three points twice in the first minute of overtime, but scored just two points the rest of the way, as SE Oklahoma outscored the Zias 18-8 in the extra period.

Tia Doss (Jr., F, Albuquerque, NM/Highland HS) led the Zias with 18 points, and also provided six rebounds. Laci Lee (Sr., G, Portales, NM/Portales HS) remained out of the lineup for the fourth game in a row with an injured ankle.

Heather Brown (So., G, Hereford, TX/Hereford HS) tacked on 16 points, to go with six rebounds and seven assists. She was 4 of 11 on three-point shots. Tiana Bryant (Jr., Post, Roswell, NM/University of New Mexico) tallied 10 points, brought down four rebounds and earned six of Eastern’s 10 steals.

Staci Willis topped SE Oklahoma with 21 points, and was 7 of 8 on three-pointers and 7 of 9 from the field overall. Martin added 17 points and five boards, while Jewell Peterson scored 13 points and Mindy Foster chipped in 11 points for the Lady Savages. Kirbi Wilson recorded nine points and led all players with 11 rebounds. Jewell hauled down eight rebounds.

The Zias shot just 24.1% from the floor (7 of 29) in the first half, while converting just 1 of 10 three-point attempts. SE Oklahoma made 41.4% in the opening half (12 of 29), including 7 of 12 on 3-pointers. Even so, the Zias led early in the game twice, and were within one point, 10-9, with 8:50 remaining in the half.

SE Oklahoma countered with a 22-4 run, as the Lady Savages moved out to a 32-13 lead. The run included six 3-pointers, with Martin and Willis each sinking three trifectas. Willis also connected on a 3-pointer as the clock expired, giving SOSU a 35-15 halftime margin.

Eastern’s offense finally found success in the second half, as the Zias made 18 of 30 field goals (60.0%) and put in 5 of 6 three-pointers. The Lady Savages shot 40.0% from the field over the final 20 minutes, but their 3-point accuracy fell off to 42.9% (3 of 7).

SE Oklahoma opened the second half with a 5-2 run, as the lead reached 23 points at 40-17. The advantage was 47-26 for the Lady Savages following a jumper by Peterson with 14:04 to go, but the Zias scored the next 16 points to pull within 47-42 at the 9:55 mark. Six different Zias scored during ENMU’s run, including Cook, who hit a 3-pointer.

Four straight points increased the Lady Savages’ lead to 52-47, and SOSU led 55-45 at the 7:40 mark. ENMU answered with a 12-2 offensive surge that tied the game at 57-57 with 3:28 to play. Ashley Davidson (Jr., G, Carrollton, TX/Odessa College) started the run with a 3-point shot and Brown completed the spurt with a 3-pointer.

The Lady Savages went ahead 59-57 on a pair of free throws by Peterson with 2:57 left, but Bryant tied the game with a layup at the 2:39 mark, and the Zias moved in front 60-59 on a free throw by Doss with 2:07 remaining.

Foster’s jumper gave SE Oklahoma a 61-60 edge, only to have Cook's three-pointer with give ENMU a 63-61 lead with just under a minute to go.

A free throw by Foster with 29 seconds left cut the lead in half. Brown missed a jump shot for Eastern with 15 second left, and Wilson hauled down the rebound. Martin was fouled with nine seconds on the clock, and made the first free throw to tie the game. She missed the second attempt, as the game moved into overtime.

The Zias led 66-63 after a 3-pointer by Brown just 16 seconds into the extra period. Eastern also owned a 68-65 advantage at the 4:03 mark, following two free throws by Doss. The rest of the overtime session was dominated by SE Oklahoma, which closed the game with a 16-3 run. The Lady Savages tied the game on a 3-pointer by Willis with 3:42 left, and moved in front for good on a jumper by Foster with 3:08 remaining.

ENMU will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 15, in an LSC crossover game at East Central University. Game time in Ada, Okla. is set for 1 p.m. MST.