Zias Regain lead in Final Minutes to Defeat TAMUK, 77-67
Doss Gets Career High, Scoring 24 Points

Box Score

KINGSVILLE, TEXAS — The Eastern New Mexico University Zias got a career-high 24 points from junior forward Tia Doss (Albuquerque, NM/Highland HS) to take a 77-67 victory over Texas A&M University-Kingsville, in a Lone Star Conference game on Saturday, Jan. 29. The Zias improved to 9-10 overall, 3-3 in the LSC South, while the Javelinas dropped to 4-15 overall, 0-6 in the LSC South.

Doss was dominant inside the lane, getting seven rebounds to go with her career-high scoring performance. She was an impressive 8 of 11 shooting from the field, and scored 14 points in the first half. Her previous career high was 18 points on Feb. 9, 2002 at Texas A&M University-Commerce and on Jan. 13, 2005 at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

Doss got plenty of help with a strong performance by Heather Brown (So., G, Hereford, TX/Hereford HS), who scored 18 points, dished out six assists, and had four steals in the game. Brown has scored at least 10 points and grabbed at least four rebounds in eight consecutive games.

Two other Zias were in double figures. Tiana Bryant (Jr., Post, Roswell, NM/University of New Mexico) scored 14 points and had seven rebounds, while Mika Robertson (Sr., F, Levelland, TX/Midland College) added 10 points, as she hit 4 of 5 shots, including two 3-pointers. Erika Cook (Fr., G, Portales, NM/ Portales HS) provided nine points for ENMU.

The Zias found themselves in a seesaw game, and led by only one point, 30-29, after the first 20 minutes of play. Eastern had to overcome an 8-0 outburst by TAMU-Kingsville in the first 3:14 of the second half on 3-pointers by Kaipresha Price and Nahogany Brown, to go along with a jumper by Aasia Betts. Suddenly down by seven, 37-30, the Zias answered by tightening up their defense and by getting six steals in the next 3:53, as Eastern outscored Kingsville 17-1 to take a 47-38 lead at the 12:53 mark.

The Javelinas regrouped to go on a 17-9 streak as Price got hot, hitting three 3-pointers, to recapture the lead, 57-54, with 7:43 remaining. The teams traded baskets for the next few minutes, but Eastern moved in front for good with 3:35 left, when Robertson grabbed one of her five rebounds on a Brown miss and hit a jumper for a 65-63 lead.

Eastern did not look back, as Cook and Brown each hit a 3-pointer down the stretch. Cook’s 3-pointer increased the margin to five points, 68-63. LaTasha Davis answered with a 3-pointer for TAMU-Kingsville with 2:47 left, but Brown’s three-pointer followed just 13 seconds later, as the Zias took a 71-66 lead. The Javelinas never got closer the rest of the way, as Brown’s trifecta started a 9-1 run by Eastern to end the game.

ENMU took advantage of opportunities at the free throw line, hitting on 24 of 27 attempts (88.9%), led by Doss, who went 8 of 10. The Zias shot 47.1% from the field for the game, getting hot when it counted in the second half hitting for 57.7% accuracy (15 of 26). The Javs were cold from the field, hitting only 38.7% of their shots (24 of 62).

Price led TAMUK with 18 points, including 6 of 9 on field goals (4 of 5 from 3-point range). Betts tacked on 13 points, while Davis contributed 11. Brown and Dely’la Hoodye each grabbed seven rebounds.

The Zias will return home after going 2-1 on the three-game road trip. They will take on LSC South leader Abilene Christian University at Greyhound Arena on Thursday, Feb. 3, at 5:30 p.m. MST. Eastern will host defending LSC champion Angelo State University on Saturday, Feb. 5, starting at 5 p.m. MST.