Zias Defeat Texas Woman's, 62-57
Bryant Scores Go-Ahead Basket with 2:33 Left

Box Score

DENTON, TEXAS — Tiana Bryant (Jr., Post, Roswell, NM/University of New Mexico) scored 12 points, including the go-ahead basket on a jumper with 2:33 remaining, as Eastern New Mexico University defeated Texas Woman’s University, 62-57, in a Lone Star Conference game on Thursday, Jan. 27. The Zias improved to 8-10 overall, 2-3 in the LSC South. Texas Woman’s dropped to 9-8 on the season, including 2-3 in the LSC South.

Bryant, who was limited to just two points and 14 minutes in the Zias’ loss at West Texas A&M University on Monday, had four fouls against the Pioneers, but was available for key minutes down the stretch. She tied Riikka Lehtonen (Jr., F, Turku, Finland/Kilgore College) for Eastern’s scoring honors on the night, while also contributing seven rebounds and three steals in 24 minutes. Her jump shot gave the Zias a 57-55 advantage, while another jumper by Bryant with 1:35 left made it 59-55 and a free throw by Bryant increased the lead to 60-55 with 0:31 on the clock.

The Zias had to battle at the end of the game despite leading 34-24 at the half and holding a 15-point lead after scoring the first five points of the second half. ENMU connected on 6 of 12 three-point shots during the game and limited TWU to just 32.3% from the floor (20 of 62).

ENMU scored just 10 seconds into the game on a 3-pointer by freshman guard Erika Cook (Portales, NM/Portales HS). Lehtonen added a layup to give Eastern a 5-0 lead, and the Zias remained in front the rest of the half. Eastern’s lead reached 13 points, 27 14, on a jumper by Casey Rodriguez (Sr., G, South San Francisco, CA/College of San Mateo) with 5:31 remaining in the half.

Cook also opened the second half scoring, as she hit the second of two free throws only 12 seconds into the period. Bryant tacked on a jumper and Heather Brown (So., G, Hereford, TX/ Hereford HS) provided a layup, as the Zias built a 39-24 lead.

Texas Woman’s answered with a 16-0 run that gave the Pioneers a 40-39 lead at the 14:47 mark. Mandy Darwin opened the run with a jump shot, then Adriana Martin followed with a 3-pointer. Martin also scored on two jump shots and a layup, while Ashley Browning provided a 3-pointer. Natalya McBath contributed two free throws on four attempts.

Lehtonen ended Eastern’s scoreless streak at just over four minutes when she connected on a jumper with about 14:40 left. Five consecutive points for Bryant, on a jumper and a 3-pointer, increased the lead to 46-40, but TWU eventually took a 48-47 lead.

Brown returned the lead to the Zias, 50-47, with a 3-pointer at the 5:03 mark, and Mika
Robertson (Sr., F, Levelland, TX/Mildand College) hit the first of two free throws with 4:30 left. TWU responded with a 7-1 run, giving the Pioneers a 55-52 advantage after McBath sank two free throws with 3:09 remaining.

Lehtonen pulled the Zias even with TWU by completing a three-point play at the 2:53 mark. Bryant provided the go-ahead jumper 20 seconds later, then scored the next three points to give the Zias some breathing room.

Lindsey McCutcheon hit a jump shot for Texas Woman’s with 28 seconds remaining to cut the lead to 60-57, but the Pioneers did not score again. Robertson clinched the win for Eastern by sinking a pair of free throws with 22 seconds left.

Lehtonen not only tied Bryant for the Zias’s scoring lead, but also supplied seven rebounds and blocked four shots. Brown scored 11 points to go with four rebounds, while Robertson contributed 10 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. Cook chipped in six points and nine boards for the Zias, who ended the game with a 44-39 rebounding edge.

TWU was led by Browning and Darwin, each with 14 points. McBath was just 2 of 10 from the field, but went 6 of 8 at the line, as she provided 10 points and five assists. Martin scored nine points, and Whitney Bracey provided a team-high 10 rebounds.

The Zias shot 55.6% from the floor in the first half (15 of 27), but dropped off to 32.1% (9 of 28) in the second half. TWU improved from 27.6% in the opening period (8 of 29) to 36.4% (12 of 33) over the final 20 minutes. The Pioneers were just 2 of 16 on three-point shots during the game, but held a 20-13 advantage in points off turnovers, as the Zias lost the ball 25 times. TWU committed 18 turnovers.

Eastern will remain on the road for an LSC South game at Texas A&M University Kingsville on Saturday, Jan. 29. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. MST. Last year, the Zias swept the Javelinas, winning 67-47 at Kingsville and taking a 70-50 victory at Greyhound Arena.