Zias Finish with 7-0 Run, but Fall to Northeastern State, 46-43
Both Teams Struggle on Offense in Second Half

Box Score

PORTALES, N.M. — Eastern New Mexico University trailed visiting Northeastern State University, 46-36, with 4:14 left, on Saturday, Jan. 8. The Zias scored the final seven points of the game, but couldn’t force overtime, as the Lady Reds left Greyhound Arena with a 46-43 win. A three-point attempt by ENMU’s Mika Robertson (Sr., F, Levelland, TX/Midland College) with six seconds remaining was blocked by Emily Eaves, as NSU improved to 8-5 following the Lone Star Conference crossover win. Eastern suffered its third straight loss and fell to 5-6.

Both teams experienced offensive difficulties in the second half. The Zias scored the first basket of the period to take a 32-27 lead, but did not score over the next 11 minutes, 18 seconds. Tia Doss (Jr., Forward, Albuquerque, NM/Highland HS) ended the dry spell with a layup at the 8:23 mark. NSU went five minutes without scoring, but still managed an 8-0 run during Eastern’s scoreless streak. The Lady Reds outscored Eastern, 19-13, in the second half.

The game started at a much faster pace, especially for ENMU. The Zias claimed a 7-0 lead in the opening minutes, and led 13-5 at the 15:14 mark. Eastern led 15-11 with 13:48 to go in the first half, but returned to a seven-point advantage at 22-15, after Ashley Davidson (Jr., G, Carrollton, TX/Odessa College) sank a three-point shot.

NSU cut the lead to three points, 22-19, but the Zias answered with an 8-0 run that included 3-pointers by Heather Brown (So., G, Hereford, TX/Hereford HS) and Riikka Lehtonen (Jr., G, Turku, Finland/Kilgore College). Much of Eastern’s 30-21 lead with 2:26 on the clock disappeared before halftime, as the Lady Reds closed the opening stanza with six unanswered points.

In a game of offensive surges and scoreless streaks, it was one final run by Northeastern State that gave the Lady Reds an element of control. After Doss’ basket to end Eastern’s lengthy spell without a point, NSU scored 11 of the next 13 points, as the Lady Reds earned a 46-36 lead. Northeastern’s first nine points during the run were earned on 3-pointers — two by Jenna Miller and one by Katy Kelley.

Eastern reduced the margin to seven points on a 3-pointer by Brown with 2:54 left, and cut the deficit to five points on a jump shot by Robertson at the 1:24 mark. The Zias pulled within three points with 1:01 to go, when Lehtonen sank two free throws, but Brown missed a 3-pointer with 20 seconds left.

Doss grabbed the rebound and the Zias called timeout with 11 seconds remaining. Robertson took a straight-on 3-point shot five seconds later, but Eaves blocked the attempt and Alicia Keys rebounded the ball for NSU. Tiana Bryant (Jr., Post, Roswell, NM/University of New Mexico) committed Eastern’s fifth foul of the half with two seconds to go, and the Lady Reds ran out the rest of the clock.

Miller and Kelley tied for Northeastern’s scoring lead with 12 points each. Rikki Hall added eight points, four rebounds and four assists. Keys and Verressa Gaston hauled down seven boards apiece for the Lady Reds.

Doss tallied eight points to top a balanced scoring list for ENMU. Robertson and Lehtonen each chipped in seven points, while Loren Scarlett (Sr., Post, Throckmorton, TX/Throckmorton HS), Bryant and Brown each supplied six points. Scarlett and Bryant tied for the team lead with eight rebounds, while Doss hauled down six boards. Robertson registered four assists.

Eastern shot 45.8% in the opening stanza (11 of 24), but converted just 4 of 18 field goals (22.2%) in the second half. After hitting 4 of 8 three-pointers over the opening 20 minutes, the Zias connected on just 1 of 8 three-pointers following the halftime break. ENMU was 8 for 8 on free throw attempts during the game.

NSU shot 33.3% in the first half (9 of 27) and 26.9% in the second half (26.9%). The Lady Reds were 9 of 33 on 3-pointers (27.3%) and made just 5 of 10 free throws. The Zias achieved a 36-29 edge on the glass, but committed 18 turnovers. Northeastern State lost the ball just 10 times.

ENMU will conclude a three-game homestand on Monday, Jan. 10, when the Zias host arch rival West Texas A&M University. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. MST.

Last year, Eastern downed WTAMU, 76-57, in an LSC South game at Greyhound Arena, but lost to the Lady Buffs twice in Canyon, Texas. West Texas A&M defeated Eastern, 75-54, during a Thanksgiving tournament, and held off the Zias, 80-73, in their second LSC South meeting.