Central Oklahoma Overtakes Zias in Closing Minutes
UCO Wins 54-52 on 3-Pointer by Allen with 0:14 Left; Bryant Scores 16 for ENMU

Box Score

PORTALES, N.M. — The University of Central Oklahoma trailed by as many as eight points in the first half and as many as seven points in the second half, but earned a 27 27 tie at the half, then edged the Zias in the final minutes, 54-52, at Greyhound Arena on Thursday, Jan. 6. The Bronchos improved to 7-4 with the Lone Star Conference crossover win. ENMU fell to 5-5.

UCO took the lead for good with 14 seconds left, on a 3-point basket by Lacie Allen. Tiana Bryant (Jr., Post, Roswell, NM/University of New Mexico), who led the Zias with 16 points, gave ENMU a 52-51 lead on a jumper with 57 second to go, but a turnover by Eastern with 24 seconds left set up Allen’s winning shot. Bryant missed a 3-pointer while she was closely guarded at the top of the key with two seconds left.

The Zias stormed out to a 16-8 lead, as ENMU recorded four three-pointers in the first 6:46. Loren Scarlett (Sr., Post, Throckmorton, TX/Throckmorton HS) opened the game with a 3-pointer at the 19:07 mark and completed the early surge with another trifecta. Sophomore guard Heather Brown (Hereford, TX/Hereford HS) and Mika Robertson (Sr., F, Levelland, TX/Midland College) also hit 3-pointers early in the contest.

ENMU led 18-10 before the Bronchos went on a 6-0 run to pull within two points. The Zias also were in front 25-20, only to have UCO counter with a 7-0 run. Eastern went 4:37 without scoring until Robertson tied the game on two free throws with 1:11 remaining in the half.

Eastern recorded the first seven points of the second period to claim a 34-27 advantage with 16:30 to play. Central Oklahoma trailed by six points, 38-32, at the 12:39 mark, and moved within one point of the Zias three times over the next 7:42. The Bronchos took their first lead of the second half with 3:48 to go, on a 3-point basket by Laura Hamilton.

Bryant, who earned 10 points in the second half, tied the game 1:14 later on a layup assisted by Riikka Lehtonen (Jr., Post, Turku, Finland/Kilgore College. Bryant also gave the Zias a 50-49 advantage when she nailed a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 1:30 left. Meghan Craig gave UCO the lead with a layup at the 1:11 mark, but Bryant put the Zias back in front on her jumper with just under a minute remaining.

The turnover that led to UCO’s winning three-pointer occurred just seconds after Lindsey Wilson of Central Oklahoma was called for a foul with 26 seconds left. The Zias were not in the one-and-one, so ENMU had to inbound the ball near the UCO bench. Brown received the pass near the sideline and a few yards away from the baseline. She traveled while working to establish her position on the floor, and UCO gained control.

After Allen’s trifecta, the Zias still had a chance to win or tie the score. The Bronchos committed another foul, their sixth on the half, with six second left. Bryant was met by two defenders just second later as she prepared to launch a potential game-winning 3 pointer. Her shot fell short, and UCO recorded the win.

Allen wound up as the Bronchos’ top scorer, with 11 points on 5 of 10 shooting (1 of 2 on 3-pointers). She also grabbed five rebounds, to go with three steals and no turnovers in 20 minutes of action. Craig tallied 10 points, but had five of UCO’s 19 turnovers. She was held below her season average of 17.6 points per game.

Bryant’s 16 points for the Zias were earned on 7 of 16 field goal shooting and 1 of 2 at the line. She also registered three rebounds, one assist and three steals. Robertson contributed 10 points, five assists and three boards, while Tia Doss (Jr., F, Albuquerque, NM/Highland HS) and Scarlett provided eight points apiece. Doss grabbed a game-high nine rebounds, with Scarlett supplying eight boards and Brown earning six.

The Zias lost the ball 24 times and committed six more turnovers than UCO (12 to 6) in the second half. As a result, Eastern’s 52.6% field goal shooting (10 of 19) over the final 20 minutes wasn’t enough. UCO struggled from the field (11 of 32, 34.4%) and at the line (5 of 13, 38.5%) in the second half, but took advantage of its extra possessions to achieve the win.

For the night, Eastern was 20 of 50 from the floor (40.0%) and sank 7 of 15 three pointers. UCO converted 19 of 55 field goals (34.5%), including 8 of 24 three-point shots. There were just 21 total fouls, as the Bronchos were whistled for 13 infractions and the Zias were called for eight fouls. UCO was 8 of 9 at the charity stripe, while the Zias went 5 of 7.

ENMU will continue its three-game homestand on Saturday, Jan. 8 against Northeastern State University. Game time is set for 2 p.m. MST. The Zias will host arch rival West Texas A&M on Monday, Jan. 10 at 6 p.m. MST.