West Texas A&M Defeats Zias, 61-58,
in LSC South Opener for both Teams
ENMU Battles Lady Buffs Until Closing Seconds

Box Score

PORTALES, N.M. — In a hard-fought game that featured 39 fouls and 38 turnovers, the West Texas A&M University Lady Buffs edged the Eastern New Mexico University Zias, 61-58, in the Lone Star Conference South Division opener for both teams, Monday, Jan. 10, at Greyhound Arena. WTAMU improved to 8-4 on the season, while ENMU fell to 5-7.

The Zias have lost four games in a row, including three defeats by three points or less in the past five days. ENMU fell to the University of Central Oklahoma, 54-52, on Thursday, Jan. 6, then lost to Northeastern State University, 46-43, on Saturday, Jan. 8.

In Monday’s game, WTAMU committed 21 fouls — 12 in the first half — and lost the ball 17 times. The Zias were called for 18 fouls and committed 21 turnovers.

Eastern accumulated five fouls in the first 4:03. Just 7:09 into the game, the Zias had seven fouls and WTAMU had three. The Lady Buffs were charged with the final nine fouls of the half.

At the intermission, three Zias and four Lady Buffs were already carrying two fouls apiece. Ironically, no one fouled out, but four of Eastern’s players finished the game with four fouls, and WTAMU had three players with three fouls.

West Texas A&M held a 20-8 lead at the 9:25 mark of the opening period. Eastern scored the next four points, but the Lady Buffs countered with a 7-0 run to increase the margin to 27-12 with 5:59 remaining in the half.

The Zias put together a 16-2 run of their own, ultimately cutting the lead to 29-28 on two free throws by Ashley Davidson (Jr., G, Carrollton, TX/Odessa College) with 0:12 left in the stanza. Eastern’s run ended with a string of 12 unanswered points, including one 3 pointer each by Heather Brown (So., G, Hereford, TX/Hereford HS) and Mika Robertson (Sr., F, Levelland, TX/Midland College). WTAMU took a 32-28 lead into the break after Natalie Wheeler sank a wide-open 3-point shot with eight seconds on the clock.

Eastern began the second stanza with a 5-1 run to tie the game, 33-33. Robertson scored the first points on a 3-pointer with 18:51 to go, and Tiana Bryant (Jr., Post, Roswell, NM/Univ. of New Mexico) tacked on a jump shot at the 18:23 mark.

The Lady Buffs tallied the next seven points for a 40-33 advantage with 17:10 left. The Zias countered with another seven-point run to tied the score on Robertson’s jumper at the 13:33 mark. After ENMU knotted the score, there were six more lead changes and one more tie. West Texas A&M took the lead for good, 51-49, on a 3-point basket by Suni Jo Petty with 6:25 remaining.

Petty gave WTAMU a 57-52 lead after two free throws with 2:19 left, but Bryant was fouled on the ensuing inbounds play and made both free throws to pull the Zias within three points. Tia Doss (Jr., F, Albuquerque, NM/Highland HS) hit a layup with 1:58 left, but WTAMU regained a three-point cushion, 59-56, when Adams scored on a jumper with one minute to go.

Robertson sank a jump shot for Eastern with 0:43 left, as ENMU cut the lead to 59-58. The Zias had a chance to get the ball back when Scarlett blocked a shot by Celeste Stevenson with 21 seconds to go, but the ball went out of bounds after touching an ENMU player.

When action resumed, officials ruled Stevenson’s shot touched the rim, so the shot clock, which showed nine seconds after the attempt by Stevenson, was turned off for the remainder of the game. ENMU was forced to foul, and Petty converted a pair of free throws with 10 seconds left, giving WTAMU the final margin of victory.

The Zias moved up the court and called time-out with 5.6 seconds left. Robertson received the inbounds pass, then sent the ball toward Brown, but Vasha Adams stepped in the way and recorded an interception with two seconds remaining.

Four Zias finished in double figures, with Bryant scoring 14 points and grabbing six rebounds. Robertson provided 13 points and a career-high 11 boards. She also earned three assists, blocked one shot and had one steal.

Loren Scarlett (Sr., P, Throckmorton, TX/Throckmorton HS) and Brown scored 10 points each. Brown adding five boards and two steals, and Scarlett contributed four rebounds and two blocks. Doss finished with seven points, three boards and three assists. Brown, Bryant, Doss and Robertson each recorded four fouls.

Stevenson was WTAMU’s top player, with 17 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. Petty also recorded 17 points, and supplied the Lady Buffs with four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Adams earned eight points and hauled down four rebounds.

ENMU shot just 28.6% in the first half (8 of 28), but improved to 55.0% in the second half (11 of 20) for 39.6% overall (19 of 48). The Zias were 6 of 18 on 3-pointers and 14 of 20 at the line. ENMU achieved a 38-33 rebounding edge.

The Lady Buffs shot 36.4% from the field (20 of 55), including 9 of 24 (37.5%) during the second half. WTAMU was 6 of 22 from on 3-pointers and 15 of 20 on free throws.

Eastern will be on the road later this week to play Southeastern Oklahoma State University and East Central University in LSC crossover games. The Zias will take on SOSU on Thursday, Jan. 13, at 5 p.m. MST, before facing East Central on Saturday, Jan. 15, at 1 p.m. MST.