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News Release
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ENMU arrow Athletics arrow News arrow Press Releases arrow 2006 Archive arrow 2/11 Zias Give Up 3-Pointer at Buzzer, Lose in Overtime
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arrow2006 Archive

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Zias Give Up Three-Pointer at the Buzzer,
then Lose in Overtime, 68-60, to TWU
Bryant Earns 25 Points and Seven Rebounds for ENMU

Box Score

DENTON, TEXAS — Maggie Deweber of Texas Woman’s University connected on a three-point shot at the end of regulation to force overtime, then the Pioneers scored 16 points in the extra session, for a 68-60 victory over Eastern New Mexico University on Saturday, Feb. 11 in Magee Arena. The Pioneers improved to 12-10 overall, while evening their Lone Star Conference South Division record at 5-5. The Zias, now 9-15 on the season, lost their fourth game in a row and dropped to 1-9 in the LSC South.

Eastern moved in front in the final minutes of the first half and did not relinquish the lead until the overtime period. TWU tied ENMU at 49-49 with just over 4:00 left in regulation. Neither team could convert over the next three-plus minutes until the LSC’s leading free throw shooter, Heather Brown (Jr., G, Hereford, TX/Hereford HS) of ENMU, hit two shots from the charity stripe with 37 seconds left.

ENMU stopped the Pioneers on their next possession. Brown was able to get back to the free throw line with 19 seconds on the clock, but missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity. Texas Woman’s controlled the rebound and Courtney Colmer missed a 3-pointer with 11 seconds remaining. Tiana Bryant (Sr., Post, Roswell, NM/University of New Mexico) grabbed the rebound for ENMU and was immediately fouled. She hit the first of two free throws to give the Zias a three-point lead, 52-49, with nine seconds left.

The Zias called a time-out following a stoppage on the court with two seconds left. Texas Woman’s set up its final play of regulation, which resulted in the tying three-pointer by Deweber.

In overtime, ENMU had the lead only once, after Bryant hit a free throw for a 53-52 margin just 14 seconds into the extra period. The Pioneers took control with two consecutive 3-pointers to go up 58-53 with 4:02 left.

Missy Kirkland (Jr., G, Arlington, TX/Hill College) connected on a jumper to get the Zias within three points, but TWU went up 61-55 when Ashley Browning hit the Pioneers’ third three-pointer in overtime. Megan Ratliff (Jr., G, Farmington, NM/Cochise College) answered with her second 3-pointer of the game for ENMU.

The suddenly-hot Pioneers, who connected on less than 30% of their field goals in the first half and made only 2 of 8 three-pointers in the second half, hit their fifth three-pointer in a row on an attempt by Margaret Wimbish with 2:09 left. Texas Woman’s sank 5 of 6 shots in overtime, including 4 for 4 from 3-point range.

Down by six, 64-58, the Zias got the ball into Kirkland’s hands for her second bucket of the period. Colmer closed out the win for TWU with two free throw conversions with 19 seconds left plus an assist on the final basket of the game with four seconds to go.

As she has all season, Bryant provided much of the offensive attack for Eastern. She finished with a game-high 25 points on 10-of-18 shooting (55.6%) and grabbed seven rebounds. She also blocked three shots, recorded three steals and earned two assists. Ratliff also scored in double figures with 10 points, while recording team-highs with eight rebounds and four assists.

Eastern shot 38.1% from the field during the game, including just 2 of 18 (11.1%) from beyond the arc. The Zias were outrebounded 46-32, but forced the Pioneers into committing 27 turnovers. ENMU was charged with 16 turnovers.

Four TWU players managed double digits in scoring, including two with double-doubles in points and in rebounds. Colmer led the way with 19 points and a game-high 11 boards. Browning’s double-double included 16 points and 10 rebounds. Deweber provided 14 points and Wimbish scored 13. Texas Woman’s made up for its cold-shooting first half by hitting 45.8% of its field goal attempts in the second half (11 of 24), including 9 of 16 (56.3%) inside the 3-point line.

Eastern returns to Greyhound Arena for its final two games of the home schedule. The Zias will host Angelo State University on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 5:30 p.m. MST. The weekend game will be on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 5 p.m. MST against Abilene Christian University.

 

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