Abilene Christian Defeats Zias, 85-76
Wildcats Sink 11 Three-Pointers and Achieve a 49-32 Rebounding Edge

Box Score

PORTALES, N.M. — In the final home game of the season, the Eastern New Mexico University women’s basketball team had difficulty defending the three-point arc in an 85-76 loss to Abilene Christian University, Saturday, Feb. 18, in a Lone Star Conference South Division game. ACU hit 11 three-pointers, including eight on 15 attempts in the first half (53.3%). The Wildcats also earned a 49-32 rebounding advantage.

With the win, ACU remained in contention for a postseason bid to the LSC Tournament, as the Wildcats moved to 11-14 overall, 5-7 in the LSC South. The Zias dropped to 10-16 overall and to 2-10 in the LSC South.

The game remained tight through the first 26 minutes of play, before ACU went on a 10-1 run to take a 56-47 lead with 10:52 to play. The Zias fought back and cut the deficit to only three points, 59-56, on a three-pointer by Rosalyn Elliott (So., G, Stanley, NM/Lubbock Christian University) at the 7:52 mark. ACU answered with an 8-2 run to regain a nine-point lead, 67-58, after Ashley King hit one of her six three-pointers on the night with 5:28 remaining.

Eastern managed to cut the deficit to four on senior Tiana Bryant’s (Post, Roswell, NM/
University of New Mexico) final career three-pointer in Greyhound Arena, for a 75-71 score with just under two minutes to play. Bryant, who was honored prior to the game as part of senior night activities, finished the night ranked 14th all-time at ENMU with 873 career points.

The Zias were outscored by ACU 10-5 to close the game. As a result of the loss, Eastern was mathematically eliminated from qualifying for the LSC Tournament.

In the first half, ENMU overcame a seven-point deficit to take a 37-35 lead into the locker room. Trailing 29-22 with five minutes left in the half, the Zias went on a 15-6 run, beginning with a 3-pointer by Ashley Sutton (Jr., G, Italy, TX/Tyler Junior College). Megan Ratliff (Jr., G, Farmington, NM/Cochise College) provided five consecutive points during the run to tie the score at 35-35 with 1:15 left. Eastern took the lead on a jumper by junior guard Heather Brown (Hereford, TX/Hereford HS) to close out the scoring with 42 seconds on the clock.

Bryant, the only senior on the ENMU team, finished with 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting. She also achieved four rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot. Brown led all Eastern scorers with 21 points, including three 3-pointers and six free throws on eight attempts from the charity stripe.

Elliott recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, both career highs, as were her team-leading five assists. Missy Kirkland (Jr., G, Arlington, TX/Hill College) earned eight points, six rebounds and two blocks. Ratliff finished with nine points and a career-best four assists. The Zias shot 40.9% from the field (27 of 66).

Five ACU players finished in double figures in scoring, led by a double-double from King. She finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds. Jamie Boles-Lord had 16 points and point guard Alex Guiton scored 15 points, while dishing out a game-high seven assists. Lacey Blau scored 11 points and Audrey Maxwell added 10 points for Abilene Christian. The Wildcats established consistent shooting throughout the game, connecting on 44.4% of their field goals in first half (12 of 27) and on 45.7% in the second half (16 of 35). ACU finished at 45.2% for the game.

ENMU will wrap-up its 2005-06 season with two games on the road. On Thursday, Feb. 23, the Zias will play at Tarleton State University at 5 p.m. MST. Eastern’s final game will be at Midwestern State University on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 5 p.m. MST.