Northeastern State Outplays Zias in Second Half, as Lady Reds Rally for 64-54 Victory over ENMU
Bryant Ties Career High with 28 Points for Eastern

Box Score

TAHLEQUAH, OKLA. — Northeastern State University shot 53.6% from the field in the second half (15 of 28), as the Lady Reds rallied from a 29-21 halftime deficit to take a 64-54 victory over visiting Eastern New Mexico University, in a Lone Star Conference crossover game on Thursday, Jan. 5. Northeastern State improved its record to 9-3, while ENMU fell to 6-6 with its fifth consecutive loss. Crossover games do not count in the LSC divisional standings.

Eastern limited NE State to just 34.6% shooting in the first half (9 of 26). The Zias hit 48.0% from the field during the first 20 minutes (12 of 25), led by Tiana Bryant (Sr., Post, Roswell, NM/University of New Mexico), who scored 14 of her game-high 28 points. Ashley Sutton (Jr., G, Italy, TX/Tyler JC) added nine first-half points on 3 of 3 shooting from 3-point range. ENMU also held a commanding 23-11 rebounding advantage at the intermission.

In the second half, the Zias dropped off to 37.5% accuracy from the floor (9 of 24), while NSU gained ground in the rebounding battle, with a 19-9 advantage off the glass. The Lady Reds opened the second stanza with a 21-5 run for a 42-34 lead with 11:29 remaining.

ENMU reduced the margin to four points, 42-38, on a free throw by Bryant with 9:01 left, and to 45-41, when Bryant sank a 3-pointer with 8:20 on the clock. NSU answered the trifecta with a 3-pointer by Bobbi Jo Truelove on the Lady Reds’ next possession. Katrina Webb tacked on a layup with 7:05 to go, as NE State took a 50-41 lead.

The Zias exchanged baskets with the Lady Reds for the next several minutes and pulled within six points, 58-52, on a 3-pointer by Erika Cook (So., G, Portales, NM/Portales HS) with 2:27 remaining. The lead dropped to just four points when Bryant added two free throws at the 1:39 mark.

Eastern never scored again. Meanwhile, Northeastern State went 6 for 6 at the line in the final minute of play to win by the final 10-point margin.

Bryant's 28 points tied her career high, previously set on Dec. 10, 2005, in a 60-52 loss to St. Edward’s University. Against NSU, Bryant also provided six rebounds and blocked two shots. She was joined in double figures by Sutton, who finished the game 4 of 5 from 3-point range for a total of 12 points. Cook added eight points and six rebounds, while Heather Brown (Jr., G, Hereford, TX/Hereford HS) supplied six assists.

Four players reached double digits for the Lady Reds. Webb led the way with 18 points on 9 of 14 field goals. She also achieved a game-high nine rebounds. Truelove and Charlotte Dikeman added 12 points, each, with Dikeman also contributing six boards. Monica Atilio scored 10 points and had three assists. Cara Busson did not score for NSU, but provided the Lady Reds with seven assists and four steals.

NSU was 24 of 54 on field goals during the game (44.4%), including 5 of 21 from behind the 3-point line. Northeastern State converted 11 of 15 free throws.

ENMU finished the game with 42.9% shooting from the field (21 of 4). The Zias hit 7 of 24 three-pointers (29.2%) and made 5 of 6 free throws (83.3%). Eastern committed 16 turnovers, while NSU turned the ball over just nine times.

The Zias will remain on the road for another LSC crossover game on Saturday, Jan. 7, when Eastern is scheduled to play at the University of Central Oklahoma at 3 p.m. MST. Eastern, which has played just three home games this season, will return to Greyhound Arena next week to take on East Central University on Jan. 12 and Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Jan. 14.