Brown Provides Go-Ahead Bucket in Win over East Central
Zias End Six-Game Losing Streak

Box Score

PORTALES, N.M. — Heather Brown (Jr., G, Hereford, TX/Hereford HS) scored all of
Eastern New Mexico University’s points in a decisive 8-2 run for a 58-53 win over East Central University, in a Lone Star Conference crossover game on Thursday, Jan. 12, at Greyhound Arena. The win ended a six-game losing streak, including five consecutive losses on the road, as the Zias returned to the .500 level with a 7-7 record. The Lady Tigers dropped to 5-7 on the season.

Brown began her personal run with a game-tying three-pointer with 3:52 to play. After a layup by Lacey Goldwire put the Lady Tigers up by two, Brown hit her third three-pointer of the game to give the Zias the lead for good, 54-53, with a 1:04 remaining. Erika Cook (So., G, Portales, NM/Portales HS) scored the game’s final points on two clutch free throws with 13 seconds left to ensure the win.

The Zias, playing at home for the first time in over a month, came back from a seven-point deficit in the first half to take a 27-26 lead, before going into the break down by only one point at 28-27. Tiana Bryant (Sr., Post, Roswell, NM/University of New Mexico) provided a team-leading seven first-half points, despite being limited to only 14 minutes played because of foul trouble. Brittney Gillespie (So., Post, Aztec, NM/Aztec HS), who played 11 minutes in the first half because of two fouls, controlled the boards with seven rebounds during the period.

Eastern took a two-point lead, 30-28, less than two minutes out of the locker room on a layup by Bryant. The Lady Tigers reacted with a 7-1 run to go up 35-31 when Goldwire hit a layup with 15:28 to play.

Cook capped off a 6-2 run to tie it up at 37-37 at the 12:58 mark. The teams exchanged baskets for the next five-plus minutes, before the Lady Tigers scored two consecutive baskets to take a 48-45 lead with 7:10 left.

With 5:48 on the clock, Zia guard Ashley Sutton (Jr., Italy, TX/Tyler JC) hit a three-pointer to create the fourth tie of the second half, 48-48. ECU’s Veronica Valles recorded her only bucket of the game, a three-pointer, to regain the lead for the Lady Tigers with 4:45 remaining. Bryant missed a 3-pointer for ENMU with 3:57 to go, but Sutton rebounded the ball and passed it to Brown to ignite her eight-point run for the win.

Bryant led all scorers with 15 points and provided eight rebounds, all on the defensive boards. Brown finished with 13 points and five defensive rebounds. Gillespie contributed six points and a career-high nine rebounds. Cook was the top playmaker for the Zias, as she registered a team-leading four assists to go with nine points. Missy Kirkland (Jr., G, Arlington, TX/Hill College) provided offense off the bench, earning six points and three boards in only 16 minutes on the court.

Amber Gatlin led the Lady Tiger offensive attack with 14 points, including four 3-pointers on 12 attempts from behind the arc. Kacey Thomas scored nine points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Goldwire and Jastin Flenory each added eight points.

Neither team shot the ball well, as ENMU held a slight edge by connecting on 35.6% of its field goal attempts (21 of 59), while ECU hit 34.6% (20 of 58). The statistically close game was decided by the Zias’ slim edge in all three scoring categories: 21 to 20 on overall field goals, 8 to 6 on 3-pointers and 8 to 7 on successful free throws.

ENMU will remain in the friendly confines of Greyhound Arena to take on Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 5 p.m. MST. The Zias will travel to Angelo State University on Thursday, Jan. 19 and to Abilene Christian University on Saturday, Jan. 21. Eastern will begin a five-game homestand on Jan. 25 against Tarleton State University.