MSU Outscores ENMU by Eight Points at Free Throw Line, Defeats Zias, 81-78
Maples Scores 27 Points, Grabs 19 Boards for MSU

Box Score

PORTALES, N.M. — Eastern New Mexico University could not overcome 27 points and 19 rebounds by Katherine Maples of Midwestern State University, in an 81-78 loss to MSU, on Jan. 28 at Greyhound Arena. Four Zias finished in double digits in scoring, but the loss left ENMU winless (0-5) in the Lone Star Conference South Division. Eastern also dropped to 8-11 overall. The Mustangs improved their record to 8-11, including 2-4 in conference play.

Maples and Tia Banks both hit back ends of two-shot fouls in the final 13 seconds to clinch the victory for the Mustangs. Heather Brown (Jr., G, Hereford, TX/Hereford HS) scored Eastern’s final four points, including a game-tying jumper with 55 seconds left. Brown also made two free throws with 14 ticks left on the clock, after the Mustangs’ Katie Robertson hit a crucial three-pointer with 32 seconds to go.

ENMU was down by nine points with just less than nine minutes left, but used a 16-5 run to take the lead, 70-68, at the 3:49 mark. Midwestern State outscored the Zias 13-8 the rest of the way.

Eastern came back from a 10-point deficit in the final 3:55 of the first half to get to within one, 43-42, at intermission. The Zias’ Missy Kirkland (Jr., G, Arlington, TX/Hill College) ignited the first-half comeback with five consecutive points, on a break-away layup off her own steal, and a three-point play. Kirkland ended the game with career bests of 19 points and four steals.

The teams exchanged baskets through the first 13 minutes of action, until a 9-0 run gave MSU a 34-26 lead with 5:32 left in the half. Maples, a dominating 6’3” junior, gave the Mustangs their biggest lead of the night on a layup just under four minutes before the intermission.

ENMU was beaten on the boards 41-31, but the Zias’ lack of free throw chances turned out to be the difference. MSU had 11 more shots at the charity stripe and achieved an eight-point differential in free throws made during the game (18 to 10). The Zias scored two more field goals, including one more three-pointer, than the Mustangs. Eastern’s defense was solid outside the lane, as it forced Midwestern into committing 21 turnovers, 14 on steals.

Tiana Bryant (Sr., Post, Roswell, NM/University of New Mexico) led Eastern in scoring for the 11th time this year, finishing with 20 points, including two three-pointers. Kirkland’s career day included the most minutes she’s played in a game (33) and equaled her high of four assists, set against Western New Mexico University in the first game of the season. She added six rebounds, with three recorded under Eastern’s offensive basket.

Brown was 4 for 4 from the charity stripe, as she finished with 12 points. She also converted two three-point shots. Rosalyn Elliott (So., G, Stanley, NM/Lubbock Christian University) scored 11 points to reach double digits for the second time in her career. Brittney Gillespie (Fr., Post, Aztec, NM/Aztec HS) led the Zias in rebounding for the fifth time this season, as she hauled down eight rebounds. She earned five offensive boards to tie her career-high, set in Eastern’s win over East Central University on Jan. 12.

The Zias had their second-best shooting night of the year, hitting 31 of 67 (46.3%) of their field goal attempts. Eastern’s top game from the field was the season opener against WNMU, when the Zias sank 47.0% of their shots (31 of 66). Although they have connected on more three-pointers in other games, the contest with Midwestern was the Zias’ best in long-range accuracy, with ENMU hitting 54.5% of its attempts (6 of 11).

Maples’ 11 free throw attempts were just two short of the total free throws taken by Eastern as a team. Maples converted nine free throws and nine field goals, mostly from inside the lane. Robertson hit three shots from beyond the arc on her way to 15 points. Banks was the third Mustang to score in double figures, finishing with twelve points and a game-high six assists. MSU shot 48.3% (29-60) from the field as a team, including 41.7% (5-12) from three-point range and 75.0% (18-24) from the charity stripe.

Eastern will play the third game in a five-game homestand on Thursday, Feb. 2 against Texas A&M University-Kingsville at 5:30 p.m. MST. The Zias will match-up against Texas Woman’s University on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. MST, before concluding the homestand versus arch rival West Texas A&M University on Monday, Feb. 6, with the tip off scheduled for 5:30 p.m. MST.