Tuesday, November 25, 2014
                                                                                      
PORTALES, N.M. — Junior guard Sarah Stinnett (Fort Sumner, N.M./Howard College) connected on a layup with 1:50 remaining to erase a late 10-point deficit, but Fort Lewis College (3-1) hit a three-pointer off an inbounds play with 42 seconds left to hand the Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team (1-3) a 59-56 setback Tuesday night at Greyhound Arena. Stinnett paced the Zias with a 17-point, eight-rebounds, three-assist performance.
 
Eastern quickly opened up a 5-1 lead on a Stinnett layup followed by a three-point bucket from Tori Tucker (Sr., F, Portales, N.M./Floyd HS/Howard College). After an exchange of baskets, the Sky Hawks put together a 7-2 run, capped by a Kate Bayes layup to knot the score at 15-all, with 19:46 left in the half. The teams continued to go back and forth, with ENMU taking its largest lead, 26-20 on a trey from junior guard Jordyn Cooper (Texico, N.M./Texico HS) with 2:25 left. Ande Lampert scored the final three points of the half and the Zias took a 26-23 lead into the locker room.
 
The three points at the end of the half stretched into a 17-2 run, which was capped with 17:39 left in the game on a three-point play from Mary Brinton which gave Fort Lewis a 37-28 lead. A Dominique Carpenter (Fr., G, Albuquerque, N.M./Cibola HS) jumper sparked a 10-3 ENMU run over the next 5:21, with the Zias closing to within 42-40, on a pair of free throws from Cassidy Doherty (Jr., PG, Folsom, N.M./Melrose HS). The SkyHawks responded with an 8-0 run, with seven straight coming from Skylyn Webb, to take a 50-40 lead with 9:12 remaining in the game.
 
After a trade of baskets, Fort Lewis held a 54-45 lead with 5:58 left, but Jaylyn Cooper (Jr., G, Texico, N.M./Texico HS) hit a pair of free throws to spark an 11-2 run over 3:27, to allow Stinnett's game-tying layup with 1:50 remaining. After making a defensive stand, Webb found Kylie Santos on an inbounds play, to give the SkyHawks a 59-56 lead.
 
Eastern held a 41-28 advantage in total rebounds and a 13-5 lead on the offensive glass. The advantage translated to an 8-2 lead for ENMU in second-chance points. The SkyHawks held a .434-.364 lead in shooting percentage. Jasmine Johnson (Sr., P, DeSoto, Texas/DeSoto HS) scored 11 points, grabbed seven rebounds had four steals and dished out a career high three assists for Eastern. Tucker contributed six points and five boards, while Jaylyn Cooper had eight points, four rebounds and a pair of steals. Mary Brinton paced Fort Lewis with 19 points and six rebounds.
 
The Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team will return to action on Friday, when they open the Lowe's Market Thanksgiving Classic, against University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. MT.
 
Notes
 
The Zias are 2-7 against Fort Lewis College and last won 71-50 in Canyon, Texas, on November 26, 2005
 
ENMU has led at halftime in all four games this season