Friday, November 28, 2014
                                                                                                  
LUBBOCK, TEXAS — Junior guard Sarah Stinnett (Fort Sumner, N.M./Howard College) reached double figures for the second straight game, with 16 points and four rebounds, but the Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team (1-4) dropped a 67-58 decision to University of Texas of the Permian Basin (4-0), Friday at the Lowe's Market Thanksgiving Classic, in Lubbock Christian's Rip Griffin Center. Over the last two games, she has averaged 16.5 points.
 
The loss evened the series between the teams at 1-1, as the Zias captured a 69-51 win in the only other meeting, on November 21, 2008. The Falcons entered today's contest ranked seventh in the latest Women's Basketball Division II Media poll, sponsored by D2SIDA. UTPB is now 3-0 against Lone Star Conference opposition, this season.
 
After giving up a Trish Simpson jumper to open the game, Eastern took a 6-2 lead on back-to-back buckets from Stinnett and Jasmine Johnson (Sr., P, DeSoto, Texas/DeSoto HS). Eastern maintained the lead for most of the next few minutes, but saw an 8-4 lead turn into a 24-13 deficit after a 20-5 run by the Falcons.
 
The Zias faced a 58-48 deficit with 4:56 left in the game, Brittany Gutierrez (Jr., P, Gallup, N.M./Otero JC) scored four straight points, followed by a layup from Cassidy Doherty (Jr., PG, Folsom, N.M./Melrose HS) to pull ENMU to within 58-54. The Falcons managed to hit nine free throws over the final 1:58 to seal the game.
 
Eastern held a 44.1-41.5 edge in shooting percentage, but were limited to just one three-point field goal for the game. The Zias also held a 34-32 advantage on the boards. Eastern also held a 42-26 edge in points scored in the paint. Johnson finished with 13 points and connected on six of her nine shots from the floor. Shayla Williams (Jr., PG, Oklahoma City, Okla./Butler CC) scored seven points, grabbed five boards and dished out a pair of assists. Tori Tucker (Sr., F, Portales, N.M./Floyd HS/Howard College) has scored in all 31 games as a Zia over the last two seasons, but saw her 12-game stream with at least one three-point field goal, snapped. She also grabbed seven rebounds.  Giselle Loya paced UTPB with 19 points, two assists and two steals.
 
The Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team will return to action on Saturday, when they continue play in the Lowe's Market Thanksgiving Classic, against Lubbock Christian. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. MT.
 
NOTES
Eastern outrebounded its opponent for the fourth consecutive game
 
Today's contest marked the first time this season ENMU did not lead at halftime