Tuesday, December 02, 2014
                                                                                      
EL PASO, TEXAS — Junior guard Shayla Williams (Oklahoma City, Okla./Butler CC) poured in 16 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists, but the Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team dropped Tuesday evening's exhibition contest against The University of Texas-El Paso, 84-49, at the Don Haskins Center. The game was ENMU's second exhibition outing against a NCAA Division I opponent, this season.
 
The Zias made four defensive stops at the outset of the game and took the lead on senior forward Tori Tucker's (Portales, N.M./Floyd HS/Howard College) layup with 17:55 left in the opening half. Jaylyn Cooper (Texico, N.M./Texico HS) drew a foul a little more than a minute later and extended Eastern's lead to 4-0, with a pair of free throws. The Miners answered with a 10-0 run over the ensuing 1:56, to take a 10-4 lead. A Dominique Carpenter (Fr., PG, Albuquerque, N.M./Cibola HS) jumper pulled the Zias to within 10-6 with 13:35 left in the half, but Eastern could come no closer as UTEP pulled away for the win.
 
The Miners held a .466-.279 advantage in overall shooting percentage, but Eastern was .917 (11-12) from the free throw line, while the Miners hit .813 of their attempts from the charity stripe. Jaylyn Cooper finished with seven points, three blocked shots, three rebounds and two steals, while Brittany Gutierrez (Jr., P, Gallup, N.M./Otero JC) chipped in six points and four boards. Williams converted on all seven free throw attempts. Sparkle Taylor led the Miners with 25 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, while Cameasha Turner contributed 15 points, 11 caroms and three steals.
 
The Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team will return to action on Thursday, for another exhibition game at New Mexico State. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT.