Women's Basketball | 12/9/2014 4:00:00 PM

Tuesday, December 09, 2014
                                                                                             
PORTALES, N.M. — After playing exhibition games against a pair of nearby NCAA Division I schools, last week, the Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team will return to regular-season play. On Friday, the Zias will "Rock the Hoops" against defending Heartland Conference champion Texas A&M-International, at Rock Staubus Gym, in Clovis, in a game sponsored by Bank of Clovis. Next Tuesday, the Zias return to Greyhound Arena to play Northern New Mexico, in a game sponsored by Eastern Family Dentistry.
 
In the Numbers
ENMU Athletics
ENMU Women's Basketball
Roster
Schedule
Statistics 

Two weeks ago, junior guard Sarah Stinnett (Fort Sumner, N.M./Howard College) averaged a team-best 12 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.67 assists against an extremely high level of competition. Jasmine Johnson (Sr., P, DeSoto, Texas/DeSoto HS) was right behind, with 9.5 points and 6.3 rebounds.
 
In exhibition play against Texas-El Paso and New Mexico State, Tori Tucker (Sr., F, Portales, N.M./Floyd HS/Howard College) averaged a team-best 17 points and four rebounds. She exploded for 30 points on a 10-for-16 performance from the floor at NMSU. The performance exceeded her regular-season best, 29 points, which came against Tarleton State, last season.
 
Last season, ENMU posted a record of 6-20, with a 4-12 mark in Lone Star Conference play.
 
Since the 2010-11 season, only Precious Herrin (16 ppg) has averaged more points per contest than Tucker (11.7). Jordyn Cooper (Jr., G, Texico, N.M./Texico HS) has been the top three-point shooter over that span, with a .361 shooting percentage and 99 three-point buckets. Tucker also is the program's top rebounder over those years, with 6.7 per game, while Jasmine Johnson (Sr., P, DeSoto, Texas/DeSoto HS) leads the team with 420 total rebounds.
 
Fast Facts

• Four of the Zias five losses this season have come by a combined 17 points, with the largest margin being nine points against Texas-Permian Basin (excluding Lubbock Christian).
• Eastern has only been outrebounded twice this season, against Colorado-Mines and Lubbock Christian.
• In four of six games, ENMU has held a halftime lead.
• Lubbock Christian is the only opponent hit more three-pointers than the Zias in a game this season.

 
 
Texas A&M-International DustDevils
TAMIU Athletics
TAMIU Women's Basketball
Roster
Schedule
Statistics 

Texas A&M-International boasts a 4-2 record this season, with a 3-0 mark against Lone Star Conference teams. The DustDevils are looking to snap a two-game skid, which came against University of Colorado-Colorado Springs and Metropolitan State.
 
Last year, the Falcons posted a 19-9 record and won the Heartland with a 15-5 record. A&M-International dropped a 62-56 decision in the opening round of the conference tournament and a 70-55 decision to Tarleton State in the first round of the South Central Regional.
 
Northern New Mexico Eagles
NNMC Athletics
NNMC Women's Basketball
Roster
Schedule
Statistics 
 
Northern New Mexico will host Oklahoma Panhandle on Saturday, before coming to Portales, but boasts an 8-1 record with the only loss coming to Oklahoma Wesleyan.
 
Last season Northern New Mexico finished 9-20 with a 1-3 mark among NAIA Independents.
 
Inside the Series
 
Eastern is 1-1 against Texas A&M-International and dropped a 69-59 decision in Laredo, last season. The Zias got off to a fast start and after an exchange of baskets staked the DustDevils to a 4-3 lead, Eastern used an 8-0 run, fueled by four points from Johnson, to seize an 11-4 advantage. Jordyn Cooper paced ENMU with 12 points and two steals, while Johnson added eight points. Texas A&M-International was led by 17 points and 10 rebounds from Malika Jackson, while Tina Dang chipped in 16 points.
 
The Zias earned an 89-75 win, in San Antonio, on December 31, 2008, in the initial contest between the teams. Cat Clay shot five-for-12 from outside the arc and paced the Zias with 28 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while Tori Northcutt finished with nine points, five rebounds, 13 assists and three steals. Jasmine June led the DustDevils with 16 points and seven rebounds. June hit all 10 of her free throw attempts.
 
Eastern and Northern New Mexico have no previous meetings.
 
 
Looking Ahead
 
After playing Northern New Mexico, Eastern will head to Lakeland, Fla., to face Florida Southern and University of Tampa. After the Lone Star Conference opener at Cameron, the Zias will host Midwestern State and Texas A&M-Kingsville.