Wednesday, February 4, 2015
                                                                                                                      
KINGSVILLE, TEXAS — The Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team (7-12; LSC 3-6) charged to a 14-point lead in the second half, but Texas A&M-Kingsville (0-19; LSC 0-9) battled back to hold a brief lead midway through the second half in Wednesday's Lone Star Conference game at Hampton Inn Court. Junior guard Jaylyn Cooper (Jr., G, Texico, N.M./Texico HS) poured in 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds on the way to a 57-53 win.
 
The win snapped Eastern's four game skid, with the last victory coming in a 22-point comeback at Angelo State. Eastern has now won five straight road games against the Javelinas and nine of the last 11 overall meetings.
 
Eastern limited the Javelinas to just one field goal and free throw from Micah Weaver over the opening 6:23 of play and charged to a 14-3 lead with Brittany Gutierrez (Jr., P, Gallup, N.M./Otero JC) scoring six points over that stretch. Midway through the first half, Gutierrez hit back-to-back layups to give ENMU a 24-10 lead, with just 8:08 left in the period. For the next 8:05 of play, the Javelinas exploded on a 15-2 run, to close within a single point, 26-25 on Weaver's layup to open scoring in the second half.
 
In the second half, Texas A&M-Kingsville managed to tie the game five times, before a pair of Weaver's free throws with 8:24 staked them to their only lead of the evening, 40-39. On the ensuing possession, Jaylyn Cooper took a pass from Sarah Stinnett (Jr., G, Fort Sumner, N.M./Howard College) and gave Eastern the lead on a jumper. The Javelinas would pull even one final time, 45-all on the first of two Ashley Viera free throws with six minutes left. Viera was unable to connect on the second free throw and Tori Tucker's (Portales, N.M./Floyd HS/Howard College) rebound led to a Jasmine Johnson (Sr., P, DeSoto, Texas/DeSoto HS) layup to give the Zias the lead for good.
 
ENMU improved to 6-3 when holding a halftime lead. Eastern held a 43-33 edge on the boards, the first time they enjoyed a double digit rebounding advantage since a 17-rebound margin in a win over Texas A&M-International. The Javelinas held a 22-8 edge in points off turnovers and an 18-8 lead in second-chance points. Gutierrez turned in a superlative game, with 10 points, seven rebounds and five blocked shots. Johnson contributed eight points and six boards. Weaver paced the Javelinas with 17 points.
 
The Eastern New Mexico University women's basketball team will return to action on Saturday, when they host Angelo State. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. MT.
 
NOTES
Eastern is 3-1 this season when holding a double-digit rebound advantage
 
The contest marked the first time Jaylyn Cooper was the Zias high scorer in a game, since a 14-point performance at Cameron on February 12, 2014
 
Gutierrez's five block game is tied for second most since at least the 2005-06 season, with only Precious Herrin (6 vs NM Highlands 11/27/2010) having more