ENMU Zias Drop Decision to Metro State

by ENMU Athletics

DENVER, COLO.— Freshmen Tori Northcutt (G, Clovis, N.M./Clovis HS) and Til-Lois Fifer (F, Tulia, Texas/Tulia HS) each registered 14 points for the Eastern New Mexico University women’s basketball team (1-3), but the Zias dropped a 70-61 decision Friday afternoon to Metro State (2-1) on the first day of the Metro State Thanksgiving Classic at the Auraria Events Center.

The Zias shot a season-best 80 percent at the charity stripe, hitting 20 of 25 attempts, but gave up 22 points on a season-high 30 turnovers.

After the Roadrunners sprinted to a 6-0 lead, Samantha Matta (Fr., G, Roswell, N.M./Roswell HS) connected on a three-point play 1:33 into the game to spark a 14-0 run by the Zias that was capped by a Megan Kabrick (So., G, Portales, N.M./Portales HS) lay-up at the 6:03 mark. Metro responded with a 16-2 surge, seizing a 22-16 edge on a three-pointer by Stephanie Sauter with 7:41 remaining in the opening half. Sauter hit a three-pointer earlier in the run to give the MSU the lead for good, 15-14, with 10:04 on the clock.

With Metro State holding a 27-20 edge with 3:49 left until halftime, Eastern used an 8-1 run fueled by four free throws from Northcutt to pull even at 28-all with 1:10 left in the period. The teams exchanged three-point baskets in the final minute, but a Megan Sinclair lay-up with 11 seconds left staked MSU to a 33-31 halftime lead.

The Roadrunners scored the first three baskets of the second half to extend their lead to 39-31. The Zias managed to trim their deficit t four points on two occasions, but Metro pulled away for the win.

Kara Bible (Fr., F, Albuquerque, N.M./Cibola HS) finished the game with eight points and tied Fifer with a game-high eight rebounds. Northcutt also chipped in five assists and three steals. Ashley Mickens paced the Roadrunners with 21 points

 The Eastern New Mexico University women’s basketball team will resume play at the Metro State Thanksgiving Classic, when they play Colorado State-Pueblo. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. MST.

 

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