Cameron turns back Zias

Freedom New Mexico

LAWTON, Okla. — Cameron needed a strong finish Wednesday night to extend its win streak to nine games.

Sabelle Diata scored 19 points and Julie Paunovic added 14 points and 12 rebounds as Cameron outscored Eastern New Mexico University 15-3 in the final 6 1/2 minutes to pull out a 59-47 win in a Lone Star Conference women’s contest.

Clovis’ Tori Northcutt had five 3-pointers and 15 points for the Zias, who led 29-25 at halftime. Hannah Altheide and Precious Herron added eight points each for the Zias (4-10, 2-6 LSC), who had won two of their last three games.

Neither team shot well from the field — Cameron 31 percent and ENMU 29.6 percent. The Aggies (11-2, 6-1) did shoot well at the free-throw line, converting 19-of-23, including 16-of-19 in the second half. ENMU converted 8-of-10 free throws.

ENMU tied the game at 44 on Altheide’s layup on a feed from Lace Clark with 6:29 left in the game.

Diata’s three-point play after grabbing an offense rebound on Cameron’s next possession started an 11-0 run over the next five minutes to fight off the Zias’ upset bid.

Cameron led for the first 15 minutes of the game before ENMU took its first lead at 24-23 on Altheide’s layup on a Kiara Tate assist with 4:50 to go in the first half. Northcutt added a 3-pointer late in the half to give the Zias’ the four-point halftime lead.