Late 3-pointer does in Zias

PORTALES — Freshman forward Lacie Allen hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 14 seconds left, lifting Central Oklahoma to a 54-52 victory over Eastern New Mexico University in a Lone Star Conference women’s crossover game Thursday at Greyhound Arena.

Allen had missed her only previous 3-point attempt in the game and was 1 for 8 for the season before launching the game-winner. An ENMU backcourt traveling violation gave the Bronchos (7-4) the ball with 25 seconds left.

Allen finished with 11 points for UCO while sophomore guard Meghan Craig added 10. Junior post Tiana Bryant led the Zias (5-5) with 16 points, and senior guard Mika Robertson added 10.

“We normally don’t want her to shoot the 3, but that’s the way basketball is,” UCO coach Shawn Williams said of Allen. “It was an ugly game for both teams, but I thought both teams played hard.”

The Zias (5-5) led most of the way, but both teams struggled to get into a flow. ENMU held the Bronchos scoreless for a stretch of nearly eight minutes beginning late in the first half and opened a 34-27 lead with the first seven points after the intermission.

Sophomore point guard Jennifer Bullis, filling in for injured starter Jackee Brown, hit three 3-pointers in the second half to help keep the Bronchos close.

“Jennifer Bullis helped us in the second half,” Williams said. “I thought she did a good job of filling in for Jackee.”

ENMU, which hadn’t played since Dec. 11, was without senior guard Laci Lee, nursing a foot injury. Interim ENMU coach Dustin Klafka said Lee also is likely to miss Saturday’s crossover against Northeastern State and Monday’s LSC South Division opener against West Texas A&M, both at home.

“Any time you lay off month it’s tough but we should’ve played better than that,” Klafka said. “You can’t let a game like that get down to the last one or two possessions.”

Williams said two-game road swings are tough, and she was glad her team could prevail with a trip to West Texas A&M coming up on Saturday.

“It takes a lot of toll on the kids, but I thought they hung in there and gave themselves a chance,” she said.

Klafka was concerned with his team’s 24 turnovers, including several coming in the closing moments.

“I really don’t think we played very good in any phase of the game, and as a result you get beat,” Klafka said. “We didn’t deserve to win that game.”