Zias rally comes up short at Commerce

COMMERCE, Texas — Junior Precious Herrin led a late Zias rally, but Texas A&M-Commerce held on to beat Eastern New Mexico University 64-63 for its first win of the season Monday.

Herrin’s first 3-pointer of the season cut what was a 10-point Commerce lead with a little more than three minutes left in the game to 62-61 with 12 seconds left.

Mattilyn McIntyre, who finished with a game-high 23 points, hit pair of free throws with nine seconds left and Commerce eked out the win in the Lone Star Conference crossover game that featured six ties and seven lead changes.

Herrin led ENMU (2-6) with 18 points and six rebounds. She was joined in double figures by Krista Ford with 11.

The Zias’ were coming off a 15-point Saturday at Texas Woman’s.

Danielle Dixon added 14 points for Commerce (1-7).

ENMU struggled from long distance in the game, finishing 4-for-24 while the Lions went 6-for-15.

Kara Bible and Til-Lois Fifer gave the Zias a spark off the bench in a back-and-forth first half, combining for eight points.

The Zias took their biggest lead at 27-22 on Kassie Daugherty’s layup with 6:28 to go in the first half, but McIntyre hit a pair of free throws and a jumper as Commerce rallied to 34-31 halftime lead.

McIntyre, the LSC’s fourth-leading scorer, hit three 3-pointers in a row during 2 1/2 minute stretch midway through the second half as the Lions surge to a 55-43 lead.

Down 64-61 with nine seconds left after McIntryre’s free throws, the Zias were unable to get off a 3-point shot, with Karen Grant scoring on a layup as time expired.