Spartans too much for Zias

Staff report

LAKELAND, Fla. — Eastern New Mexico University’s women fell behind in the first nine seconds, trailed 15-2 after five minutes and were never able to recover on Friday in absorbing an 84-59 loss at the hands of 10th-ranked Tampa in a weekend classic hosted by Florida Southern.

The Zias (4-6), who opened the event on Thursday with a solid 66-49 win over the host Mocs, saw their three-game winning streak come to an end in its non-league finale. ENMU begins Lone Star Conference play on Jan. 7 at Cameron.

Junior guard Juliana Cavallaro led five players in double figures for the Spartans (7-2) with 20 points, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range, followed by junior forward Ellen Nurmi with 18 points and senior reserve Aisha Rodney with 17. Meantime, 6-foot-4 junior center Taylor McVey posted a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, and junior guard Taylor McVey also had 11 points.

Senior forward Jasmine Johnson led all scorers with a season-best 22 points on 10-of-17 shooting for the Zias, while junior guard Sarah Stinnett finished with 10 points.

Tampa led 41-25 at halftime, just the third time the Zias have been behind at the break this season. ENMU was still within 15 at 61-46 after a three-point play by Johnson with 9:47 left, but the Spartans built a 29-point lead late with a 20-6 surge.

Tampa shot 59 percent from the floor (32-of-54) and hit 9-of-19 3-pointers, while limiting the Zias to 39 percent overall and 5-of-20 from long distance.