Zias cruise by winless Kingsville

PORTALES — Jordyn Cooper came into Wednesday's Lone Star Conference women's basketball game against Texas A&M-Kingsville shooting less than 30 percent for the season.

The junior guard from Texico went off against the winless Javelinas, hitting 4-of-5 from 3-point range and 6-of-9 from the field overall for a season-high 18 points — two short of her career high —in Eastern New Mexico University's 77-58 victory.

link Staff photo: Joshua Lucero

Zias forward Brittany Gutierrez fights for a rebound against Texas A&M-Kingsville forward Kyra Bauer Wednesday during the Zias’ 77-58 win at Greyhound Arena.

Cooper, who scored 13 points above her season's average, said she felt motivated by the sudden death on Sunday of longtime Clovis boys coach and present Elida girls coach J.D. Isler, who was killed in an automobile accident on Sunday.

"It was a special game for (twin sister) Jaylyn and me," Cooper said. "Jerry Isler was a special guy to us.

"I don't know if that was the motivation for us, but somewhere it came out."

ENMU (5-8, 1-2 LSC) shot more than 50 percent for much of the game and finished at 46 percent in snapping a 13-game league losing streak dating to last January. Three others scored in double figures, including senior forward Tori Tucker (15), junior post Brittany Gutierrez (14) and junior guard Sarah Stinnett (14).

Meantime, the Javelinas (0-14, 0-4) dropped their 15th game in a row, dating to a first-round LSC tournament loss last March to Texas Woman's.

After three early ties, the Zias led the rest of the way. They led by 31 points with four minutes left and matched their season high in points despite not scoring the rest of the way.

Jordyn Cooper said hitting a couple of shots early always helps.

"As a shooter, you have to shoot with confidence," she said. "It's always nice to get that first one under your belt."

ENMU women's coach Josh Prock noted the Zias had 18 assists — six for Stinnett — on their 28 baskets, with just 11 turnovers.

"It was a great team effort," he said. "That's what it comes down to. Sometimes the other team has better players, but that's what it comes down to. If you give effort, you give yourself a chance to be in every game."

Jordyn Cooper hit a pair of 3s to help the Zias stretch a six-point lead to 10 midway through the first half. It was 39-26 at halftime, and the margin was never under double figures the rest of the way.

The Zias wanted to make the Javs play fast and kept the pressure up.

"We really wanted to control the tempo of the game," Jordyn Cooper said. "We've been working on our press. It wasn't doing a lot for us as far as scoring, but it helped us get the pace we wanted."

Sophomore guard Micah Weaver led Kingsville with 18 points, while senior forward Lauren Jay had 11.

ENMU will try to make it two in a row on Saturday with a 1 p.m. (MST) LSC contest at Angelo State.

"We have so much potential as a team," Jordyn Cooper said. "There's a lot of basketball left in the conference, and getting this win feels good."

"We have a really good opportunity ahead of us. We just have to play."