Late Pioneers 3-pointer topples Zias

Staff report

DENTON, Texas — Sophomore forward Emily Spector capped a 20-point, 10-rebound night off the bench by hitting a decisive 3-pointer with nine seconds left Thursday to give Texas Woman’s a 63-61 Lone Star Conference women’s basketball victory over Eastern New Mexico University.

For the third consecutive game, the Zias (6-10, 2-4 LSC) tried to erase a double-figure deficit, and for the second night in a row, they came up short.

ENMU, which rallied past Angelo State on the road on Saturday and lost 70-62 at Texas A&M-Commerce on Wednesday after trailing by at least 20 points in both games, fell behind 36-25 late in the first half in this one. Junior guard Cassidy Doherty’s 3-pointer at the buzzer cut the halftime margin to eight.

ENMU then went on a 14-0 run to erase a 10-point deficit and lead 54-50 with less than five minutes left. The Zias made 6-of-8 field goals during that stretch while the Pioneers (12-7, 5-2) were just 1-of-9.

TWU answered with a 10-2 run to lead 60-56, but Jasmine Johnson converted a layup and then hit two free throws with 17 seconds left for a 61-60 lead.

After Spector’s 3 gave the Pioneers the lead, ENMU junior Sarah Stinnett’s jumper in the closing seconds was off the mark.

ENMU bolted to a 7-0 lead to start the game, but the Pioneers tied the score 22-22 with 4:23 left in the half before opening a double-figure lead.

Sophomore Kenesha Saygo also came off the bench for 16 points for the Pioneers, who got just 20 points from their starters.

Meantime, senior forward Tori Tucker went 6-of-8 from the floor, including 4-of-4 on 3-pointers, and made all four of her free throws for 20 points before fouling out with under two minutes to go. Johnson finished with 18 points and a team-high seven rebounds off the bench, going 5-for-6 from the field.

The Zias will play their third game in four days when they host Tarleton State in a 2 p.m. tipoff on Saturday at Greyhound Arena, with men’s teams playing in the second contest.