Zias Fall in Season Opener Against #18 Fort Lewis

DURANGO, COLO.— Junior forward Precious Herrin (Jr., F, Shreveport, La./Southwood HS/Jacksonville College) registered a double double in her debut, with 20 points and 11 rebounds, but the Eastern New Mexico University women’s basketball team (0-1) dropped an 86-56 decision to 18th-ranked Fort Lewis College (1-0), Saturday evening at Whaley Gymnasium. Senior forward Cat Clay (Deming, N.M./Deming HS) added eight points to move into 14th on the ENMU career scoring list.

Herrin hit a three-pointer 2:48 into the game, but the Skyhawks put together a 38-8 run over the next 15:10 to build a 41-11 lead with 1:45 left in the opening half. Krista Ford (So., G, Lubbock, Texas/Frenship HS) hit a three-pointer with 55 seconds left in the opening half, to spark a 9-0 Zia run over a span of 3:48, which stretched into the second half. The surge was capped by a pair of Tara Johnson (So., G, Portales, N.M./Portales HS/Lubbock Christian) free throws and pulled ENMU to within 41-20, with 17:07 left in the game. Eastern pulled to within 21 points one more time, coming on a Herrin trey, making the score 43-22, with 16:37 left, but FLC continued to pull away for the win.

Eastern connected on 45.2 percent of its shots from the floor, 40 percent from three-point range and 70.2 percent from the free throw line, but the Skyhawks scored 44 points off 38 Zia turnovers. ENMU held a 30-28 edge in rebounds. Ford finished with 10 points, while Karen Grant (Jr., G, Lubbock, Texas/Estacado HS) dished out four assists

Clay entered the season tied for 15th on the Zia career scoring list with Treena Royston at 910 points. She hit a three-point bucket 4:01 into the contest to move into a tie with Tiana Bryant for 14th place. Just 1:28 into the second half, she hit a pair of free throws to move into sole possession on 14th on the list. With 918 points, Clay is seven points shy of Leslie Shippy for 13th place.

The Eastern New Mexico University women’s basketball team will return to action next Saturday, when they visit the University of Texas-El Paso. Tip off is scheduled for 6 p.m. MST.