EPAC GIRLS: Lady Coyotes' comeback sinks Texico in finals

Texico was so close to an EPAC championship Saturday night at Greyhound Arena. The Lady Wolverines just couldn't hang on.

Senior guard Mel Lucero hit two free throws with 6:34 to go to give Texico a commanding 41-28 lead over favored Tatum, but the Lady Wolverines never scored again.

Senior guard Tierra Gray had three 3-pointers and 11 of her team-high 13 points in the fourth quarter as the Lady Coyotes ended the game on a 17-0 run for a 45-41 victory.

CMI correspondent: Joshua LuceroTexico's McKenzi Mayfield goes up for a rebound during the fourth quarter of Saturday's EPAC girls championship game against Tatum at Greyhound Arena (in Portales). The Lady Coyotes rallied for the game's final 17 points to edge Texico 45-41.

Gray put Tatum (11-1) in front 43-41 on a 3-pointer from the left wing with about two minutes left. Senior McKenzi Mayfield scored a game-high 14 points for the Lady Wolverines (8-5), who actually had an 18-point lead at one time.

In other final-round girls games, Fort Sumner defeated Floyd 45-36 for third place while Elida held off Melrose 46-45 and Dora rallied past Logan 58-50 in consolation games.

Senior Ashley Landreth scored 17 points as Fort Sumner (9-3) broke away from a halftime tie by outscoring the Lady Broncos 14-8 in the third quarter. The Vixens held Floyd (9-6) to just nine field goals, but six of them were 3-pointers — four by junior Tabitha Ornelas, who had a game-high 18 points — to keep the Lady Broncos close.

Dora (9-5) trailed Logan 24-21 at halftime, but finally pulled away from the Lady Longhorns (8-5) with an 18-10 spurt in the final quarter. Sophomore post Taylor Dillard poured in 25 points — all but two after the first quarter — and sophomore Kevyn Ferriera added 11 for the Lady Coyotes, while sophomore Shana Sorrels had 12 points and senior Whitney Cordova 11 for Logan.

Elida played its third consecutive one-point game in the tournament, holding off a late Melrose rally. Junior Kaylen Jasso scored 13 points and sophomore Marily Varela added 12 for the Lady Tigers (10-4), while sisters Cara and Caley Barnard scored 21 and 11, respectively, for the Lady Buffaloes (7-9).