TexAnns rally late to upend Zias

Ronnie Hearne was forced to do something he hadn't done in "five or six years" Wednesday night — employ a zone defense.

Hearne's Tarleton State TexAnns were in serious trouble against Eastern New Mexico University, trailing by 10 points with 13 minutes left. At the under-12 minutes media timeout, Hearne said: "I told my assistant coach, 'I'm going to see if I've got the guts to do it.'"

CMI correspondent: Joshua Lucero

Zia guard Tara Johnson puts up a shot for two points over Tarleton State's Morgan ashmore in the first half of the Zias' game against the Tarleton State University TexAnns Wednesday evening at Greyhound Arena.

The move worked, helping TSU rally with a 22-6 run before they held on late for a 63-61 Lone Star Conference women's basketball victory over the plucky Zias at Greyhound Arena.

Junior center Kiara Wright scored 19 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and junior center Cheyenne Berry added 17 and eight, respectively, as the TexAnns (11-3, 7-1 LSC) maintained a slim lead in the conference race.

ENMU (3-13, 2-6) got 14 points from senior Tara Johnson, 13 from junior guard Taylor Collier off the bench and 11 from senior guard Hannah Altheide, who hit three 3-pointers before fouling out late.

Berry missed the second of two foul shots with 11.6 seconds left, leaving the door open for the Zias. ENMU, though, turned the ball over in the lane in the closing seconds.

CMI correspondent: Joshua Lucero

ENMU freshman forward Nelsha Peterson blocks a shot from Tarleton State's Cheyenne Berry in the first half of the Zias' game against the Tarleton State University TexAnns Wednesday evening at Greyhound Arena.

The 6-foot-1 Wright and the 5-11 Berry were taller than anyone on the Zias' roster.

"Wright's good; I think she's probably the best player in the conference," ENMU coach Lindsey Wilson said. "Berry plays the one through five positions (on the court). She's just a tough matchup for us."

Junior guard Peyton Adamson, TSU's leading scorer (15.9 ppg), was held scoreless in the first half, but finished with 10 points, including a couple of key 3-pointers.

"We grew up so much today," Wilson said. "Whenever they went on a run, we didn't fold. Earlier in the year, I think we would've freaked out."

The Zias trailed for most of the first 10 minutes, but took a 20-17 lead on a 3-pointer by Johnson at the 8:50 mark of the half and led the rest of the period.

ENMU built a 29-21 margin on Collier's 3-pointer at the 2:14 mark. Neither team scored from the field the rest of the half, which ended with ENMU leading 30-23.

The Zias weathered an early storm from TSU in the second half, eventually going up 44-34 when freshman Nelsha Peterson scored inside with 13;06 to go.

Wilson admitted the zone move by Hearne caught her off-guard.

"I've never seen him do that," he said. "It was just something we weren't looking for. It slowed our momentum down."

Free throws were a big factor in the game. TSU, a 69 percent team from the line, went 19-for-22 while the Zias were 8-of-14.