Mustangs oust Zias

ALLEN, Texas — The Eastern New Mexico University's women basketball team couldn't break a postseason losing streak that dates back 17 years,despite senior guard Hannah Altheide's first career double-double.

Altheide, a 5-foot-9 senior guard from El Paso Chapin High School, collected 11 points and 11 rebounds in Wednesday's 85-70 loss to top-seeded Midwestern State in the first round of the Lone Star Conference Tournament.

CMI correspondent photo: Joshua Lucero

ENMU freshman forward Nelsha Peterson scores in the first half of Wednesday's Lone Star Conference Tournament quarterfinal against Midwestern State at Allen Event Center in Allen, Texas.

Texico freshman Jordyn Cooper added 19 points for the eighth-seeded Zias (7-22), who were making their second-straight tournament appearance under second-year coach Lindsey Wilson.

Diana Jones scored a career-high 27 points off the bench for Midwestern State.

The win was the first postseason victory for the Mustangs since 2003, as the Mustangs are making just their second appearance in the LSC Championship in the last 11 years. Midwestern (22-5) is ranked second in the South Central Region.

Along with Jones, who was a perfect 11-of-11 from the free-throw line, MSU had four players in double-figure scoring. Shatoia Gober notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Eastern New Mexico turned the ball over 26 times. Carter, Gober and Shambreka Jones had three steals each.

After a slow start by both teams led to a 4-4 tie, the Mustangs went on a 9-0 run, sparked by a basket each by Degelia, Carter, Gober and Jones. From there, MSU controlled the first half and led 40-30 at the half.

Midwestern opened the second half with a 13-2 run and extended the lead to as much as 21. The Zias hit a few shots down the stretch, but never got closer than 14.

ENMU rebounded from an 0-10 start to win seven of its last 19 games, including victories over the top two seeds in the LSC Tournament.

The Zias are now 7-17 all-time in the tournament.