PORTALES, NEW MEXICO – A late 17-0 run spelled defeat for the Texas A&M-Kingsville women’s basketball team, 69-64 on Wednesday night at Eastern New Mexico in the opening game of the Lone Star Conference South Division schedule. (box score)

The Zias (3-10, 1-0) trailed the Javelinas (2-11, 0-1) 55-45 with 7:56 remaining when they scored 17 straight points. Nikki Ingram scored the first five points of the run, but it was Vanessa O’Neal who scored six straight points to take the lead.

The Zias held the Javelinas scoreless for 6:18 before Meagan Barlow (D’Hanis/D’Hanis HS) stopped the streak with a pair of free throws with 1:38 remaining in the game. The Hoggies committed six turnovers and missed five shots during the run.

The Javelinas closed to within one possession on a pair of occasions, but each time the Zias responded by making a pair of free throws.

The Javelinas held double digit leads in both the first and second halves. In the first half, the Javelinas led 26-13 with 4:27 left after a Breanna Gonzalez (San Antonio/Christian Academy) three-pointer. The Zias scored 10 of the final 11 points of the first half to close to within three points at the half.

In the second half, the Javelinas pushed the lead back to double figures after a jumper by Victoria Gonzalez (Hidalgo/Hidalgo HS) with 14:49 to play. The Hoggies maintained a double digit lead until the Zias embarked on their 17-0 run.

The Javelinas shot 48.1 percent from the field, made 7-of-17 three-point attempts and were 5-for-7 from the foul line. Victoria Gonzalez led the way for the Hoggies with 14 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks while shooting 6-of-9 from the field. Barlow added a career high 15 points while dishing out six assists. Kelly Bastow (Bunbury, Australia/Bunbury Catholic HS) connected on 3-of-4 three-point attempts and extended her streak to five games in a row making at least three three-pointers.

The Zias shot 32.3 percent from the field, made 4-of-12 from three-point range and were 23-for-33 at the foul line. Precious Herrin led the team with 17 points and nine rebounds while Vanessa O’Neal added 16 points and five boards.

The two teams each had 38 rebounds. The Javelinas committed 19 turnovers which led to 19 points for the Zias while the Zias committed 16 turnovers that only turned into six points for the Hoggies. The Javelinas outscored the Zias 38-24 on points in the paint.

The Javelinas are back in action on Saturday at 1 p.m. against LSC South Division rival Incarnate Word.
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