Espanola, New Mexico - Northern New Mexico College (4-19, 1-4 A.I.I.) led 44-33 at halftime and went on to defeat Arizona Christian University (8-18, 4-5 A.I.I.), 90-78, in Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) conference women's basketball action, Friday, Feb. 10, in Espanola, New Mexico. ACU has lost five of its last six games and has split four games this season with Northern New Mexico.
ACU, coached by Jerry Conner, completes its regular season with one more game against Northern New Mexico in Espanola, New Mexico, Saturday, Feb. 11, at 1 p.m.
Both teams committed 20 turnovers in the contest, and the rebounding was even, 59-59. The game featured 46 fouls, 24 against NNMC with three Eagles fouling out and two others winding up with four fouls. ACU made good on 21 of 30 free throw attempts, but Northern New Mexico made 30 of 41 attempts, a large portion of the difference between the teams for the night.
ACU shot 29.9 percent from the field (26-87), 13.2 percent (5-38) from three-point range and 70 percent from the charity stripe (21-30), while Northern New Mexico shot 35.4 percent from the field (28-79), 36.4 percent from behind the three-point arc (4-11) and 73.2 percent from the foul line (30-41). Northern New Mexico stole the ball from ACU 15 times and blocked three Firestorm shots, while ACU stole the ball from NNMC seven times and blocked three shots.
Four NNMC players scored 10 or more points, and three Firestorm players scored in double figures. NNMC's leading scorer this season, Nisa Duran, totaled 17 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double and also passed two assists and recorded five teams, while forward Michelle Montes also completed a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds and had three steals. Guard Melanie Vigil led NNMC with 24 points, making 10 of 13 free throws, two three- pointers, and had three rebounds, two assists and four steals. Guard Erica Williams added 12 points with two three-pointers, and center Shannon Dez finished with nine points, seven
rebounds and a blocked shot. Off the bench, Shaniqua Perkins, contributed eight points, six rebounds, two assists and a steal, and Dorsheka Lopez added seven points, two rebounds, one blocked shot and two steals.
With 24 points against NNMC, senior guard Steffani Liscum (Tucson, Ariz./Marana H.S.) became ACU's first player to score over 600 points in a single season. Liscum has scored 606 points (23.3 points per game) and has a total of 1,063 career points in 46 career games (23.1 ppg). Liscum ranks second in the NAIA Division II in points and fourth in scoring average this season, and also ranks number one in the NCCAA Division in both categories. Liscum also contributed six rebounds, two three-pointers, a blocked shot and a steal to ACU's efforts Friday evening and ranks 11th in the NAIA Division II with 72 steals and 17th with 65 three-point field goals.
Playing in her home state, junior guard Jessica Largo (Gallup, N.M. Rehoboth Christian School) recorded her third double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds and also had one three-pointer and two steals. Freshman forward Sarah Beth Hock (Gilbert, Ariz./Perry H.S.) came off the bench for nine points and six rebounds and ranks second on the team in scoring (14.0 ppg) and first in rebounding (8.4 rpg), and her former high school teammate, freshman forward Stephanie Brimhall (Gilbert, Ariz./Perry H.S.) finished with nine points and nine rebounds. Senior guard Anne Munsil (Scottsdale, Ariz./Scottsdale Christian Academy), the Firestorm's career three-point leader with 141, tallied nine points, one three-pointer, four rebounds and one steal, and off the bench, freshman forward Jamie Heath (Phoenix, Ariz./Thunderbird H.S.) contributed 11 points, one three-pointer, two blocked shot and a steal. Senior guard Jessica Smith (Mesa, Ariz./Home Schooled) scored four points, all free throws.
