The Angelo State women's basketball team (10-10, 3-3 LSC South) erased a nine-point halftime deficit to down Eastern New Mexico, 64-62, on free throws in the final seconds at Portales, N.M.

With the game tied, 62-62, with 2.3 seconds left, ENMU's Celeste Belizario fouled 'Belle freshman Leah LeMaire after a Zia turnover, sending LeMaire to the foul line for a chance to complete the comeback. LeMaire, a 49 percent free-throw shooter on the season, hit the first shot and missed the second. The Zias collected the rebound and called a timeout with just under two seconds remaining.

ENMU inbounded the ball from the end line and called another timeout with 1.2 seconds remaining to provide a shorter court for a potential game-winning shot. However, the Zias had no timeouts remaining, resulting in a technical foul called on the bench. Senior Camille Perkins would hit the one of the two free throws to give the 'Belles a two-point lead. The ensuing inbounds pass by the Zias was then stolen by ASU sophomore Paige Weishuhn.

The 'Belles scored the first two points of the game on a pair of free throws by LeMaire, but ENMU answered with 10 straight points to a grab a 10-2 lead less than seven minutes into the contest. The Zias did not give up the lead until LeMaire's go ahead free throw in the final seconds of the game.

The Zias led by as many as 11 points in the first and secured a 34-25 advantage at halftime.  ENMU would again take an 11-point lead as the Zias scored the opening points of the second half, but would be the last double-digit deficit for the 'Belles for the rest of the night. ASU started the second half strong and would trim the Zia down to just two points, 36-34, as junior Alix Flores capped a 9-0 run by the 'Belles with a jumper with 14:54 remaining.

ENMU would respond with back-to-back field goals and would eventually regain a seven-point cushion, 57-50, with 4:23 left thanks to a jumper by Belizario. The 'Belles would get within one point, 59-58, with just over a minute remaining on a pair of free throws by sophomore Cassi Wright, but an old-fashioned three-point play by ENMU's Til-Lois Fifer with 46 seconds left gave the Zias back a four-point advantage, 62-58.

Perkins would hit a pair of free throws to cut the deficit in half with 37 seconds. A turnover and foul by the Zias on their next possession would send Perkins back to line, where she knotted the game, 62-62, with 10 ticks left, setting up the final drama.

Perkins would lead all scorers with 20 points, guiding three 'Belles in double figures. She was only 3-of-7 from the field, hitting 1-of-3 three-point shots, but hit 13-of-16 shots from the free-throw line. LeMaire added 11 points while senior Casie Adams added 10 points along with a team-high eight rebounds. Perkins also added four steals, the most by a 'Belle this season.

The 'Belles shot 35 percent (17-of-49) from the field, hitting 6-of-20 shots (30%) from behind the arc, and shot 73 percent (24-of-33) from the free-throw line. 

For ENMU (6-14, 1-4 LSC South), Fifer led four Zias in double digits with a team-best 14 points, in addition to a game-high 10 rebounds. Hannah Altheide had 13 points, Cat Clay added 12 points and Belizario came off the bench for 10 points. The Zias shot 55 percent (22-of-40) as a team, hitting 8-of-12 shots (67%) from three-point range, but shot just 63 percent (10-of-16) from the foul line. ENMU out-rebounded the 'Belles, 32-26.

The 'Belles will take more than a week off before returning to the court. ASU returns to action Wednesday, Feb. 10, when the 'Belles host Texas A&M-Kingsville to open the second half of LSC South Division play. Tip-off is 6 p.m. at the Junell Center/Stephens Arena.