PORTALES, N.M. - Midwestern State has been victimized by buzzer beaters on the road all season long.

It wasn't any different Wednesday at Greyhound Arena as Vanessa O'Neal raced the length of the floor to lay the ball before the horn.

Only problem for the Zias, the Mustangs were up three points and held on for a 68-67 Lone Star Conference South Division victory.

"It just takes one point," MSU coach Noel Johnson said. "Our young ladies played very well tonight. They focused, played together and we zeroed in on what we had to do. This is not an easy place to play."

The Mustangs built a 16-point advantage in the second half only to see ENMU chip away to within two in the final minute of the game as MSU's Cierra Thompson corralled Hanna Altheide's tying jumper with 5.1 second to play.

MSU junior guard Karissa Lang hit one of two free throws giving the Mustangs just enough to hold off the Zias, who fell to 4-16 on the season and 2-6 in the LSC South.

It was MSU's first victory away from D.L. Ligon Coliseum as the Mustangs improved to 7-13 on the season and 3-5 in the LSC South.

Midwestern will now play four of its next five games at home beginning Saturday night against Incarnate Word. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.

"Our goal is to finish these 'Super 7' at 5-2 and earn a spot in the conference championships," Johnson said. "These girls showed they wanted to do that tonight."

The Mustangs came out firing as they connected on 56.3 percent from the field as MSU used an 11-1 run culminated by a Lang jumper with 11:03 to play in the first half to push the lead to 21-7.

"It was all out of our execution," Johnson said. "Our spacing was great outside the 3-point line and that caused them to open up so we could find some open lanes to the bucket. If I could show just one film on how to execute, the first half would be it."

Senior forward Nolisha Markham returned from injury to tally 11 of her 19 points in the first half while pulling down eight rebounds.

"No-No came off of the bench and did exactly what we needed her to do," Johnson said. "That was being our spark."

The Mustangs maintained a double-figure lead throughout much of the second half before Cat Clay and Altheide canned back-to-back 3-pointers before O'Neal converted a fast break layup to pull the Zias with 65-62 with 2:08 to play.

Thompson added 14 points and six rebounds, while Katiya Jackson pitched in nine points and Jazman Patterson joined Lang with eight points each.

Eastern New Mexico was paced by junior forward Precious Herrin's 18-point, five-rebound effort, while junior guard Lace Clark connected on four treys to finish with 12 points.