February 16, 1998
For Immediate Release
Contact: Judy Willson, SID
505.562.4309 or 356-4755
Thur., February 19
*Abilene Christian University at Eastern New Mexico 5:30 pm (MT)
Greyhound Arena, Portales, New Mexico
Sat., February 21 - Senior Night
*Angelo State University at Eastern New Mexico 5:30 pm (MT)
Greyhound Arena, Portales, New Mexico
*=LSC-South Division game
Senior Night...will be this Saturday night against Angelo State University. Leigh Dalluge of Tulia, Texas and Kim Jennings of Rio Rancho will be playing their final regular season game at home in a Zia uniform. The Zias have a strong chance of advancing to the Lone Star Conference Post-season Tournament next week.
The Zias (14-10, 7-7 LSC-South)...have a four-game winning streak going into the final week of the regular season. Eastern New Mexico swept through a three-game road trip last week with wins over Texas Woman's (71-66), Tarleton State (86-79 OT), and Midwestern State (67-60).
Freshman Bobbie Wallin (Moriarty) had a double-double on Wednesday night against TWU with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Against Tarleton State, four Zias scored in double figures led by sophomore Amanda Mendez' (San Antonio, Texas) 17 points. Sophomore Sharon Max (Fruitland) had 16, freshman Brandi Bates (Plainview, Texas) had 15, and junior Bria Norris (Amarillo, Texas) had 13. Senior Leigh Dalluge (Tulia, Texas) led all rebounders with 12.
Against Midwestern State, Mendez was the leading scorer and rebounder with 14 points and 9 rebounds. Norris also had 9 rebounds, while Dalluge followed with 11 points and 8 rebounds.
Mendez continues as the Zias leading scorer with 12.5 points per game. Dalluge is the leading rebounder with 5.5 rebounds per game. Junior Julie Smith (Albuquerque) is the top assistant with 92 assists.
This Week....the Zias, with some help from other LSC schools, hold their tournament fate in their own hands. ENMU hosts Abilene Christian, currently 21-3 overall and 14-0 in the LSC-South, on Thursday night. The Wildcats have wrapped up the #1 seed in next week's post-season tournament. Caroline Omamo leads the Wildcats in scoring and rebounding with 12.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.
Angelo State is currently 8-15 overall and 5-9 in LSC-South action under first-year head coach Sarah Edelbrock. The Rambelles are led in scoring and rebounding by Katrina Polnick with 15.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
Zias in LSC Stats (2/16)...Team: scoring offense (9th); scoring defense (4th); scoring margin (5th); free throw % (5th); field goal % (6th); field goal % defense (3rd); 3-point field goal % (7th); 3-point field goal % defense (14th); rebounding offense (5th); rebounding defense (4th); rebounding margin (2nd); blocked shots (2nd); assists (8th); steals (6th); turnover margin (15th); assist/ turnover ratio (9th); offensive rebounds (9th); defensive rebounds (4th).
Individual: scoring - Amanda Mendez (23rd); field goal % - Amanda Mendez (6th); assists - Julie Smith (7th); free throw % - Katheryne Hickman (2nd); blocked shots - Amanda Mendez (7th), Leigh Dalluge (11th); assist/turnover ratio - Julie Smith (4th).
How Will the LSC Post-season Tournament Work?...Six teams will advance to the Lone Star Conference Post-season Tournament out of the 17. The top seeds of each division will receive a bye. In the North, the top seed will be the top eligible team for the NCAA post-season. Four teams are in their final season of NCAA probation - East Central, Northeastern State, Southeastern Oklahoma, and Southwestern Oklahoma - and can not advance to the LSC tournament. After the top division winners, the four remaining spots will be taken from either division based on the best divisional records.
The tournament begins at the #3 and #4 seed sites on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Semifinals will be Thursday, Feb. 26 at the #1 and #2 seed sites. The championship will be at the highest remaining seed on Saturday, Feb. 28.
On the Airwaves...95.3 KSEL-FM will be broadcasting several Zia basketball games. Don Elder will handle the play-by-play for the ENMU home games. KSEL will pick up feeds of the Zia road games whenever possible.
Weekly Radio Show...Don Elder will also be hosting the ENMU Coaches Show on 107.5 KSMX-FM every Wednesday night at 7:00 pm from Juanito's Restaurant on Avenue C in Portales. Different ENMU coaches will join Elder to give updates on the progress of their teams throughout the winter and spring.
SportsLook...will broadcast on KENW-TV Channel 3 on Thursday nights. The show, hosted by Dallan Sanders, is an ENMU student-run production.