February 9, 1998
For Immediate Release
Contact: Judy Willson, SID
505.562.4309 or 356-4755
Wed., February 11
*Eastern New Mexico at Texas Woman's 6:00 pm (MT)
Pioneer Hall Arena, Denton, Texas
Thur., February 12
*Eastern New Mexico at Tarleton State 5:00 pm (MT)
Wisdom Gym, Stephenville, Texas
Sat., February 14
*Eastern New Mexico at Midwestern State 4:30 pm (MT)
Ligon Coliseum, Wichita Falls, Texas
*=LSC-South Division game
The Zias (11-10, 4-7 LSC-South)...lost a heartbreaker on Thursday evening to Texas A&M-Kingsville, 72-71, when Javelina point guard Lorie Martinez nailed a long jumper at the buzzer for the win.
For the Zias, sophomore wing Sharon Max (Fruitland) was the leading scorer for the team with 19 points. Junior wing Bria Norris (Amarillo, Texas) was close behind with 15 points and was the team's leading rebounder with 6.
ENMU bounced back on Saturday with a 92-55 trouncing of Texas A&M-Commerce. Sophomore wing Stacy Hinson (Brownfield, Texas) came off the bench to pour in 17 points. Norris was perfect from the field and from the free throw line for 16 points. Senior post Leigh Dalluge (Tulia, Texas) was the leading rebounder with 9.
Sophomore post Amanda Mendez (San Antonio, Texas) continues to lead the Zias in scoring with 12.6 points per game. She also has 22 blocked shots, two behind the leader Dalluge with 24. Dalluge leads the team in rebounding with 5.1 per game. Junior point guard Julie Smith (Albuquerque) leads the team in assists with 81.
This Week....the Zias take a three-game road trip. The first stop will be Texas Woman's University on Wednesday. The Pioneers are 6-15 overall and 3-8 in the LSC-South. They are led by Rochelle McKinley with 13.1 points per game. Angi Traplena is the leading rebounder with 6.9 per game. The Zias beat TWU earlier this season in Portales, 86-71.
Thursday night's stop will be at Tarleton State University. The TexAnns are 8-14 overall and 4-8 in LSC-South action. Rachel Britt leads the team in scoring with 9.6 points per game. Nesha Gamble is the leading rebounder with 6.3 per game. The Zias beat TSU earlier this season in Portales, 78-57.
Valentine's Day means a visit to Midwestern State University to seek revenge for a two-point loss (69-67) earlier this season in Portales. The Lady Indians are 10-12 overall and 7-5 in LSC-South action. MSU is led by Shannon Boase with 15.5 points and Denise Pittman with 15.4 points per game. They are also the team's leading rebounders with 9.7 and 8.7 boards respectively.
The Zias close out the regular season next week, hosting Abilene Christian and Angelo State.
Zias in LSC Stats (2/9)...Team: scoring offense (9th); scoring defense (4th); scoring margin (6th); free throw % (7th); field goal % (6th); field goal % defense (3rd); 3-point field goal % (5th); 3-point field goal % defense (14th); rebounding offense (6th); rebounding defense (3rd); rebounding margin (3rd); blocked shots (2nd); assists (8th); steals (10th); turnover margin (14th); assist/ turnover ratio (10th); offensive rebounds (9th); defensive rebounds (5th).
Individual: scoring - Amanda Mendez (23rd); field goal % - Amanda Mendez (6th); assists - Julie Smith (8th); free throw % - Katheryne Hickman (8th); 3-point field goal % - Bria Norris (1st); blocked shots - Leigh Dalluge (7th), Amanda Mendez (11th); assist/turnover ratio - Julie Smith (5th).
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, will resume this week. Sports Look is an ENMU student-run production.