Athletic Report
November 23, 1998

GREYHOUND BASKETBALL
MEN’S BASKETBALL (1-2)
The ENMU men’s basketball team dropped a pair of Lone Star Conference crossover games on the road last week. The Greyhounds fell to national power Central Oklahoma, 112-90, on Nov. 19, then lost to Northeastern State (Okla.), 69-40, on Nov. 21. ENMU is 1-2 on the season. Crossover games do not count in the LSC divisional standings.

Three Greyhounds are averaging in double figures. Senior forward Deron Rippey (Brooklyn, NY/East Carolina) leads the way with 18.3 points per game. Junior guard Matt Vail (Grants, NM/Grants H.S.) and senior center Byrone Williams (Chicago, IL/Alaska-Anchorage) are averaging 11.0 points per game.

CENTRAL OKLAHOMA DEFEATS ENMU
Senior forward Eddie Robinson scored 40 points for Central Oklahoma, as the Bronchos defeated Eastern New Mexico, 112-90, in an LSC crossover game. The Bronchos led by 12 points, 96-84, with 2:34 remaining, then pulled away for the final margin. ENMU, from the LSC South Division, fell to 1-1 on the season. UCO, the defending LSC Champion and North Division favorite, improved to 2-0.

Central Oklahoma, known for its high-scoring offense, broke open a close game by outscoring the Greyhounds, 20-6, at the end of the first half. The Bronchos led by one point, 39-38, following a layup by ENMU forward Val Petteway (Jr., Galveston, TX/Lee College) with 5:53 remaining in the half. UCO made four 3-pointers during its scoring outburst. The Bronchos led 59-44 at halftime.

In the second half, UCO increased its lead to 17 points, but the Greyhounds rallied. Eastern scored 10 consecutive points to cut the deficit to seven, 70-63, with 13:39 remaining. Central Oklahoma led by just 9 points with 9:07 left, but the Greyhounds were unable to get any closer the rest of the way.

Robinson scored 29 of his game-high 40 points in the first half. He finished the game with 10 rebounds and was 18 of 28 from the floor. Senior guard David Factor added 17 points and 9 assists. The Bronchos connected on 12 of 31 three-pointers (38.7%) and shot 50.6% overall.

For Eastern New Mexico, senior forward Deron Rippey (Brooklyn, NY/ East Carolina University) scored 31 points on 13 of 17 from the floor. He had 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Sophomore guard Brandon Ridenour (Lovington, NM/New Mexico J.C.) scored 16 points, while senior center Byrone Williams (Chicago, IL/ Alaska-Anchorage) added 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. ENMU earned a 46-45 rebounding edge, while shooting 45.9% overall (7 of 20 three-pointers).

EASTERN FALLS TO NORTHEASTERN STATE
Junior guard Terence Lee scored 17 points for Northeastern State, leading the Redmen to a 69-40 victory over ENMU in an LSC crossover game. NSU, from the LSC North Division, evened its record at 2-2. Eastern, from the LSC South Division, fell to 1-2.

The Redmen held just a 4-point lead, 21-17, with 8:10 left in the first half, but outscored ENMU, 13-4, the rest of the half. NSU also outscored Eastern, 7-3, during the first 5:00 of the second half to take a 41-22 lead.

Lee scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half. For the game, he was 6 of 10 from the floor, including 2 of 3 on three-point shots. NSU’s Rome Lucky, a junior guard, scored 8 of his 10 points in the second half.

The Redmen shot 45.6% for the game, while limiting Eastern New Mexico to just 25.5% from the field. ENMU’s top scorer was senior center Byrone Williams (Chicago, IL/Alaska Anchorage) with 9 points and a team- high 5 rebounds. Junior guard Matt Vail (Grants, NM/Grants H.S.) added 8 points for the Greyhounds.

NSU earned a 26-16 rebound margin in the second half to finish the game with 43-32 rebounding edge. Anthony McCurtis led the Redmen with 8 rebounds, while Prince Barnes added 7 boards for NSU.

UP NEXT FOR THE GREYHOUNDS
Eastern New Mexico is 1-1 on its 5-game road trip. The Greyhounds play again on Wed., Nov. 25, when they take on New Mexico Highlands in Las Vegas, N.M. Tipoff is at 7:00 p.m. (MST). The Greyhounds finish the road trip at the CU-Colorado Springs Classic, Nov. 27-28. Eastern is set to play CU-Colorado Springs on Fri., Nov. 27 at 7:00 p.m. (MST). The Greyhounds play Colorado Mines on Sat., Nov. 28 at 3:00 p.m. (MST).

ZIA BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (1-1)
The Eastern New Mexico women’s basketball team is 1-1 on the season after splitting a pair of close games last week. The Zias fell to Central Oklahoma, 73-71, Nov. 19 in Edmond, Okla., but defeated Northeastern State, 57-56, Nov. 21 in Tahlequah, Okla.

Junior post player Amanda Mendez (San Antonio, TX/Madison H.S.) scored 29 points in the two games, an average of 14.5 points per game. Junior Sharon Max (G/F, Kirtland, NM/Central H.S.) added 12.5 points per contest, and sophomore Katheryne Hickman (P/F, San Antonio, TX/Castle Hills 1st Bapt.) averaged 10.0 points per game.

CENTRAL OKLAHOMA SLIPS PAST ZIAS
Freshman forward Keri Smith of Central Oklahoma hit a jumper with 1:03 remaining to break a 71-71 tie and send the Bronchos to a 73-71 win over ENMU. Central Oklahoma improved to 1-2 on the season. The game was ENMU’s season opener.

Eastern had a chance to tie in the closing seconds. The Zias had the ball with 0:13 left, but a shot by senior guard Julie Smith (Albuquerque, NM/Eldorado H.S.) missed at the buzzer.

The last-minute defeat offset a rally by the Zias in the final 10 minutes. ENMU trailed by 12 points, 58-46, with 9:42 left. The Zias scored 14 straight points to take a 60-58 lead. Junior guard/forward Sharon Max (Kirtland, NM/Kirtland Central H.S.) sank two 3-pointers during the run. Her second three-pointer completed the scoring run with 6:41 remaining.

Central Oklahoma regained the lead 24 seconds later, when freshman guard Amy Guffy sank a 3-pointer. UCO extended its lead to 71-65 with 2:52 remaining, but the Zias rallied to tie the score.

Max hit a jumper to make it 71-67, then junior post player Amanda Mendez (San Antonio, TX/Madison H.S.) scored two layups following ENMU steals. Her second layup, scored with 1:31 remaining, tied the game at 71-71. The winning basket by Smith with 1:03 left produced the only points the rest of the way.

Central Oklahoma benefited from excellent three-point shooting. Senior guard Courtney Berry, who scored a game-high 29 points, connected on 6 of 7 three-point attempts. Overall, the Bronchos converted 13 of 23 three- pointers (56.5%). The Bronchos shot 43.9% overall. Guffy scored 10 points and made 2 of 3 three-pointers.

The Zias shot 56.6% for the game, including 64.3% in the second half. Mendez led ENMU with 19 points on 9 of 13 shooting. Mendez also grabbed 6 rebounds. Max added 18 points on 7 of 9 shooting, including 4 of 6 on three-pointers. Guard/forward Bria Norris (Sr., Amarillo, TX/Amarillo H.S.) scored 11 points and was 5 of 9 from the field.

ZIAS DEFEAT NORTHEASTERN STATE
Sophomore post player Katheryne Hickman (San Antonio, TX/Castle Hills 1st Baptist) scored 14 points, including 10 in the second half, as the ENMU Zias rallied from a 7-point deficit to defeat Northeastern State, 57-56, in an LSC crossover game. The Zias, who compete in the LSC South, evened their record at 1-1. The Lady Reds, who play in the LSC North, remained winless at 0-3.

ENMU trailed 38-31 with 16:08 left, but moved in front, 45-44, on a jumper by Lenni Hartley (So., G, Roy, NM/Roy H.S.) at the 10:45 mark. Northeastern tied the score twice over the next few minutes, but the Zias moved in front for good when junior post player Jenny Conaway (Midland, TX/South Plains College) hit one of two free throws for a 49-48 lead with 6:19 remaining.

Brandi Bates (So., G/F, Plainview, TX/Plainview H.S.) gave Eastern a 57-52 lead on a basket with 0:53 left. NSU guard Carla Rogers pulled the Lady Reds within two points by sinking a 3-pointer with 0:40 on the clock.

Christy Fultz of NSU converted the first of two free throws with 0:10 left. Hickman rebounded the second attempt and was fouled with 0:09 on the clock, but missed the free throw. Quitta Jones missed a 15-footer for NSU with two seconds left.

Hickman’s 14 points tied Stacey Henson of NSU for the individual scoring lead. For the Zias, Amanda Mendez (Jr, Post, San Antonio, TX/ Madison H.S.) finished with 10 points.

Fultz scored 13 points for the Lady Reds, and Masha Karvanen added 12. Jones led all players with 12 rebounds.

NSU outrebounded ENMU, 52-42, but the Lady Reds had 17 turnovers and shot just 29.7% for the game. Eastern had 10 turnovers and shot 36.9%. The Zias led by as many as 10 in the first half, and held a 29-27 halftime lead.

MENDEZ NAMED LSC PLAYER-OF-WEEK
ENMU junior post player Amanda Mendez (5’11”, San Antonio, TX/Madison H.S.) has been chosen Lone Star Conference South Division Player-of- the-Week in women’s basketball. She received the honor for games played Nov. 16-22. Mendez was a key player as the Zias split a pair of road games against LSC North Division foes.

Eastern opened the season with a 73-71 loss at the Central Oklahoma. Mendez helped the Zias rally from a 12-point deficit in the second half to take a 60-58 lead before UCO slipped past ENMU for the win. Mendez scored 19 points on 9 of 13 shooting.

The Zias evened their record at 1-1 with a 57-56 victory at Northeastern State. Mendez scored 10 points for ENMU, as the Zias rallied from a 7-point deficit to take the win. Mendez was 5 of 11 from the field.

Mendez scored 29 points during the week (14.5 avg.). She also grabbed 7 rebounds (3.5 avg.), recorded 5 steals and blocked 2 shots. She connected on 14 of 24 field goal attempts (58.3%).

UP NEXT FOR THE ZIAS
ENMU continues its 5-game road trip on Fri., Nov. 27 and Sat., Nov. 28 in the Regis University Classic. ENMU opens the tournament against Western State at 4:30 p.m. (MST) on Friday. The pairings for Saturday will be determined following Friday’s games.

ZIA VOLLEYBALL
VOLLEYBALL (ALL-TOURNAMENT)
Senior outside hitter Charlene Hunt (Sacramento, CA/Sacram. City Coll.) was named to the LSC All-Tournament Team. Hunt recorded 29 kills in two matches in the LSC Tournament. Eastern lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Cameron, 3-1.

Hunt earned 15 kills in the first round against Harding, as ENMU won 3-1. She added 14 kills against Cameron. Hunt had 36 digs during the week, earning 19 against Harding and 17 against Cameron. She averaged 3.6 kills per game and 4.5 digs per game during the tournament.

GREYHOUND FOOTBALL
FOOTBALL (ALL-LSC TEAM)
The Eastern New Mexico football team, which finished the 1998 season with an 8-3 overall record and a 6-3 mark (3rd place tie) in the Lone Star Conference South Division, has placed three players on the All-LSC South Division First Team.

ENMU had three players selected to the Second Team and placed seven players on the Honorable Mention list. ENMU garnered two of the LSC’s special honors. Head Coach Harold “Bud” Elliott was chosen South Division Coach-of-the-Year, and junior linebacker Michael Walton (Earth, TX/Texas Tech) was named South Division Defensive Lineman-of-the-Year.

Walton was also named to the First Team. Other First Team selections were Defensive end Eric Williams (Sr., Odessa, TX/Permian H.S.) and defensive back Tony Cavalier (Sr., Pampa, TX/Pitt. St.).

The Second Team included three ENMU players. They were sophomore offensive guard Nate Mastin (Odessa, TX/Permian H.S.), junior defensive tackle Nelson Smith (Albuquerque, NM/U. of Miami) and senior cornerback Ken Drake (Joliet, IL/Joliet J.C.).

Eastern’s Honorable Mention picks included four offensive players. They were sophomore QB Bobby Rodriguez (St. Teresa, NM/Las Cruces H.S.), sophomore wide receiver Brian Weimer (Clovis, NM/Clovis H.S.), sophomore tailback Dennis Beard (Albuquerque, NM/N.M. Military Institute), and senior offensive tackle Jabe Riley (Brownfield, TX/Cisco J.C.). Three defensive players also received Honorable Mention. They were junior defensive end Doug Hall (Albuquerque, NM/N.M. Mil. Institute), junior defensive tackle John Williams (Earth, TX/Springlake-Earth H.S.), and senior defensive back Chris Mathis (Cuero, TX/Cisco J.C.).

WALTON, JOACHIM NAMED ALL-ACADEMIC
ENMU placed two players on the LSC South Academic All-Conference Team as chosen by LSC sports information directors. The players were linebacker Michael Walton (Jr., Earth, TX/Texas Tech) and wide receiver Carson Joachim (Sr., Richmond, TX/Lamar Consol.).

Four other football players from Eastern were named to the LSC South Commissioner’s Honor Roll. They were senior free safety Tony Cavalier (Pampa, TX/Pittsburg State), senior strong safety Danny Cummings (Raton, NM/Raton H.S.), junior linebacker Floyd White (Pampa, TX/Pampa H.S.), and sophomore linebacker Garett Williams (Monahans, TX/Monahans H.S.).

Players with a 3.2 grade point average and at least 24 semester hours at an LSC member institution were eligible for the Honor Roll. The LSC sports information directors chose the Academic All-Conference Team from players named to the Honor Roll.