Athletic Report
November 30, 1998

GREYHOUND BASKETBALL
MEN’S BASKETBALL (3-3)
The ENMU men’s basketball team went 2-1 this past week, including a 1-1 record in the Pike’s Peak Hoop Classic at the University of Colorado- Colorado Springs. Eastern’s other win came on the road at intra-strate rival New Mexico Highlands.

Eastern concluded the week with a 3-3 overall record. Junior guard Matt Vail (Grants, NM/Grants H.S.) leads the team with 17.0 points per game. Deron Rippey (Sr., F, Brooklyn, NY/ East Carolina Univ.) is averaging 14.0 points per game.

GREYHOUNDS DEFEAT N.M. HIGHLANDS
Matt Vail scored 21 points to lead five ENMU players in double figures, as the Greyhounds defeated New Mexico Highlands, 88-79, in the third game of a 5-game road trip. The win improved Eastern to 2-2 on the season. NMHU fell to 2-2 with the loss.

The Greyhounds trailed by one point 32-31, at halftime, but put 57 points on the scoreboard in the second half. Vail’s 21 points were followed by 15 points from Deron Rippey, who connected on 7 of 8 field goals. Senior center Craig Ferris (Ethete, WY/Casper College), senior center Byrone Williams (Chicago, IL/Alaska-Anchorage), and junior forward Val Petteway (Galveston, TX/Lee College) each scored 14 points.

Petteway added a game-high 15 rebounds, and Williams grabbed 10 boards. Vail added 6 assists, 1 block and 1 steal. He was 7 of 17 from the floor (5 of 9 on 3-ptrs.). Junior guard James Franklin (Houston, TX/Trinidad State J.C.) led all players with 4 steals.

New Mexico Highlands received 20 points from senior guard Tony LaCour, who also provided 3 assists and 3 steals. Sophomore forward Leland Robertson and junior guard Cornelius Thompson each added 14 points. Senior post player Steve Altman and junior guard DeWayne Carpenter each achieved 7 rebounds.

EASTERN SPLITS GAMES IN COLORADO SPRINGS
ENMU went 1-1 during the Pike’s Peak Hoop Classic, Nov. 27-28, at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. The Greyhounds defeated CU-Colorado Springs, 65-60, in the first round, then lost to Colorado School of Mines, 75-62, in the second round. Eastern ended the weekend with a 3-3 overall record, despite playing 5 of its 6 games on the road.

In the tournament opener against Colorado Springs, the Greyhounds took a 26-24 halftime lead. The first half had three ties and four lead changes. ENMU senior forward Deron Rippey broke the final tie of the half on a jumper with 1:06 remaining.

Eastern and the Gold remained in a tight battle for most of the second half. The final 20 minutes included an additional six ties and 10 lead changes. Eastern took the lead for good with 2:21 left on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Brandon Ridenour (Lovington, NM/New Mexico J.C.). ENMU increased its lead to six points, 63-57, with 0:18 remaining, but Joe Hutchins of CU-CS sank a three-pointer with 0:12 left.

Junior guard James Franklin clinched the win by making the first of two free throws with 0:08 left for a 64-60 lead. Senior center Craig Ferris added another free throw with 0:02 remaining.

Ferris had an outstanding game, scoring 19 points (7 of 11 FGs), and grabbing 11 rebounds. Junior guard Matt Vail scored 15 points and added 8 boards. Senior center Byrone Williams (Chicago, IL/Alaska-Anchorage) joined Ferris with a game-high 11 rebounds. Hutchins led CU-CS with 15 points and 4 assists. James Wilson added 12 points for the Gold, which fell to 0-3.

Against Colorado Mines, the Greyhounds fell behind late in the first half, as the Orediggers connected on 20 of 28 first-half shots (71.4%), including 9 of 13 three-pointers (69.2%). ENMU trailed by just three points, 27-24, with 7:24 left in the half, but Colorado Mines ended the half with a 49-26 lead.

Eastern outscored Colorado Mines, 36-26, in the second half, and limited the Orediggers to 42.9% shooting (9 of 21, 0 of 4 3-pointers). Meanwhile, ENMU shot 47.8% (11 of 23) and made 6 of 13 three-pointers (46.2%).

Vail, who scored a career high 33 points, provided 19 points in the second half. For the game, he was 13 of 18 from the field and sank 7 of 9 three- point attempts. He also grabbed 4 rebounds and recorded 3 steals. Vail’s previous high was 31 points against Wayland Baptist on Nov. 15, 1997.

Williams led the Greyhounds in rebounds with 5, while Franklin added 8 points. Rippey had 7 points, earned 3 rebounds and added 3 assists in 17 minutes played.

For CSM, Travis Starns contributed 23 points and 7 assists. He was 7 of 11 from the field and 5 of 7 on three-pointers. Dave Estabrook added 13 points and a game-high 9 rebounds.

UP NEXT FOR THE GREYHOUNDS
The Pike’s Peak Hoop Classic ended ENMU’s 5-game road trip. ENMU hosts New Mexico Highlands at Greyhound Arena at 7:00 p.m. (MST) on Tues., Dec. 1. The Greyhounds also played Highlands on Nov. 25, with ENMU taking an 88-79 road win.

Following the game with NMHU, the Greyhounds remain at home for two more games. Eastern hosts SE Oklahoma on Thurs., Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. (MST). The Greyhounds will play East Central (Okla.) on Sat., Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. (MST).

ZIA BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (3-1)
The Eastern New Mexico University women’s basketball team defeated Western State, 86-64, and Alaska-Fairbanks, 73-68, to win the Regis University/Coors Roundball Classic, Nov. 27-28. The Zias improved to 3-1 with the victories.

Eastern easily defeated Western State in the tournament opener. The Zias scored the first 12 points, and led 22-6 with 13:25 remaining in the first half. ENMU held a 45-35 halftime lead, after shooting 63.0% (17 of 27) over the first 20 minutes.

The Zias continued to pull away in the second half, while holding the Mountaineers to just 29 second-half points. Eastern finished the game connecting on 53.2% of its field goal attempts, sinking 33 of 62 shots during the contest. Western State held a 35-34 rebounding margin, but the Mountaineers committed 37 turnovers. ENMU earned 16 steals.

Amanda Mendez (Jr., Post, San Antonio, TX/Madison H.S.) scored 18 points to lead five ENMU players in double figures. She was 7 of 11 from the floor and 4 of 4 at the line.

Also in double digits were junior post player Jenny Conaway (Midland, TX/South Plains College) with 17 points, sophomore post Bobbie Wallin (Moriarty, NM/Moriarty H.S.) with 11 points, sophomore forward Katheryne Hickman (San Antonio, TX/Castle Hills First Baptist) with 11 points, and junior guard Sharon Max (Kirtland, NM/ Kirtland Central H.S.) with 10 points.

Wallin also recorded 8 rebounds. Senior guard Julie Smith (Albuquerque, NM/Eldorado H.S.) produced 5 assists, earned 2 steals and blocked 1 shot. Overall, seven Zias recorded 2 steals apiece.

Western State was led by Jackie Rowberry, who scored 16 points and made 2 of 3 three-pointers. Susan Hanchett added 14 points for the Mountaineers, who fell to 0-2 on the season.

In the championship game, the Zias fell behind 40-32 at the half. Alaska-Fairbanks was 16 of 30 (53.3%) from the floor in the first half, including 3 of 6 on three-pointers.

The second half was dominated by ENMU, which received stellar defensive play from the entire lineup. Eastern limited Alaska-Fairbanks to just 22.9% field goal shooting (8 of 35) and 1 of 5 on 3-pointers. The Zias outscored the Nanooks 41-28 over the final 20 minutes.

Mendez led the team in scoring, earning 15 points on 6 of 9 shooting and 3 of 4 at the line. Senior guard/forward Bria Norris (Amarillo, TX/Amarillo H.S.) added 14 points and 10 rebounds. She also provided 2 assists and recorded 3 steals. Hickman contributed 11 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.

Alaska-Fairbanks received 16 points from Jamie Martin. Denise Perez made 7 of 12 field goals and scored 15 points. Martha Williams scored 8 points and led the Nanooks with 7 rebounds.

The Zias shot 47.3% for the game (26 of 55), and held Alaska-Fairbanks to 36.9% (24 of 65). ENMU committed just 15 turnovers. Max, who scored 9 points against Alaska-Fairbanks, joined Mendez on the All-Tournament Team. Other All- Tournament selections were Williams and Perez of Alaska-Fairbanks, and Kristy Brautigam of Regis.

MENDEZ NAMED TOURNAMENT MVP
Junior post player Amanda Mendez (San Antonio, TX/Madison H.S.) was named MVP of the Roundball Classic. She led ENMU to the championship, scoring 18 points against Western State and adding 15 points against Alaska-Fairbanks.In two games, she averaged 16.5 points and 3.5 rebounds, while shooting 65.0% from the floor (13 of 20) and 87.5% at the free throw line (7 of 8).

For the season, Mendez is averaging 15.5 points per game. She is shooting 61.4% from the floor, and has made 8 of 10 free throws. She is averaging 3.5 rebounds per bam.

UP NEXT FOR THE ZIAS
ENMU has played all of its game on the road so far this season. The Zias’ 5-game road trip ends on Tues., Dec. 1 when ENMU plays at Oklahoma Panhandle State University. Tipoff is set for 5:00 p.m. (MST). The Zias play their first home game on Thur., Dec. 3 against Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Game time at Greyhound Arena is 5:30 p.m. (MST). ENMU also plays at home on Sat., Dec. 5 against East Central University at 5:30 p.m. (MST).

GREYHOUND FOOTBALL
FOOTBALL (GTE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT TEAM)
ENMU senior strong safety Danny Cummings (5’9”, 170 lbs., Raton, NM/Raton H.S.) has been named to the GTE Academic All-District VI College Division First Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Cummings and other First Team picks are now eligible for the GTE Academic All-America Team, to be announced in December.

The College Division includes players in NCAA Division II, Division III and the NAIA. The Greyhounds, who compete in NCAA Division II, were 8-3 in 1998, including 6-3 in the Lone Star Conference South Division.

Cummings has a 3.23 GPA and is majoring in Communication Disorders at Eastern. He has been named to the ENMU Athletic Honor Roll three times, and was recently named to the 1998 LSC Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

He played in all 11 games in 1998, earning 38 unassisted tackles and 20 assists (58 total, 4th on team). He recovered 2 fumbles, and returned one 31 yards for a TD. He intercepted one pass and blocked one kick. He returned one punt (16 yds.) and one kickoff (32 yds.)

Cummings concluded his career with 8 interceptions. He earned 185 career tackles and broke up 18 passes. He received CoSIDA All-West Region 2nd Team honors in 1996 for his one-the- field accomplishments.