ZIA BASKETBALL
(13-8, 6-5 LSC South)
It was a difficult week for the Zias, who lost all three games — two by a total of three points. The Zias began the week with a 77-61 loss at West Texas A&M, Feb. 1. Eastern then fell to TAMU-Commerce, 59-57, on Feb. 4 and lost to TAMU-Kingsville, 48-47, on Feb. 6. ENMU is now 13-8 overall and 6-5 in the LSC South (4th place) Amanda Mendez (Jr., P, San Antonio, TX/Madison H.S.) and Katheryne Hickman (So., P/F, San Antonio, TX/Castle Hills 1st Baptist H.S.) continue to average in double figures. Mendez is averaging 12.4 points per game and Hickman is contributing 11.0 points per game.

WEST TEXAS A&M DOWNS ZIAS
West Texas A&M shot 59.3% in the second half, as the Lady Buffs downed the ENMU Zias, 77-61, in a Lone Star Conference game in Canyon, Texas, Feb. 1. WTAMU improved to 12-9 overall, 6-3 in the LSC South Division.

Eastern fell to 13-6, 6-3 in the LSC. The Lady Buffs converted 16 of 27 shots in the second half, including 4 of 8 three-pointers. Meanwhile, West Texas limited the Zias to 33.3% (8 of 24) over the final 20 minutes. Eastern New Mexico led 31-30 at half-time. Junior guard/forward Sharon Max (Kirtland, NM/Central H.S.) Scored all 13 of her points in the first half, leading a solid Eastern attack.

West Texas caused problems for the Zias throughout the second half. The Lady Buffs began the stanza with a 15-2 run to take a 46-33 advantage. WTAMU eventually led, 61-38, as the Zias were held to just seven points over the first 13:43 of the period. ENMU outscored the Lady Buffs, 23-16, the rest of the way, but could not overcome their 23-point deficit.

The Zias were led in scoring by Max and Hickman, both with 13 points. Sophomore post Bobbie Wallin (Moriarty, NM/Moriarty H.S.) added 9 points and 6 rebounds.

West Texas was paced by the play of Brandi Green, who was 10 for 10 from the field and scored 24 points. Valeree Valdez added 13 points, 7 boards, and 4 assists. Elena Lovato provided 12 points and 5 assists.

TAMU-COMMERCE RALLIES TO 59-57 WIN
Texas A&M-Commerce rallied from a 17-point deficit in the final 7:20 to defeat Eastern New Mexico, 59-57, at Greyhound Arena. TAMU-C improved to 7-13 on the season, 5-5 in the Lone Star Conference South. ENMU dropped to 13-7, 6-4 in the LSC.

The Lions trailed 53-36 following a 3-pointer by ENMU senior guard/ forward Bria Norris (Amarillo, TX/ Amarillo H.S.), but TAMU-Commerce gave up just four points the rest of the way. The Lions completed a 23-2 run before Eastern scored the game’s final basket at the buzzer.

TAMU-Commerce led 27-24 at the end of a defensive first half. Neither team led by more than four points during the first 20 minutes. The Zias tied the game 4:30 into the second half, then went on a 22-5 run to build their 17-point advantage.

Eastern’s leading scorer in the game was sophomore post/forward Katheryne Hickman, who provided the Zias with 14 points. Norris added 13 points on 5 of 9 shooting, while junior post player Amanda Mendez achieved 12 points and 7 rebounds.

Senior point guard Julie Smith (Albuquerque, NM/Eldorado H.S.) finished with 5 assists and 6 steals.

The Lions received 18 points from Jennifer Hickman — Katheryne’s sister — who led all players with 13 rebounds. Betsy Pemberton scored 12 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Susanne Walsh registered 10 rebounds.

ENMU limited TAMU-Commerce to just 30.% shooting (20 of 65), but the Lions outrebounded the Zias, 53-36. The Lions sank 15 of 25 free throws, while Eastern converted 8 of 11 charity shots.

LADY JAVELINAS EDGE ZIAS, 48-47
The Lady Javelinas of Texas A&M-Kingsville earned a 46-41 lead with 4:07 left, then held off the Zias for a 48-47 Lone Star Conference triumph at Greyhound Arena, Feb. 6. TAMUK upped its record to 14-7 overall and 7-4 in the LSC South. ENMU slipped to 13-8 on the season and 6-5 in the LSC South.

Eastern scored four consecutive points to cut the deficit to 46-45, but TAMUK’s Annetta Anglin increased the lead to 48-45 on a layup at the 2:30 mark. ENMU pull back within a single point on a basket by Katheryne Hickman with 1:41 left. Neither team scored the rest of the way.

The Lady Javelinas gave ENMU two chances in the final 0:20 — twice missing the front end of a one-and-one free throw opportunity. Eastern grabbed both rebounds, but a turnover ended one possession and a shot missed at the buzzer on the other possession.

TAMU-Kingsville received 12 points from Lorie Martinez.Brett Henke added 10 points and 6 rebounds, while Annetta Anglin contributed 9 points and 7 rebounds. ENMU was paced by Hickman, who provided 15 points and was 5 of 9 from the floor.

Sophomore post Bobbie Wallin scored 13 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Both teams struggled from the floor, with TAMUK shooting 27.1% and Eastern connecting on 32.1%. Eastern held a slim 44-43 rebounding edge, but committed 21 turnovers, compared to 18 for TAMUK.

EASTERN’S DEFENSE REMAINS STRONG
Despite losing five consecutive LSC South Division games, the ENMU Zias continue to play great defense. Eastern ranks 18th nationally in field goal percentage defense, allowing just 35.9% on field goal attempts. Eastern’s opponents are scoring only 60.1 points per game, and the Zias have held 11 of 21 opponents to less than 60 points.

UP NEXT FOR THE ZIAS
Eastern New Mexico plays two road games this week. The Zias take on Angelo State on Thur., Feb. 11, then travel to Abilene Christian on Sat., Feb. 13. Both games are scheduled to get underway at 5:00 p.m. (MST). ENMU downed Angelo State, 76-46, Jan. 9 and edged Abilene Christian, 70-67, Jan. 7.

ZIA TENNIS
(4-1 Overall, Ranked #21)
The ENMU women’s tennis squad played one match last week, losing to LSC rival Abilene Christian, 7-2. The Zias claimed victories over the Wildcats at both #1 singles and #1 doubles. Eastern is 4-1 overall.

WILDCATS DEFEAT EASTERN NEW MEXICO
The Abilene Christian Wildcats, ranked #11 in NCAA Division II, won a battle of nationally ranked Lone Star Conference women’s tennis teams Feb. 5, earning a 7-2 triumph over Eastern New Mexico, ranked #21. ACU improved to 2-1 on the season. ENMU lost for the first time (4-1).

Eastern New Mexico’s #1 singles player won both of her matches. Layla Turner, a freshman from Casa Grande, Ariz. (Casa Grande Union H.S.) And the 53rd ranked player in NCAA Division II, upset 24th-ranked Julie Mavity, 3-6, 7-5, 6-2.

In doubles, Turner teamed with junior Julie Stiles (Roswell, NM/Goddard H.S.) for an 8-2 pro-set victory. Turner and Stiles took a 3-0 lead before Mavity and Kasey Hawkins cut the margin to 3-2. Turner and Stiles closed out the match by winning five consecutive games. Stiles played a solid match at #2 singles, before losing to Charli Jones, ranked #56 in Division II. Jones won the match 6-3, 6-4.

UP NEXT FOR THE ZIAS
ENMU is off until Fri., Feb. 12, when the Zias host West Texas A&M at 2:00 p.m. (MST). There will be a tailgate party near the Zia Tennis Complex prior to the match. The Zias will also play a home match on Sat., Feb. 13, when they host Midwestern State at 8:00 a.m. (MST).

GREYHOUND BASEBALL
(2-2 Overall)
The Greyhounds opened the 1999 season with a pair of double-headers at Greyhound Field, Feb. 5-6. Eastern played Oklahoma Christian both days, earning a 2-2 record, as each team won one game per day. Todd Carter (Jr., 3B, Chico, CA/Lassen J.C.) led Eastern in the series with 7 hits in 10 at bats.

EASTERN RALLIES TO SPLIT DOUBLE-HEADER
The Eastern New Mexico baseball team opened the season Fri., Feb. 5 with a double-header split against visiting Oklahoma Christian. ENMU lost the first game, 8-0, then rallied from 4-0 and 7-6 deficits to claim a 9-7 win in the second game. Eastern scored 3 runs in the 6th inning to win the nightcap.

The first seven-inning game was dominated by OCU starting pitcher Shane Theriot, who pitched a complete-game three-hitter. Eastern’s hits — all singles — came from Carter, Chris Stewart (So., LF/P, Albuquerque, NM/Manzano H.S.), And Jeff Thibodeaux (Jr., 1B, Apple Valley, CA/Victor Valley Coll.).

Oklahoma Christian was led by shortstop Chad Patzke, who went 3 for 4 with a triple and 2 RBIs. Kyle Kimbrell was 2 for 4, with a 2-RBI double. In the second contest, the Eagles scored 4 runs in the second inning. Three of the runs came home on a triple to center field by Scott Ellis.

Eastern answered with 5 runs in the bottom of the inning. Carter, who went 3 for 3 during the game, drove in the first run with a triple. The inning also featured an RBI double by David Jones (Jr., 2B, Sierra Vista, AZ/Eastern Ariz. Coll.) and a 2-RBI single by Stewart. Carter doubled and scored in the third inning, as ENMU took a 6-4 lead.

OCU tied the score with a pair of runs in the fourth, then added a single run in the sixth for a 7-6 advantage. The first two Greyhound batters in the sixth were put out, but ENMU still regained the lead.

Center fielder Jeff Wareing (Fr., Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo H.S.) started the rally with a walk, then scored from first when designated hitter Matt Masiarek (Australia/Lamar C.C.) hit a double to center field. Corey Heredia (Jr., IF, Las Cruces, NM/Lamar C.C.) pinch ran for Masiarek and scored the go-ahead run on a single by catcher Slubby Bennalley (Sr., Kirtland, NM/College of So. Idaho). Carter, who walked, also scored on the play when the center fielder threw the ball into the ENMU duguout.

Brandon Bosher (Jr., P, Fall Creek, WI/Des Moines Area C.C.), who gave up a run in one inning of work in the opener, secured the win by retiring the Eagles in order in the top of the 7th. Bosher earned a save, and reliever Nate Calloway (Jr., P, Albuquerque, NM/ Lamar C.C.) recorded the win. Carter was 4 for 6 on the day, with a single, double and triple in the second game. Outfielder Andy Hostetler (Fr., Albuquerque, NM/Valley H.S.) was 2 for 4 in the double-header.

GREYHOUNDS, EAGLES SPLIT ANOTHER PAIR
ENMU and Oklahoma Christian continued their four-game series on Sat., Feb. 6, with the games again ending in one victory for each team. Eastern won the first game, 15-9, with OCU taking the second game, 18-2. Both teams ended the weekend 2-2 overall.

In the opener, OCU struck for 3 runs in the first inning, but Eastern answered with 4 runs in the bottom of the stanza. Center fielder Ryan Collins (Sr., Hesperia, CA/Victor Valley College) hit Eastern’s first home run of the season during the inning, and first baseman Jeff Thibodeaux added a triple.

The Greyhounds pushed across one run in the second inning, then took charge of the game with seven runs in the third stanza. Desginated hitter Matt Maziarek supplied the big hit of the inning, a bases-clearing double that scored three runs. OCU threatened to get back in the game with four runs in the fifth and two runs in the sixth, cutting the ENMU lead to 13-9.

The Hounds added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to secure the win. Starting pitcher Greg Stimack (Jr., Lakewood, CO/J.K. Mullen H.S.) recorded 5 strikeouts in earning the win. Justin Vandiver took the loss for Oklahoma Christian.

The second game started as a defensive struggle, but the Eagles eventually pounded out 20 hits in an 18-2 triumph. Eastern held a slim 1-0 lead after two innings, and OCU was in front 5-2 after four innings. ENMU gave up two runs in the fifth and seven runs in the sixth, as OCU pulled out to a 14-2 lead. The Eagles achieved four additional runs in the seventh inning.

Thibodeaux led Eastern in the first game with 3 hits, 3 runs and 3 RBIs in 4 at bats. Brian Blundell and Jeff Dorsey were both 3 for 5 for OCU in the second game.

UP NEXT FOR THE GREYHOUNDS
Eastern travels to Plainview, Texas later this week to compete in the Broken Bat Tournament, Fri., Feb. 12 and Sat., Feb. 13 at Wayland Baptist University. ENMU will play Lubbock Christian at 12:30 p.m. (MST) each day and will take on Wayland Baptist at 3:00 p.m. each day. Only wooden bats are used during the tournament.

ZIA SOFTBALL
(0-4 Overall)
The Zias opened their first season under Head Coach Kathleen Rodriguez at the Diamond Invitational, hosted by the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, N.M., Feb. 5-6. The Zias played their first two games against UNM, and were defeated 7-0 and 10-0. Eastern concluded the event with two games against Western New Mexico. The Zias fell to the Lady Mustangs, 9-4, in the opener, and lost the second game, 1-0, on a run in the bottom of the 7th.

LOBOS SWEEP DOUBLE-HEADER
The University of New Mexico swept a double-header from Eastern New Mexico, defeating the Zias 7-0 and 10-0, Feb. 5. Pitcher Danielle Cassara led the Lobos by pitching a perfect game in the first contest. Cassara faced 18 batters in the game, which was called after six innings due to the run rule. She struck out 6 batters. Melissa Krolik led UNM on offense in the first game, going 3 for 3 with a double and an RBI. In the second game, New Mexico won in five innings. The Zias were limited to one hit, a single by Rachel Mohler (Fr., 1B, Las Vegas, NV/Green Valley H.S.).

WNMU DEFEATS EASTERN, 9-4 AND 1-0
Western New Mexico broke open a 2-1 game by scoring 5 times in the fourth inning on its way to a 9-4 victory over Eastern New Mexico in the first game of a double-header. In the second game, WNMU scored the game’s only run in the bottom of the seventh for a 1-0 win. Western earned 11 hits and ENMU pounded out 9 hits in the opener.

The key hit of the game was a grand slam home run by Mayer of WNMU. The second game was a pitcher’s duel, as WNMU recorded 4 hits and Eastern earned just 2 hits. The Lady Mustangs had two of their hits in the 7th inning, as they scored the winning run with one out. Eastern’s Kim Paschall (So., OF, Midland, TX/ Midland H.S.) was 3 for 7 on the day.

UP NEXT FOR THE ZIAS
ENMU will play in the University of Southern Colorado Tournament, Feb. 12-13. The Zias will play four games on Friday (Feb. 12) and at least one game on Saturday (Feb. 13).