Athletic Report
January 18, 1999

MEN’S BASKETBALL
(7-8, 1-3 LSC South)
The ENMU men’s basketball team lost two Lone Star Conference road games last week, falling to Tarleton State, 83-70, and losing to 14th-ranked Midwestern State, 103-74. ENMU is 7-8 overall and 1-3 in the LSC South.

Senior forward Deron Rippey (Brooklyn, NY/East Carolina Univ.) scored 20 points against Tarleton State and added 19 points against Midwestern State. He is averaging 15.7 points per game for the season. Junior guard Matt Vail (Grants, NM/Grants H.S.) is averaging 15.1 points per game

GREYHOUNDS LOSE TO TARLETON STATE
Tarleton State University received 20 points from Peter Praznovsky and 19 points each from Ryan Huntley and Chad Patterson, as the Texans defeated Eastern New Mexico, 83-70, at Wisdom Gym, Jan. 14.

The Texans upped their overall record to 9-6 and evened their LSC South mark at 2-2. Eastern fell to 7-7, 1-2 in the LSC South.

The Texans built a 42-26 lead at the break. Praznovsky scored 12 points in the first half and Patterson added 11 points, including a field goal with one second left in the period. ENMU battled back in the second half.

Senior forward Deron Rippey (Brooklyn, NY/East Carolina U.) scored 7 consecutive points, cutting a 53-43 deficit to 3 points, 53-50, with 10:21 remaining. TSU answered with a 10-0 run for a 63-50 lead at the 6:34 mark. The Hounds rallied again, and trailed by 5 points with 3:14 and 2:55 left. TSU increased its lead one final time, as Praznovsky hit a field goal and Patterson added a three-pointer to start a 9-0 run that gave the Texans a 78-64 lead with 1:22 remaining.

ENMU never got closer than 9 points the rest of the way. Patterson scored the game’s final points for TSU on a 3-pointer with less than one second remaining.

Rippey led ENMU with 20 points, including 14 in the second half. It was his third consecutive game with 20 or more points. Rippey entered the game ranked 7th NCAA Division II in field goal percentage at 63.8%. He was 6 of 12 against TSU.

Junior guard Matt Vail (Grants, NM/Grants H.S.) contributed 12 points for the Greyhounds, and senior center Byrone Williams (Chicago, IL/Alaska-Anchorage) finished with 11 points and 8 rebounds. Junior guard James Franklin (Houston, TX/Trinidad State J.C.) provided 6 points, and recorded 5 assists and 2 steals.

Praznovsky finished with a double-double for Tarleton State, earning 11 rebounds to go with his 20 points. He was 9 of 13 from the field. Collat Johnson and Gabe Johnson each grabbed 7 rebounds for the Texans. TSU shot 55.7% (34 of 61), and limited ENMU to 36.5% (23 of 63) from the field.

14TH-RANKED MSU DOWNS GREYHOUNDS
Midwestern State University, ranked #14 in NCAA Division II, built a 52-30 halftime advantage on its way to a 103-74 victory over visiting Eastern New Mexico, in an LSC South Division game at Ligon Coliseum, Jan. 16.

The win upped MSU’s overall record to 16-2, while improving the Indians to 4-1 in the LSC South. Eastern dropped to 7-8 on the season, 1-3 in the LSC South. Midwestern State, which features a trio of NCAA Division I transfers — from Baylor, Stephen F. Austin, and Vanderbilt, reached the 100-point mark for the second time in three days.

The Indians defeated West Texas A&M, 108-83, on Jan. 14. Against ENMU, the Indans were led by Richard Johnson (F, Transfer from Baylor) with 18 points and 5 rebounds. Guard Terrence Thomas (Transfer from Navarro J.C.) scored 14 points and recorded 6 assists. The Indians achieved a balanced attack, with 6 players in double figures.

Eastern New Mexico received 19 points from senior forward Deron Rippey. He also grabbed 7 rebounds and earned 3 assists. Senior center Byrone Williams and senior center Craig Ferris (Ethete, WY/Casper College) each provided 12 points and 9 rebounds. MSU shot 52.8% from the floor (38 of 72) and converted 9 of 20 3-pointers.

The Greyhounds finished at 40.0% on field goals (28 of 70), but connected on just 3 of 13 three-point shots (23.1%).

UP NEXT FOR THE GREYHOUNDS
The Greyhounds return to action on Thurs., Jan. 21 at Texas A&M-Kingsville. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. (MST). ENMU also plays on the road on Sat., Jan. 23, at Texas A&M-Commerce. Tipoff is set for 1:00 p.m. (MST). Eastern’s games at TAMU-Kingsville and TAMU-Commerce will end the Greyhounds’ 4-game road trip.

ZIA BASKETBALL
(12-3, 6-0 LSC South) 6-Game Winning Streak
TThe ENMU Zias won 3 games in 3 days last week to improve to 12-3 overall and 6-0 in the LSC South. The Zias defeated Tarleton State, 53-51, downed Texas Woman’s University, 69-50, and moved past Midwestern State, 68-61, Jan. 14-16.

Junior post Amanda Mendez (San Antonio, TX/Madison H.S.) is ENMU’s leading scorer, with 12.7 points per game. She is followed by junior guard/forward Sharon Max (Kirtland, NM/Central H.S.) at 9.6 points per gane and by sophomore post/forward Katheryne Hickman (San Antonio, TX/Castle Hills 1st Baptist H.S.) at 9.5 points per game.

ENMU SLIPS PAST TARLETON STATE
J Junior guard/forward Sharon Max (Kirtland, NM/Central H.S.) hit two free throws with 10.2 seconds left, sending Eastern New Mexico to a 53-51 victory over Tarleton State, in a Lone Star Conference South Division game at Wisdom Gym, Jan. 14.

The win improved the Zias to 10-3 overall, and kept ENMU in first place in the LSC South with a 4-0 record. The TexAnns fell to 4-11 overall, 0-5 in the LSC.

Max’s free throws completed an ENMU rally from a 7-point halftime deficit. The Zias began the final 20 minutes trailing, 30-23, but tied the game at 47-47 with 3:45 remaining, when Bria Norris (Sr., G/F, Amarillo, TX/Amarillo H.S.) made the first of two free throws.

Eastern took its first lead of the game, 49-47, at the 3:06 mark, on a field goal by sophomore post/forward Katheryne Hickman (San Antonio, TX/Castle Hills 1st Baptist). Hickman led all scorers with a career high 17 points on 8 of 10 shooting. Junior post Amanda Mendez (San Antonio, TX/Madison H.S.) added 10 points and a career high 13 rebounds for the Zias. ENMU has earned a 5-2 record in games decided by 5 points or less.

Other key players for ENMU were Max, with 7 points and 6 rebounds, and senior Julie Smith (G, Albuquerque, NM/Eldorado H.S.), who scored 6 points, earned 3 steals, and provided 4 assists. ENMU held a 43-36 rebounding edge.

TSU led by as many as 11 points in the first half. The TexAnns held a 24-13 advantage with 5:25 remaining in the half, but the Zias cut the deficit to 30-23 with a 10-6 run. Tarleton State’s leading scorer, Rachel Britt, scored 7 of her 10 points in the first half. Misty Garvin added 8 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals and a blocked shot for Tarleton State. Mandi White recorded 8 points and 4 boards for the TexAnns.

ZIAS SOUNDLY DEFEAT TEXAS WOMAN’S, 69-50
Four Eastern New Mexico players scored in double digits as the Zias increased their winning streak to five games with a 69-50 LSC South Division victory over Texas Woman’s University at Magee Arena, Jan. 15.

The Zias kept sole possession of the Division lead at 5-0. Eastern improved to 11-3 on the season. Texas Woman’s lost for the third consecutive game, as the Pioneers fell to 5-10 overall, 2-3 in the LSC South.

Sophomore post Bobbie Wallin ( Moriarty, NM/Moriarty H.S.) led Eastern’s balanced attack with 13 points and 8 rebounds. Sophomore guard Brandi Bates (Plainview, TX/Plainview H.S.) contributed 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals. Senior guard Bria Norris scored 10 points and grabbed 5 rebounds, while sophomore post/forward Katheryne Hickman added 10 points and 4 boards. Junior post Amanda Mendez added 8 points and 4 rebounds. Junior post Jenny Conaway (Midland, TX/South Plains College) scored 6 points and recorded 6 rebounds in 18 minutes before fouling out midway through the second half.

ENMU excelled on defense, blocking 5 shots and holding TWU to just 30.5% (18 of 59) on field goal attempts.

Laura Kolenovsky and Paula Pickett led the Pioneers with 10 points each, with Kolenovsky adding 8 boards. Jennifer Ragland had 9 points and 6 boards.

ENMU DOWNS MIDWESTERN, 68-61
(Zias Win 3rd in 3 Days)
Sophomore post Bobbie Wallin scored 15 points and senior point guard Julie Smith added career highs with 14 points and 6 rebounds, as Eastern New Mexico defeated Midwestern State, 68-61, at Ligon Coliseum, Jan. 16.

ENMU won for the 3rd time in three days, and improved to 12-3 overall, 6-0 in the LSC South Division. The Zias have won 6 games in a row and 8 of their last 9. Midwestern State fell to 9-6 overall and 4-2 in the LSC South.

Eastern New Mexico led by 11 points, 51-40, on a jumper by junior post Amanda Mendez with 6:37 remaining. Midwestern State cut the deficit to three points, 56-53, with 3:22 left. The Lady Indians also trailed by three points at the 2:47 mark. Sophomore post/forward Katheryne Hickman hit a three-pointer at the 2:23 mark, then followed a jumper by Shannon Boase of MSU with another 3-pointer, as the Zias took a 7-point lead, 65-58, with 1:50 remaining.

The Lady Indians pulled back within five points, 66-61, with 1:08 to go, but ENMU’s Smith went 2 for 2 at the line with 23 seconds left to secure the victory. Joining Wallin and Smith in double figures for Eastern were Hickman, with 11 points, and Mendez, with 10 points. Smith was 6 of 7 from the floor and recorded 7 assists.

The Zias had a balanced rebounding effort, led by Wallin with 8 boards. Hickman hauled down 7 rebounds, while Smith and junior guard/forward Sharon Max each grabbed 6 reboards for the Zias. ENMU earned a 45-43 rebounding edge.

Top players for Midwestern were TeNay Garrett, with 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Carrie Yoakum, with 12 points. Boase contributed 11 points and 6 rebounds for the Lady Indians.

UP NEXT FOR THE ZIAS
ENMU plays two more LSC South Division road games this week to complete its 5-game road trip. The Zias play at Texas A&M-Kingsville on Thurs., Jan. 21 at 4:30 p.m. (MST), then take on Texas A&M-Commerce on Sat., Jan. 23 at 3:00 p.m. (MST). The Zias host Panhandle State, Wed., Jan. 27 at 5:30 p.m.