Sports Release
January 27, 1999

ENMU DEFEATS OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE STATE Katheryne Hickman Scores 22, Grabs 11 Boards for Zias
PORTALES, NM — Sophomore post/forward Katheryne Hickman (6’0”, San Antonio, TX/ Castle Hills 1st Bapt. H.S.) scored a career high 22 points and added a career high 11 rebounds, leading the Eastern New Mexico University Zias to a 76-44 rout of visiting Oklahoma Panhandle State University at Greyhound Arena. The non-conference win improved ENMU to 13-5 on the season. OPSU fell to 3-13 and lost for the 9th consecutive game.

Hickman, whose previous high for scoring was 17 points against Tarleton State just two weeks ago (Jan. 14), led four ENMU players in double figures. She entered the game shooting 51.6% on field goals, and continued her solid shooting with 11 of 18 from the floor against OPSU. Her 22-point performance increased her season average to 10.5 points per game.

Other double-digit scorers for the Zias were junior post player Amanda Mendez (5’11”, San Antonio, TX/Madison H.S.), with 16 points, junior post Jenny Conaway (6’0”, Midland, TX/ South Plains College), with 10 points, and sophomore post Bobbie Wallin (6’1”, Moriarty, NM/Moriarty H.S.), also with 10 points. Conaway hauled down 12 rebounds and Wallin added 11 boards, as the Zias achieved a commanding 57-31 rebounding margin. OPSU stayed close early.

The Lady Aggies trailed 14-9 midway through the first half, and earned a 14-14 tie at the 8:56 mark. ENMU closed the half with a 20-4 run for a 34-18 lead at the break. Eastern outscored OPSU 13-8 at the start of the second half to build a 21-point lead at 47-26.

Panhandle State was led by junior Elsa Baltazar, with 23 points and six rebounds. She was 5 of 8 on three-points shots, and finished the game 8 of 16 overall. Holly Forrester scored 8 points for the Lady Aggies.

Eastern New Mexico travels to Canyon, Texas on Saturday (Jan. 30) to take on Lone Star Conference South Division rival West Texas A&M. Tipoff is set for 5:00 p.m. (MST). ENMU defeated West Texas, 63-58, on Jan. 2 in Portales.