Athletic Report
January 5, 1999

GREYHOUND BASKETBALL
MEN’S BASKETBALL (6-5 Overall)
The Eastern New Mexico men’s basketball team lost its only game during the week to highly-regarded Southern Colorado, 88-46, Jan. 2 in Pueblo, Colo. Southern Colorado received votes in the most recent NCAA Division II Poll, released on Dec. 21. The victory improved USC to 11-2 on the season, while ENMU dropped to 6-5.

Junior guard Matt Vail (Grants, NM/Grants H.S.), who missed the Southern Colorado game due to the birth of his second child, remains ENMU’s leading scorer with 15.0 points per game. Senior forward Deron Rippey (Brooklyn, NY/East Carolina) is second on the team with 13.4 points per game.

SOUTHERN COLORADO DOWNS GREYHOUNDS
Southern Colorado received 16 points from Willie Duncan and 12 points from David Bradshaw, as the Thunderwolves defeated ENMU, 88-46, on Sat., Jan. 2. The game was Eastern’s first contest since defeating Oklahoma Panhandle State, 72-60, on Dec. 12.

The Thunderwolves took control of the game in the first half. Southern Colorado held a 9-6 lead five minutes into the game, but closed the half with a 31-10 run for a 40-16 halftime lead. The Thunderwolves achieved a 28-14 rebounding edge over the first 20:00.

Southern Colorado opened the second half with a 15-6 run, increasing its lead to 34 points at 55-21. Eastern was never able to sustain a run against the Thunderwolves.

Freshman forward Mason Morris (Roswell, NM/Goddard H.S.) led the Greyhounds in scoring with 8 points — all in the second half. Deron Rippey (Sr., F, Brooklyn, NY/East Carolina) added 7 points, while Craig Ferris (Sr., C, Ethete, WY/Casper College) and Val Petteway (Jr., F, Galveston, TX/ Lee College) each contributed 6 points. Byrone Williams (Sr., C, Chicago, IL/ Alaska-Anchorage) led the Greyhounds in rebounding with 10 boards.

Southern Colorado finished with three players in double figures. In addition to 16 points from Duncan and 12 points from Bradshaw, the Thunderwolves received 11 points and 11 rebounds from Anthony Byrd.

USC shot 47.1% for the game, while limiting ENMU to 34.0%, including 23.1% in the first half. Southern Colorado connected on 10 of 29 three-pointers.

RIPPEY RANKS 14TH IN NCAA FIELD GOALS
ENMU senior forward Deron Rippey (Brooklyn, NY/East Carolina Univ.) moved up to 14th nationally in field goal percentage in this week’s NCAA Division II national statistical report. He has connected on 62.0% of his field goal attempts (57 of 92) this season, including 10 of 12 against Oklahoma Panhandle State on Dec. 12. He was ranked 15th in the previous NCAA stats report.

UP NEXT FOR THE GREYHOUNDS
The Greyhounds open Lone Star Conference play on Thur., Jan. 7, when they host Abilene Christian at 7:30 p.m. (MST) at Greyhound Arena. ENMU also plays at home on Sat., Jan. 9, when the Greyhounds take on Angelo State at 7:30 p.m. (MST).

ZIA BASKETBALL
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (7-3 Overall, 1-0 LSC)
The Zias defeated arch rival West Texas A&M, 63-58, Jan. 2 in Eastern’s only game during the week. The win was ENMU’s second straight win over the Lady Buffs. ENMU also defeated West Texas, 79-74, on Jan. 31 last year.

Junior post Amanda Mendez (San Antonio, TX/Madison H.S.) leads the Zias in scoring with 13.8 points per game. Sophomore post Bobbie Wallin (Moriarty, NM/Moriarty H.S.) is Eastern’s top rebounder with 5.2 rebounds per contest.

ENMU RALLIES PAST WEST TEXAS, 63-58
Eastern New Mexico University rallied from a 5-point deficit in the final minutes to take a 63-58 victory over West Texas A&M University in the Lone Star Conference opener for both teams. ENMU improved to 7-3 on the season, while West Texas fell to 6-7.

West Texas led 56-51 with 4:41 remaining, but the Zias used a pair of 3-point shots to take the lead with 1:46 left. Junior post Amanda Mendez (San Antonio, TX/Madison H.S.) connected on the first three-pointer at the 2:06 mark. The Lady Buffs turned the ball over on their next possession, and ENMU took the lead on a 3-pointer by junior guard/forward Sharon Max (Kirtland, NM/Kirtland H.S.).

ENMU extended its lead to 59-56 on two free throws by Mendez with 1:21 left. Eva Sabova answered with an 8-foot jumper at the 1:02 mark to pull West Texas within a single point.

Max missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw opportunity with 0:21 left, but ENMU’s Katheryne Hickman (So., San Antonio, TX/Castle Hills 1st Baptist) grabbed the rebound. She was fouled, and sank both free throws with 0:19 remaining. She added two more free throws with 0:05 left.

Hickman, who connected on 8 of 8 free throws, led the Zias with 14 points. Mendez and sophomore post Bobbie Wallin (Moriarty, NM/Moriarty H.S.) each added 13 points. Max and senior Bria Norris (G/F, Amarillo, TX/Amarillo H.S.) provided 9 points each.

The Zias were very successful at the free throw line. ENMU sank 21 of 25 free throws (84.0%), including 15 of 17 (88.2%) in the second half.

West Texas was 13 of 18 at the line (72.2%), but sank just 64.3% (9 of 14) of its charity shots in the second half. West Texas was led by Windi Lackey, who scored 14 points and was 6 of 8 from the field. Brandi Green scored 11 points for the Lady Buffs.

Eastern held a 34-33 rebounding edge, led by Mendez, who grabbed 8 boards. The Lady Buffs received 8 rebounds from Valeree Valdez and 7 rebounds from Lackey.

West Texas led by as many as eight points, 20-12, in the first half, but ENMU rallied to tie the game, 31-31, at the intermission. ENMU took a 34-31 lead on a 3-pointer by Max just 10 seconds into the second half, but WTAMU moved in front just over two minutes later and held the lead for most of the half. The score was tied, 49-49, at the 6:56 mark, then West Texas went on a 7-2 run.

ZIAS RANK 10TH IN 3-POINT SHOOTING
The Zias are ranked 10th in NCAA Division II in three-point field goal percentage. ENMU has converted 41.2% of its three-point attempts, sinking 35 of 85 shots. Francis Marion University is the national leader at 47.1%.

Sharon Max (Jr., G/F, Kirtland, NM/ Kirtland H.S.) tops the Zias with 19 three-pointers. She is shooting 38.8% from three-point range (19 of 49). Bria Norris (Sr., G/F, Amarillo, TX/Amarillo H.S.) has converted 7 of 15 three-point attempts (46.7%).

UP NEXT FOR THE ZIAS
The Zias play two LSC opponents at Greyhound Arena this week. ENMU hosts Abilene Christian on Thur., Jan. 7 at 5:30 p.m. (MST). The Zias then host Angelo State on Sat., Jan. 9 at 5:30 p.m. (MST). ENMU is 2-1 at home this season.

Following the pair of home games, ENMU will play five consecutive road games — all against LSC foes. ENMU will travel to Tarleton State on Jan. 14, Texas Woman’s University on Jan. 15, Midwestern State on Jan. 16, Texas A&M-Kingsville on Jan. 21 and Texas A&M- Commerce on Jan. 23.

GREYHOUND FOOTBALL
(INDIVIDUAL HONORS)
WALTON NAMED TO A.P. LITTLE ALL-AMERICA TEAM
E ENMU junior middle linebacker Michael Walton (Earth, TX/Texas Tech/Springlake-Earth H.S.) has been named to the Associated Press Little All-America Second Team. The A.P. Little All-America Team honors players from NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and the NAIA.

Walton has also received All-America recognition this year on the Burger King Division II Coaches’ All-America Team (First Team) and the Daktronics, Inc. Division II All-America Football Team (Second Team). Walton helped ENMU earn an 8-3 record in 1998, including a 6-3 mark in the Lone Star Conference.

Walton, 5’10” 205 pounds, was a First Team All-Lone Star Conference South Division selection this season, and was named LSC South Division Defensive Lineman-of-the-Year. Walton led the LSC in tackles for the second consecutive season, recording 117 tackles in 11 games.

ENMU finished the 1998 season ranked 9th in total defense in NCAA Division II. The Greyhounds were also ranked 6th in passing efficiency defense, 14th in rushing defense, and 20th in scoring defense.

Walton transferred to Eastern New Mexico after three semesters as a student at Texas Tech. Since then, he has been a leader of the ENMU defense.

He earned 96 tackles to lead the Greyhounds during his freshman year. As a sophomore, he led the LSC with 155 tackles, earned a spot on the All-LSC South Division First Team, was named to the Daktronics, Inc. Division II All- West Region Second Team and received Third Team All-America honors from Football Gazette. His 117 total tackles in 1998 included 60 solo tackles, 24 tackles for 157 yards in losses and 7.5 sacks for 72 yards lost.

He has 368 career tackles, including 125 solos. He has made 36 tackles for losses and has forced 8 fumbles. He has started all 33 games in his ENMU career.

Walton helped Eastern’s team reach national prominence over the past three seasons. ENMU was 3-8 in 1996 and 5-6 in 1997, before going 8-3 in 1998. The Greyhounds were ranked as high as a tie for 11th in the NCAA Division II Poll this fall, and finished in a tie for third place in the LSC South Division. It was ENMU’s 3rd winning season in the past 5 years.

In addition to his success on the field, Walton has been an outstanding student. He has a 3.40 grade point average and is majoring in Special Education. He was one of 11 players named to the 1998 LSC South Division Academic All- Conference Team, and was an LSC All-Academic Team selection in 1997.

DRAKE SET TO PLAY IN SNOW BOWL GAME
Senior cornerback Ken Drake (Joliet, IL/Joliet J.C.) heads to Fargo, N.D. this week to play for the West squad in the Snow Bowl on Saturday (Jan. 9). Kickoff at the Fargodome is set for 2:00 p.m. CST. The Snow Bowl showcases top NCAA Division II athletes, and is expected to attract over 50 professional scouts. Approximately 40 players from previous Snow Bowl games have made NFL teams.