Athletic Report
January 31, 2000

BRANDY BATES SCORES 18 POINTS
IN ZIAS WIN OVER OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE STATE
PORTALES, NM — Brandi Bates (Jr., G/F, Plainview, TX/Plainview H.S.) scored 18 points, as Eastern New Mexico University defeated visiting Oklahoma Panhandle State University, 72-67, Jan. 31 in a non-conference game at Greyhound Arena.

The win, ENMU’s 6th in a row, improved the Zias to 13-6 on the season. OPSU fell to 12-9 overall. Eastern took the lead for good, 50-47, with 8:53 remaining, on a 3-point basket by Ginger Armacost (Fr., G, Lubbock, TX/Abernathy H.S.) assisted by Bates.

Although OPSU never tied the game down the stretch, the Lady Aggies trailed by just three points (58-55) with 5:27 left and by just four points (62-58) at the 2:33 mark. The Lady Aggies cut the deficit to two points, 66-64, on a 3-pointer by Lisa Baltazar with 1:08 left.

ENMU then increased its lead to six points on two free throws by Bates with 0:49 remaining, plus a pair of charity shots by Jody Avent (Jr., G, Stinnett, TX/South Plains College) with 0:08 to go. OPSU pulled to within 70-67 when Lisa Ramis sank three free throws after being fouled on a 3-pointer with 0:03 left.

ENMU’s Missy Frazier (So., G, Levelland, TX/South Plains College) scored the game’s final two points on foul shots with 0:02 left. The Zias, who lost at OPSU by an identical 72-67 score on Dec. 9, outrebounded the Lady Aggies, 43-31.

ENMU connected on 25 of 59 shots (42.4%) from the field and sank 19 of 22 free throws, including 11 of 12 in the final 4:00. OPSU was 16 of 30 at the foul line. Bates’s 18 points led the Zias. She also recorded a team-high 4 assists and tied for the team lead with 6 rebounds. She was 7 of 11 from the field and 4 of 5 at the line.

Katheryne Hickman (Jr., F/P, San Antonio, TX/Castle Hills Baptist H.S.) added 11 points and 6 rebounds for ENMU, while Avent and Frazier each scored 8 points, and Armacost provided 6 points and 6 boards.

OPSU’s top scorer was Lisa Baltazar, who recorded 23 points (four 3’s). She scored 18 points in the second half. Ramis added 14 points, and Crecy Vaughns supplied 13 points and 6 rebounds. Shannon Fleming led the Lady Aggies with 7 boards.

ENMU remains at home for two more games this week. The Zias host Angelo State on Thur., Feb. 3 (6:00 p.m. MST) and will play Abilene Christian on Sat., Feb. 5 (6:00 p.m. MST). ENMU plays 5 of its last 7 LSC games at home.