Athletic Report
May 3, 2001

ENMU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM
SIGNS THREE FRESHMEN, THREE TRANSFERS
PORTALES, NM — Wayne Moore, head women’s basketball coach at Eastern New Mexico University, has announced the signing of three high school players to National Letters of Intent. Moore also announced the signing of three junior college players. All six athletes will join the Zias for the 2001-02 season.

The high school student-athletes are point guard Laci Lee (Portales, NM/Portales H.S.), guard/forward Jennifer Doherty (Georgetown, TX/Georgetown H.S.) and post player Loren Scarlett (Throckmorton, TX/Throckmorton H.S.). Scarlett signed with the Zias last fall during the early signing period, while Lee and Doherty signed this spring.

The junior college transfers who have signed with ENMU are guard Valencia Rollins (Rock Springs, WY/Western Wyoming C.C.), forward/post Monica Trimble (Amarillo, TX/South Plains College) and guard/forward Sonya Hodge (Eustace, TX/Paris Junior College). All three will be juniors this coming season.

ENMU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
SIGNINGS HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
Jennifer Doherty [DOH-ur-tee]
Guard/Forward, 5’11”, Georgetown, TX (Georgetown H.S.)
Doherty will be a freshman during the 2001-02 season.

Laci Lee [LAY-see]
Guard, 5’10”, Portales, NM (Portales H.S.)
Lee will be a freshman during the 2001-02 season.

Loren Scarlett [LORE-in]
Post, 6’1”, Throckmorton, TX (Throckmorton H.S.)
Scarlett will be a freshman during the 2001-02 season.

Doherty was an Honorable Mention All-State selection at Georgetown H.S. in Texas. She was named All-District the past three seasons, and was a TABC All-Region pick. She was listed among the 2001 Top 12 Seniors in her region. Doherty also was a team captain at Georgetown. Doherty also participated in cross country and track in high school. She was a Youth Mentor all four years at GHS. She also volunteered her time to the Partners in Education program.

“Jennifer comes to us from a very good program at Georgtown High School,” Moore said. “She is a very fundamentally sound power foward, who can post up and can also step out and shoot from 15 to 17 feet. We feel very fortunate to have Jennifer coming to our team.”

Lee was a key player for Portales H.S., as the Lady Rams won the 2000-01 New Mexico Class 3A State title. She earned First Team All-State and Class 3A Player-of-the-Year honors. A five-year letterwinner, she was named All-District each of the past four seasons. She also played volleyball for the Lady Rams, earning All-State accolades while helping Portales win the Class 3A State championship last fall.

Lee was selected for the North-South All-Star games in basketball and volleyball. A quality student, she is a member of the National Honor Society. She has not yet decided on a college major.

“We believe Laci is one of the best guards in New Mexico,” Moore said. “We know she is the kind of person we want in our program. We will play Laci at the point guard position, where we think she will have an immediate impact. We are very pleased that Laci chose to pursue her education at ENMU.”

Scarlett helped Throckmorton H.S. reach the Regional Finals in Texas Class 1A before losing to eventual State Tournament participant Saltillo H.S. She averaged approximately 20 points and 10 rebounds per game, while leading Throckmorton to a 31-4 overall record.

She was named Third Team All-State by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) and by the Texas Sports Writers Association (TSWA). Scarlett also was chosen First Team All-District and First Team All-Region in basketball.

She is an all-around athlete, who has qualified this spring for Regional competition in tennis and for the State Tournament in golf. “Loren will battle for regular playing time inside the paint,” Moore said. “We believe she is a strong post player, who will help carry the load on the inside for us this coming year.”

JUNIOR COLLEGE TRANSFERS
Sonya Hodge [SAWN-yuh]
Guard/Forward, 5’9”, Eustace, TX (Paris J.C.)
Previously attended Eustace High School in Eustace, Texas. Paris J.C. is in Paris, Texas. Hodge will be a junior during the 2001-02 season.

Valencia Rollins [vuh-LENT-see-uh RAW-lins]
Guard, 5’7”, Long Beach, CA (Western Wyoming C.C.)
Previously attended St. Anthony’s High School in Long Beach, California. Western Wyoming C.C. is in Rock Springs,Wyoming. Rollins will be a junior during the 2001-02 season.

Monica Trimble [MAW-nick-uh]
Forward/Post, 5’10”, Amarillo, TX (South Plains College)
Previously attended Palo Duro H.S. in Amarillo, Texas. South Plains College is in Levelland, Texas. Trimble will be a junior during the 2001-02 season.

Hodge played this past season at Paris J.C., where she was named First Team All-Conference and was an All-Region selection. She averaged 17 points per game and grabbed 4.5 rebounds per contest. She started her college career at Tyler J.C., then transferred to Texas Wesleyan, where she redshirted in 1999-00.She played both guard and forward at PJC, and will likely continue to play both positions at ENMU. She will complete an associate’s degree this summer.

At Eustace H.S., Hodge was named First Team All-State once and earned Second Team All-Region honors. She also received First Team All-District recognition one season and was named Second Team All-District once. A versatile athlete, she also ran cross country and track, and played tennis and golf during her high school years.

“Sonya is an excellent outside shooter, who can shoot off the move very well,” Moore noted. “She should be an impact player for the Zias this winter.”

Rollins has not competed in intercollegiate basketball for several years. She played in 1992-93 and 1993-94 at Western Wyoming C.C., and averaged 8 points and 5 rebounds per game. After starting to raise a family, she returned to Western Wyoming this spring to complete her degree. She will receive an Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice at the end of the current semester. Rollins is the wife of Aaron Esterholt and is the mother of Jordon Esterholt, age 4, and Jalen Esterholt, age 2.

She played basketball all four years at St. Anthony’s H.S. in Long Beach, Calif., from 1998 through 1992. She also was a shot put thrower in track and field all four years, and played one season of softball. Rollins was named First Team All-League in basketball and was an All-State selection and League MVP in track and field.

“Valencia is a very positive young lady with a good basketball background,” Moore said. “She is a versatile player, who has the ability to score. She should see a lot of playing time.”

Trimble played two seasons and redshirted one season at South Plains College. She saw action during the 1998-99 season, then redshirted in 1999-00. She averaged 10 points and 4 rebounds this past season. She will graduate this spring with an associate’s degree in Business and Education.

During high school, Trimble was chosen Honorable Mention All-District two seasons, and was named to the Golden Spread All-Star Team. She also played volleyball and participated in track and field at Palo Duro H.S. She received the basketball team’s Sportsmanship Award twice.

“Monica is a very versatile athlete, who can play the inside game or set up outside,” Moore commented. “She is extremely athletic, and will be a valuable asset to the Zia program.”