Athletic Report
May 10, 2002

ROWLEY IS SELECTED FIRST TEAM VERIZON ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT VI
King, Murray, Rhoten earn Second Team Honors
PORTALES, NM – Eastern New Mexico University senior shortstop Jessica Rowley (5’10”, Dallas, OR/Clackamas C.C.) has been named First Team Verizon Academic All-District VI as selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). A total of 11 players were named First Team Academic All-District VI. Three ENMU players were named Second Team Verizon Academic All District VI.

Eastern’s Second Team selections were sophomore pitcher Lauren King (5’7”, RHP, La Mirada, CA/La Serna H.S.), junior first baseman Dawn Murray (5’4”, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad H.S.) and sophomore outfielder Maegan Rhoten (5’9”, Albuquerque, NM/St. Pius X H.S.). Murray and Rhoten both pitched, but were selected to the Academic All-District Team at their field positions.

CoSIDA District VI includes colleges and universities in New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas. Players nominated for the Verizon Academic All-District Team werer starters or key reserves with cumulative GPAs of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Each player had to be at her current college or university for at least on full year.

Rowley is majoring in Physical Education at ENMU. She has achieved a 3.24 cumulative GPA. She has qualified for the ENMU Athletic Honor Roll every semesters since transferring from Clackamas C.C. She was named to the LSC South Commissioner’s Honor Roll this season.

On the field, Rowley was chosen Second Team All-LSC South twice in softball, and was selected LSC South Newcomer-of-the-Year in 2001. She also was named Second Team All-LSC South in volleyball in 2001 and was Honorable Mention All-LSC South in volleyball in 2000.

Rowley hit .329 and led the Zias with 38 runs this season. She also drove in 33 runs and hit 10 doubles, 2 triples and 5 homers. She set an ENMU record with 17 stolen bases on 19 attempts. She earned a career batting average of .308 and started all 104 games the past two years. She ended her career with 74 runs and 53 RBIs. She was 31 of 36 on stolen bases (86.1%).

In volleyball, she helped ENMU earn a combined record of 48-25 over two seasons. She registered 806 digs to rank eighth all-time at Eastern, and concluded her career with 794 kills. King is undecided regarding her major, but has a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average. She led the 2002 Zia pitching staff with a solid 2.11 earned run average. She pitched 145 2/3 innings and struck out 99 batters, while recording 13 complete games and 4 solo shutouts. She gave up less than one hit per inning (137) and allowed just one homer. She achieved a 13-7 record during the season, and has an 18-9 overall record in two seasons at ENMU.

This year, she held Eastern’s opponents to a .244 batting average. King has thrown in 43 games the past two seasons, and has registered 122 strikeouts in 182 innings pitched. She owns a 2.08 career ERA. Murray was named to the LSC South All-Academic Team last season, when she also was chosen Second Team Verizon Academic All-District. On the field, she earned Honorable Mention All-LSC South honors as a first baseman in 2000 and as a pitcher in 2001.

This year, she received Second Team recognition at first base. She hit .282 with 22 runs and 21 RBIs during the 2002 season. She also pitched in 12 games for the Zias. In three seasons at ENMU, she has compiled a .280 career batting average, while scoring 58 runs and providing 63 RBIs. She has pounded out 17 doubles, 2 triples and 4 homers. Murray has been steady at first base, and has accumulated 780 putouts, 87 assists and a .985 fielding percentage. She has played in 152 of 154 games and owns a 12-7 record as a pitcher.

Rhoten, who is majoring in Psychology, has earned a 3.93 cumulative GPA. She was named First Team All-LSC South as a utility player in 2001 and was chosen Second Team All-LSC South at the utility position this season. She hit .263 on offense this spring, with an LSC-leading 44 RBIs. She earned 21 extra-base hits, including a team-high 7 home runs. She also tied for the team lead with 13 doubles and earned one triple.

As a freshman in 2001, she batted .294 with 38 RBIs and 33 runs scored. She has started all 104 games the past two years. As a pitcher, she earned a 12-7 record and a 2.98 ERA in 2002. She threw 12 complete games and registered two solo shutouts, including a 1-0 win over Tarleton State on April 20 that clinched ENMU a berth into the LSC Tournament. She led the Zias with 126 strikeouts in 127 innings, while limiting opposing batters to a .256 batting average.

In her career, Rhoten has thrown 148 innings and has registered a total of 141 strikeouts. She has a career ERA of 2.93 and a career win-loss record of 13-8. She was selected LSC South Pitcher-of-the-Week three times this season and once in 2001. The Zias finished the 2002 season with a 28-23 overall record.

ENMU placed third in the LSC South at 10-10, and qualified for the LSC Tournament. The Zias earned their third straight season at .500 or better. ENMU was 25-25 in 2000 and 38-14-1 in 2001.