Zia Basketball Inks Recruit for 2005-06
Guard Laura Vote Signs National Letter of Intent

PORTALES, N.M. — The Eastern New Mexico University women’s basketball team has made its first signing for the 2005-06 class, landing guard Laura Vote from Kingwood, Texas during the early signing period.

“Zia basketball is very proud to have Laura Vote as a member of our program,” Acting Head Coach Dustin Klafka said. “In today’s game of basketball there are very few pure shooters remaining and we have found one in Vote. She is a tremendous shooter.”

Vote scored 10 points per game in her junior season and finished third in the greater Houston area with 56 three pointers in 2003-04. Vote signed a National Letter of Intent to attend ENMU at a celebration ceremony on Nov. 11 in front of friends and family at Kingwood High School. Head Coach Tonia Thomas called Vote “an excellent outside shooter and a great passer who sees the court very well.”

Vote will join the Zia backcourt next season, and will help fill the shoes of three departing seniors in the backcourt. Laci Lee (Sr., G, Portales, NM/Portales HS), Casey Rodriguez (Sr., G, South San Francisco, CA/College of San Mateo) and Ashley Golden (Sr., G, Portales, NM/Wayland Baptist University) will all complete their eligibility following the 2004-05 season.

“Laura can shoot the ball from anywhere on the floor with good consistency,” Klafka said. “Her quick release will allow her to shoot the ball as consistently at our level as she does in high school.The biggest adjustment for high school shooters is the speed of the college game, and with Laura’s release, that adjustment will be easy.

“Laura has a strong basketball IQ,” he added. “Her ability to understand the game of basketball will allow her to reach her maximum potential and the players around her better.”

Vote is the first player to be signed on for the Zias for the 2005-06 season. ENMU basketball recruiting will continue into the spring semester.

The Zias are 2-1 in the early going of the current season, and head to Joplin, Mo. for the Pizza Hut/Fairfield Inn Classic at Missouri Southern State University this weekend. ENMU will face off with Pittsburg State University on Friday, Nov. 26 at 4 p.m. MST and with MSSU on Saturday, Nov. 27 at 2 p.m.