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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 19, 1997)
© 1997 AT&T Wednesday • November 19, 1997 S The Battalion PORTS Vanderbilt tops A&M in opener imi i RYAN ROGERS/The Battalion jinior guard Kerrie Patterson drives to the basket. By Jeff Webb Staff writer The Vanderbilt Commodores turned G. Rollie White Coliseum into a “Brickhouse” for the Texas A&M Women’s Basketball Team Saturday night, sendingtheAggies to a 78-59 defeat. The tenth-ranked Commodores used their stifling zone defense to hold the Aggies to 28 percent shooting in their home opener. Despite the heartbreaking loss, Coach Candi Harvey felt that her team played hard right up un til the final second. “The positives were that our kids played until the buzzer,” Coach Harvey said. “We got off to a shaky start. I thought our half-court defense was pretty solid. We made them earn everything they got.” One of the players who earned her playing time was Vanderbilt’s Beth Ostendorf, who burned the Aggies for a career high 26 points in only 21 minutes. Ostendorf came off the bench to spark the Commodore attack early in the first half. Her first three baskets were three-point plays that took advantage of her quick first step on the perimeter. “When I stepped outside, I was a little quicker than their post players,” Ostendorf said. “Nothing Beth did tonight surprised us,” Vanderbilt coach Jim Foster said. “We knew we were getting one of the best players in the country when we signed her.” Vandy also benefited from Na’Sheema Hillmon’s ten-point, eight rebound performance and Lisa Ostrom’s ten-point, six re bound outing. The Commodores shot 50 percent for the game, but misfired on all seven of their three-point attempts, breaking a 40-game streak of making at least one three pointer. The Aggies found themselves down 10-0 before they could catch their breath. Vanderbilt held the early rebounding edge and got the ball out quick forc ing the Aggies to hustle back to their half-court defensive set. A&M didn’t score their first points until an Amy Yates three pointer found its mark 4:29 into the game. The score was 34-21 at the half, and Texas A&M never pulled any closer. There were many signs of im provement from the Aggies over last year’s squad that went 9-18. Freshman Brandy Jones saw her first collegiate action and re sponded with 11 points, as did Amy Yates. Prissy Sharpe had a double-double in her first game of the season against a top ten opponent. Sharpe tallied 20 points and 12 rebounds, despite sitting down some of the first half due to early foul trouble. “Brandy Jones had a case of freshman-itis,” Coach Harvey said. “Once we got her calmed down, she went in and got 11 points for us.” “Prissy is a model of consis tency. She could have done bet ter defensively, but she wants the ball, and that's something you can’t coach or teach.” This game was the first in a long line of contests that could see the Aggies face up to six na tionally ranked non-conference opponents and eight games against four top-25 Big 12 teams. “They played the whole game,” coach Foster said. “That’s a base to start from. Their skills will develop as the . season goes along.” Williams sets sights on Campbell’s single-season records NOTEBOOK Jamie Burch staff writer rnhe end is near. With games this week- I end and next Friday left on the dock- 1. et, the sophomore edition of the Big is coming to a close. The North and »uth Champions have been decided, and IIthat remains is a light schedule Saturday, day for players to stuff themselves with a ttle bird and double-barrell action the day fter. But fear not. The Swami promises the itnaining five games of the 1997 Big 12 tason will provide a few chills and thrills, nuch like the previous 13 weeks. Move Over Big Earl, Now There's Something Leaner Ricky “Little Earl” Williams, the nations fading rusher, returned to form Saturday pst the Kansas Jayhawks. After failing to rush for an NCAA record fifth straight 200- yard game last week against Texas Tech, Williams busted loose for 211 yards and three touchdowns in the Longhorns 45-31 win over Kansas. The performance broke 1977 Heis- man Trophy winner Earl Campbell’s school record of 40 career rushing touchdowns. Williams now stands at 43 touchdowns via the rush for his three-year career. Williams needs only 34 yards rushing next Friday, against Texas A&M, to break Campbell’s single-season school record of 1,743 career rushing yards. Misery No More Missouri quarterback Corby Jones ran for 126 yards on 15 carries and accounted for two touchdowns as No. 25 Missouri beat Baylor 42-24 to clinch its first bowl bid in 14 years. The last time the Tigers reached the promised land, Brigham Young, led by Steve Young, downed Mis souri in the 1983 Holiday Bowl. Jones’ 7-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, the 27th of his career, broke the school record held by Bob Steuber (1940-42). Senior running back Brock Olivo later tied Jones’ newfound record, however, Jones has one more year of eligibility remaining. But not all things were grand in Colum bia, Mo. The Tigers home finale drew the smallest crowd of the season. A week after 68,846 fans jammed Faurot Field for a near upset of then No. 1 Nebraska, only 43,825 turned out in 31 degree weather accompa nied by snow flurries. School officials chose to blame the opening of deer-hunting sea son rather than the chilly conditions. Drought Ends in Manhattan, Let It Rain Kansas State’s 37-20 win over Colorado on Saturday marked the first time since 1984 that the Wildcats had beaten the Buf faloes. Since 1984, K-State was a miserable 0-11-1 against CU. Colorado (5-5,3-4) will have to beat No. 3 Nebraska in its regular season finale on Nov. 28 to avoid its first losing season in 14 years. “I told them we’ve got another ball- game left and I expect them to fight hard and still have a winning season,” coach Rick Neuheisel said. I Heard That Kansas State running back Mike Lawrence following the Wildcats 37-20 win over the Colorado Buffaloes: ■ “It meant a lot for the simple fact we have never, never, ever beaten Colorado since I’ve been here.” Oklahoma State coach Bob Simmons following the Cowboy’s 27-3 loss to Texas Tech that ended his teams hopes of win ning the Big 12 South: ■ “We couldn't get anything going and our execution was not sharp. It was probably one of our poorer performances all season.” Oklahoma linebacker Travian Smith af ter the Sooners 51-7 loss to Texas A&M: ■ “Texas A&M just came out and coun tered the mistakes we made. Next thing you know,you’re in a hole.” Games of the Week Oklahoma (3-8,1-6) at Texas Tech (6- 4,4-3) — Memorial Stadium ■ The Red Raiders are playing for brag ging rights on Saturday. Tech can win the Big 12 South outright with a win over the Sooners, even though the Red Raiders are ineligible for a bowl game due to a self-im posed ban on post season play because of NCAA rules violations. If Tech defeats Ok lahoma on Saturday, coach Spyke Dykes might consider taking a page from the R.C. Slocum book of coaching and have Big 12 South Champion rings made for his team. The Sooners are simply playing for pride. A wretched debut season for coach Jon Blake has left the team search ing for answers. He installed an option style of offense, a system he played un der while at OU, to take advantage of speedy quarterbacks and a destructive back field. But injuries to star tailback De’mond Parker, inconsistent play from the three field generals and a slew of turnovers in all three phases of the game | have demolished any hopes of a compel- i itive year. .! i #10 Kansas State (9-1,6-1) at Iowa State (1 -9,1 -6) — Jack Trice Stadium ■ K-State heralded quarterback Michael Bishop is looking to close out a near flawless year. After a perfect 24-0 record at Blinn Junior College in Brenham, Bishop’s sole loss on the 1997 season is to then No. 1 Nebraska. The Wildcats are looking for their first 10-win regular sea son since 1910. The Cyclones will just tiy to hang on to sole possession of the Big 12 cellar while attempting to break the Wildcats 25.4 points average margin of victory over nine of its 10 opponents. Jamie Burch s a senior speech communications major TO TO 1VT1I* TOTHTUr *(VTf2L JDJKiJN JBjJf J. JLXJMvr TEXAS A&M SIG EPS Kt m !M November 20, i<)<)7 ISm. Pitcfim Advanced Ticjeps aP marooned CO'S • Tapos ■ IP's $10.00 Advance Double Quick $12.00 Door Kother’s Bookstore - Harvey ltd 0 no helmets. no pads, no prisoners.y Univ. of Texas -vs- Texas A&M. The AT&T Intramural Flag Football Showdown Bragging rights, schmagging rights. This time, it’s a lot more personal. It’s the AT&T Intramural Flag Football Showdown.The three top teams (Men, Women, & Co-ed) from the University of Texas travel to Aggie country to battle Texas A&M for the first ever AT&T Trophy. If this thing is anything like the Lone Star Showdown, it could get ugly. For more information visit www.studentadvantage.com/showdown Be there. Sunday, Nov. 23 at 2pm. At the Penberthy intramural fields. within AT&T