© 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
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$10.00 Advance
Double Quick $12.00 Door
Kother’s Bookstore - Harvey ltd
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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