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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 5, 2004)
t Aggie women earn first conference win sens- Sports The Battalion Page I B * Thursday, February 5, 2004 By Brad Bennett THE BATTALION For the first time this semester, Texas A&M basketball team might home a conference win. The A&M women’s basket- Jl team trounced the Ualioma State Cowgirls last gill at Reed Arena, 65-52. Tmhappy for the kids. I’m for the fans that were here Tfjii a rainy night," said A& M coach Gary Blair. “It mild have happened long fore, but it didn’t.” The Aggies’ (8-12, 1-8 Big (lead was as high as 18 in the xond. They shot 44 percent ithe floor, and 48.6 percent first half, compared to tlatioma State’s 39 percent for (same. lir changed his usual line- pto include freshman guard iilaGanter at point guard and sior guard Toccara Williams ishooting guard. ‘Transition offense gave us rneeasy looks that we haven't m all year.” Blair said. t tola was doing a great job. if Williams wasn’t having to while mall herself.” htmi Williams ended the night one of two Aggie double- lies, 22 points and 11 isists.The other double-double to sophomore forward amea Scales, who finished ith 18points and 11 rebounds. i, who started her sec- ad game in a row, led the team steals with five. Blair said he is testing Scales o see if she will lead the team fcrmrs Williams and for- A&M head coach Gary Blair gives a beat Oklahoma State 65-52 for its first pictures visit www.thebatt.com. ward Lynn Classen graduate. “I want to see what this kid is all about.” Blair said. Oklahoma State head coach Julie Goodenough said she was expecting the press defense but wasn’t fully prepared for Scales’ dominance. “(Scales) really is doing a great job,’’ Gixxlenough said. “We were aware they have been playing her more and more; she adds another Sharon Aischbach • THE BATTALION "Gig 'Em" to Aggie fans after A&M Big 1 2 win of the season. For more great athlete to (the Aggies).” Cowgirl center senior Trisha Skibbe was held to only 12 rebounds, two below her aver age. The Aggies out-rebounded the Cowgirls (8-12, 3-6) by only one in the game. It was the Aggie press defense that took away hope for Oklahoma State. The Aggies had 20 points off turnovers and caused three five-second viola tions on Cowgirl throw-ins. A&M softball starts off season with a win By Ryan Irby THE BATTALION A little water never really hurt anybody, and certainly not the Aggie women. Battling both opening day jitters and the weather, the No. 17 Texas A&M softball team claimed a 6-1 vic tory Wednesday night over the University of North Texas in the inaugural game of the 2004 sea son at the Aggie Softball Complex. A&M officials strategically moved the start of the game from 5 p.m. to 3 p.m. to avoid the inclement weather looming on the horizon, but the game couldn’t get out of the rain as four delays, totaling 90 minutes of stoppage, dotted the game. In a game when a small canoe was needed to steal second, A&M head coach Jo Evans praised her team for standing firm. “I was really happy to get that win,” Evans said. “This is good to get a game under our belts.” Even through the steady tlriz- zle, the Aggies (1-0) were in top form. Redshirt freshman pitcher Jill Weynand, coming off an injury last year, hurled six com plete innings of near-flawless softball to pick up the win. Through four innings, the right hander struck out five and allowed only one base runner: a walk to leadoff hitter Katy Maxey. Weynand finished the game with nine strike-outs and three walks. The only blemish on her record was a line-drive home run given up to North Texas freshman third baseman Susan John C. Livas • THE BATTALION A&M freshman outfielder Sharonda McDonald dives under the tag of North Texas freshman infielder Trisha Hunter at second base. The Aggies defeat ed North Texas, 6-1. Waters to lead off the top of the fifth, after a 36-minute rain delay. For first-year program North Texas (0-1), this was its first hit in team history. “She got a good hit,” Weynand said. “I just made a mistake; I had to dig a little deeper after that and get refocused.” Although she struggled in the fifth after giving up the score- board-denting shot to Waters by loading the bases on an error and two walks, Weynand showed her competitive spirit by retiring the top two hitters of the UNT order to end the threat. The Aggies never looked back from there. In the bottom half of the fifth, after A&M sophomore catcher Kristin Gunter’s leadoff double and a pair of walks, A&M senior right fielder and eight-hole hitter Sherah Atkins launched a tower ing grand slam over the wall in right-center field. “It felt good,” Atkins said. “I felt like it was going out right after I hit it.” The usually shy Atkins was all smiles after the game, and rightfully so. Her fifth inning shot capped off a three-for-three night from the plate that includ ed a bunt single and an 0-2 triple off the wall in left. Atkins was on deck in the bot tom of the sixth waiting for her chance to hit for the cycle when the game was called due to rain. Even though it was clearly her night to shine, Atkins was quick to redirect the spotlight toward her teammates. “Jill did really well” Atkins said. “I was really proud of her.” After a solid opening day victory, the Aggies will travel to Stephen F. Austin for a Sunday doubleheader. 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