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.
Monday, March 15, 7 p.m.
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