The Brand (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 84, No. 14, Ed. 1, Tuesday, March 10, 1998 Page: 11 of 12

                                
V-.
Cowgirl basketball team seizes ASC championship
by Foy Meyer
After another winter's worth of
thrilling victories the Cowgirls of
Hardin-Simmons University had to
face the sad conclusion to this basket-
ball season. The playoff hopes of this
year's squad of Cowgirls came to a
surprising halt as they failed to be
voted in as one of the top six teams in
the southern region of NCAA division
III basketball.
Despite the somewhat premature
close to an extremely successful sea-
son the Cowgirls did capture an ASC
conference championship with a dra-
matic win against the lady Choctaws
of Mississippi College. After a con-
vincing 81-69 victory the Cowgirls
managed to reserve a spot atop the
ASC. Tying the Cowgirls for first
place in the conference was Austin
College and Mississippi College.
Austin College was the only team in
the conference to be invited to the
playoffs.
The Cowgirls' game against
Mississippi College was nothing short
of a major upset. The lady Choctaws
who defeated HSU 71-58 earlier in
the season came to Abilene heavily
favored. Hardin-Simmons (17-7 11-3
in ASC play) dominated the overcon-
fident Choctaws from the beginning
of the game. By the end of the first
half the Cowgirls had obtained a 30-
26 lead over Mississippi College (21-
4 11-3 in ASC play).
In an aggressively played second
half the Cowgirls remained undaunt-
ed and rolled to a final score of 81-69.
In her last game as a Cowgirl basket-
ball player senior Micky Davis led
the team in scoring with 16 points.
Sophomore Kathryn Otwell was close
behind with 15. Junior Nellie Fowler
led Hardin-Simmons in rebounding
with five.
Head coach Julie Goodenough
was proud of her team's perseverance
yet she was dispirited with not making
the playoffs. "We played a strong sea-
son" stated Goodenough. "We had a
great last game." Goodenough also
released her feeling on the playoff sit-
uation. "We deserve to go to the play-
offs as much as Austin College does.
No one has proven to be better than
we are."
Each player on the team seemed
to concur that the season was a true
success. Sophomore Kelly McClure
said "We're really proud that we won
conference." Junior Pam Horton
agreed "Towards the end of the sea-
son we thought we wouldn't have a
chance to win conference. Now that
we've done it we're really excited."
The outlook for next season is
relatively promising. The Cowgirls
will be losing three of their seniors
including Micky Davis who was a
dominating force throughout the sea-
son. Also graduating are guards
Michelle Shilling and Mary
Birdlebough. Head coach Julie
Goodenough said that a lot of work
will go into recruiting a good class of
freshmen for next year's team. She is
also pleased with her supply of return-
ing talent. "We have a strong nucleus
returning next season" declared
Goodenough.
Now that the 1997-98 basketball
season has officially come to a close
for the Cowgirls of Hardin-Simmons
University there will be no further
discussion regarding playoff hopes
nor conference championship impli-
cations. A national title is an obvious
impossibility now but this year's
Cowgirls have earned themselves a
conference title and rings to go with
it. In the early days of next fall as
HSU's football team is working its f
way to a title of its own the ladies of f
this year's basketball team will be $
sporting a fine new jewel that will x
identify them as one of the best teams
in the country.
20 hours and 1600 miles later
The Recreation Sports
Department has logged 20 hours
and 1600 miles during the last
two weeks on the highways of
Texas and Oklahoma. Dr. Warren
Simpson Director of Recreational
and Intramural Sports graduate
assistants Sophia Jordan Corbin
Edmondson Tony Valladares and
Tracy Smith graduates Stacey
Ragsdale and Mike Finnell and
undergraduates Amanda Arnold
Terrence Fryer Efrain Moreno
and Lee Vallejo all attended the
National Intramural-Recreation
Sports Association's (N.I.R.S.A.)
Emerging Recreation Sports
Leaders Conference held on the
campus of South West Texas State
University in San Marcos Texas.
After one wrong turn in the cos-
mopolitan toVvn oT Santa Ana tlje
group nrrjyed'round just inuime
for lunch. Immediately follqvyng
-Mhb the; presentations begarift
The presenTalions ranged in Sub
ject from "The Graduate
Experience" and "Opportunities
in Campus Rec" to "One-Man
Operation" and "The Search."
After a brief hiatus the entire
conference met at a local restau-
rant to begin a night of social
activities that included a foot
function canoeing and deep intel-
lectual conversation. The second
leg of the conference begin early
in the morning with more presen-
tations. HSU's own Mike Finnell
and Dr. Simpson spoke on team
building activities. Unbiased
opinions feel that this was one of
the best presentations of the entire
conference. In attendance at the
conference was current
N.I.R.S.A. President Juliette
Moore who spoke with all atten-
dants on a variety of subjects pro-
viding invaluable information to
all members. At departure time
Oklahoma. After two wrong turns
the group arrived in Stillwater.
After shopping for OSU para-
phernalia and exploring the high-
lights of Stillwater Dr. Simpson
Sophia Jordan Tracy Smith
Krystal Brodbeck Robin
Chandler Mike Garner and Scott
Haner attended Eskimo Joe's
world famous restaurant.
Saturday was a day filled with
presentations such as resume
writing official training and
activities for disabled students.
The social activities for Saturday
night included a casino-styled set-
up and music dominated by the
schools from Texas. Sunday
morning Sophia Jordan gave a
presentation on the faculty staff
the croup of students were several and alumni fitness program she
t-shirts and priceless information initiated at Hardin-Simmons
richer. WM. G.E.T.F.UV; The Region IV
his group of
cYMMr.1 -A l 1 ft
Dr. StmpsdnWd his group of 'Student Lead-On.arid. ERSL con-
" lil"l
students had only1 three daystyo w ferences provided student with
S .V '..S. V."L-.lSK. UL' .'' 'iii
iiiung ;ne- nignway inieresisijn recreai
before hitt
rest
once more to attend the
N.I.R.S.A. Region IV Student
Lead-On organized by Oklahoma
State University in Stillwater
u.L. . :
ecreatlon andor
intramurals the opportunity to
speak and discuss their issues and
concerns with Recreation profes-
sional in their areas of interest.
Dairy Queen & Los Arcos
Rec Sports Players
r and
'Officiate of the Week
1 Male Players: ?
Cameron Crane
&.
DavlaxAdams
iFemaie Players;
Lisa Castillo
Mandy Melchor
& iA.vW.-
& mvxsssHw
IVfit&IUMIt
Jason Phillips
& tJ?H
tsterv
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