Sunday, November 23, 1997

New Mexico Highlands 79, McMurry 54

LAS VEGAS, N.M. -- New Mexico Highlands held McMurry to 26 percent shooting Saturday night in the Lady Indians' 79-54 loss.

Highlands (2-1), an NCAA Division II school, limited the Division III Lady Indians to 14 of 53 shooting, including 6 of 28 (21.4 percent) in the second half. The Lady Indians were outrebounded 57-47, missed on all 10 of their 3-point attempts and committed 24 turnovers.

McMurry was behind 38-26 at halftime and was never really in the ballgame.

Rosabelle Charley led Highlands with 24 points, while Dedra Williams led McMurry with 12 points.

"We knew that in playing a Division II school that we were stepping up a notch," McMurry head coach Sam Nichols said. "They were bigger, stronger and more physical. We had several spurts where we played right with them. But then they would go on a run and we were inconsistent responding when they would put one together."

The Lady Indians (1-1) will return to action Monday at 7 p.m. at Kimbrell Arena against Mid-America Bible College.

MCMURRY UNIVERSITY (54) -- Dedra Brittain 2-9 3-5 7; Ogonna Merritt 0-3 0-0 0; Erica Abney 0-2 0-0 0; Sande Bundas 1-3 3-6 5; Talitha Belcher 0-2 2-4 2; Nya Wilson 0-3 0-0 0; Kiki Carthel 0-0 3-6 3; Macheic Crawford 1-10 1-3 3; Dedra Williams 2-3 8-10 12; Amanda Bradshaw 4-9 2-4 10; Melanie Haisler 2-4 3-4 7; Nisha Washington 0-1 0-2 0; Rachel Riddell 1-3 1-2 3; Lilly Ogunbanjo 1-1 0-0 2. Totals -- 14-53 26-46 54.

NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS (79) -- Nita Noel 2-6 2-2 6; Angelic Trujillo 4-10 6-7 16; De Alva Calabaza 0-2 1-2 1; Amy Barela 1-4 1-2 3; Leslie Velarde 2-4 1-2 5; Shaun Gallagher 0-3 1-2 1; Charity Kurely 0-2 2-2 2; Lori Thompson 0-0 0-0 0; Teresa Ramirez 1-4 0-0 2; Rosabelle Charley 8-14 5-6 24; Rochelle Yazzie 2-7 0-0 6; Marsha Hubbell 0-1 0-2 0; Nicole Allman 1-4 1-4 3; Laura Boots 4-8 2-5 10. Totals -- 25-70 22-36 79.

Halftime -- Highlands 38, McM 26. 3-point goals -- McM 0-10 (Brittain 0-4, Crawford 0-3, Bradshaw 0-2, Washington 0-1), Highlands 7-29 (Trujillo 2-7, Calabaza 0-2, Barela 0-3, Velarde 0-1, Kurely 0-2, Charley 3-7, Yazzie 2-7). Rebounds -- McM 47 (Williams, Bradshaw, Bundas 6), Highlands 57 (Allman 11). Assists -- McM 8 (Carthel, Merritt 2), Highlands 15 (Trujillo 6). Turnovers -- McM 24, Highlands 17. Total fouls -- McM 26, Highlands 29. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- none. Att. -- 472.