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Saturday, March 11, 2000

Chilly reception gives Javs warm feeling
Frigid Emporia, Kan. exactly where A&M-Kingsville wants to be now
By Javier Becerra
Caller-Times

Texas A&M-Kingsville guard Lorie Martinez.

EMPORIA, Kan. - The temperature barely hovered above freezing Friday, but the Texas A&M-Kingsville women's basketball team hardly seemed to notice.
   Even with a fine mist of snow flurries coating roads, cars and windows, the Javelinas knew they wouldn't rather be any other place.
   After capturing their first ever Lone Star Conference title last weekend, they knew they shouldn't be any other place.
   "I think we've worked really hard to get here," said A&M-Kingsville junior guard junior guard Lorie Martinez. "This is where we should be. Winning the conference tournament was the first step. That is just the beginning, now it's time to finish it."
   A&M-Kingsville (23-6) will open its run through the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament at 7 p.m. against Southwest (Mo.) Baptist State at W.L. White Auditorium.
   The Javelinas entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed behind Emporia (Kan.) State and drew a first-round bye. The Bearcats (20-9) defeated West Texas A&M, 68-56, in the first of two quarterfinals Friday night.
   West Texas A&M's loss nixed a possible fourth matchup between the Javelinas and Lady Buffs this season. A&M-Kingsville earned its first Division II playoff berth with a 82-67 win over the Lady Buffs last Saturday.
   A&M-Kingsville head coach Jill Willson said Friday's bye was a welcomed change her team's recent schedule. The Javelinas practiced twice Friday and allowed them to scout the Southwest Baptist and West Texas A&M.
   "I think it makes us feel confident," Willson said. "We've seen them and they haven't seen us, although we're already familiar with West Texas A&M."
   Willson the Javelinas are still feeding off their conference championship win over the Lady Buffs, which earned A&M-Kingsville its first postseason berth since 1983.
   "The girls are really excited," Willson said. "They're playing with a lot of confidence. We played really well in the conference tournament, and I think they're still feeling good about that."
   Adding to the Javelinas' confidence is an 11-game winning streak which began after their lone conference defeat, a 69-66 road loss to Eastern New Mexico on Jan. 22. Since then, A&M-Kingsville has outscored its opponents, 77-64, including a 23-point win over Angelo State and a 21-point win over Northeastern (Okla.) State in the LSC tournament.
   Willson said her team has focused on the same fundamental principles throughout the season.
   "We talk a lot about execution on offense," said Willson, in her eighth year as coach. "(Today's game) will probably be the first time we'll be seriously pressed this year. The conference teams really didn't do much of it, but this isn't conference anymore. We have to control the ball and play an up-tempo game."
   Junior center Precious Thibodeaux said excitement generated by a "big game" has helped fuel the Javelinas this season. Tonight won't be any different.
   "Every time we have a big game, we can always count on someone to come out and step it up," Thibodeaux said. "Everybody is always ready to play."
   Martinez echoed Thibodeaux's comments, and also added that a solid foundation of trust has also contributed to the Javelinas' success.
   "I've played a lot of basketball games and (the energy level) gets bigger and bigger with everyone," Martinez said. "We have built a good trust between each other. We all feel the same emotions. We know that when one of us makes a mistake, we'll make up for it somehow."
   That trust, Thibodeaux said, has helped the Javelinas get to where they knew they would be.
   "We always knew we could do it," Thibodeaux said. "We pretty much knew if we believed we could do it we would. Now were here."
   A SOUTHWEST BAPTIST 68, WEST TEXAS A&M 56: The Bearcats took a 34-23 halftime advantage and held off a late rally to advance to South Central Regional semifinals against A&M-Kingsville. Southwest Baptist outrebounded West Texas A&M, 38-31, and held the Lady Buffs (23-7) to just .333 percent shooting in the first half. Carrie Long was one of three Bearcats in double figures with 20 points. Allison Davis had 18 points and Irene Sourlatzis 16 for Southwest Baptist. Valeree Valdez led West Texas A&M with 16 points, while Latracia Spencer finished with 11.



Staff writer Javier Becerra can be reached at 886-3734 or by e-mail at becerraj@caller.com

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