WBB: American Southwest Conference

[fanstand]

The Mississippi game will be a real test for both McM and HSU and will be the first game that all three leaders have played the same opponent, that should really tell us where we are at. I still feel like HPU is a strong team and is slipping under the radar right now. After the games in LA and Miss. we'll see. Road games are very important and McM can't overlook LC. I was happy to see the ladies creep into the polls and get some legitimacy for all their hard work. So I guess I'll shut up now about it. Keep up the good work ladies............

[mcmfan]

It looks like we're already setting up for the McM-HSU rematch.  Sonya West is quoted in today's Reporter-News as follows:  "I would rather lose any day with this team [HSU] than win on McMurry's team."  The full story is at
http://www.reporter-news.com/abil/sp_basketball/article/0,1874,ABIL_7991_4310837,00.html

[fanstand]

Too bad. Coach Nichols was very supportive when she left the team, and our girls handled her comments with class, I was proud of Carli. What goes around, comes around. Those kind of words come back to bite you in the butt. I think McM team is happy with what it has going on, and they won't get into a debate. We're moving on, one game at a time......

[Josh Bowerman]

Congrats to McM on a couple of nice wins last night.  Of course, I'm disappointed that they came at our expense, but hard-fought and well-deserved nonetheless.

[mcmfan]

I agree with fanstand about HPU.  Their one loss so far came from Mississippi College, which remains undefeated in the East.  And their big, athletic girls manhandled us (is that the right word?) all three times we played them last year. 

[finnman]

Wow, someone needs to tell the West girl to quite talking to the newspaper!!!

Congrats to the Indians...keep it rolling.  Very impressed with your depth.  I've watched alot of these crosstown games.  And no matter what anyone says, they usually come down to depth and talent.  And right now, McM has more.  But I'm sure HSU will have something to say about that next time. 

[matalk]

Well said finnman.....I think that with West's comments in the newspaper just fires up those girls even more, I know that it would me!  I did like what the paper said about Sonya West being overshadowed by Carli Englke...I think that comment was well stated.  They say (Sonya thinks) that she was all McMurry had, but I say they have done much better without her, so let her say what she wants it has come back to bite her in the end!!![/color]

[matalk]

Well said finnman.....I think that with West's comments in the newspaper just fires up those girls even more, I know that it would me! I did like what the paper said about Sonya West being overshadowed by Carli Englke...I think that comment was well stated. They say (Sonya thinks) that she was all McMurry had, but I say they have done much better without her, so let her say what she wants it has come back to bite her in the end!!!
Sorry I had to fix my mistakes on this thing and I really didn't know how so I will just do it this way

[inthepaint]

I'm surprised Coach Briggs hasn't shut her down!  Reporters are looking after themselves, not the players being interviewed.  The Abilene paper is loving any controversy that develops as controversy sells papers.  West is not the first player to move from one team to another within the conference.  Others have made the move with class and sincere affirmations from all.  Statements should be made through performance on the hardwood! 

[thejungle]

Alright now, let's not push it.  Yes, controversy sells papers...But let's get real:  D3 Basketball doesn't sell a lot of newspapers in Abilene.

In fact, we ought to all be grateful that the Abilene-Reporter News covers D3 sports like it does...Top story...Front page of sports with picture.  Most D3 teams are relegated to a boxscore.  I.E. Mississippi College.

The reporter put that quote in because it tells the story of the rivalry...He put it in because that quote obviously comes from frustration over a loss...It WASN'T put in to sell papers...Two small universities don't make a newspaper a whole lot of money.

[mcmfan]

In all fairness to Tonya, her comments may sound different in print from what she meant by them, or the Reporter-News may have misquoted her.  For all the rivalry between McM and HSU, there are a lot of contacts and respect between the two programs.  Our assistant coach, Brittany Densman, started out at HSU.  If there's any problem, it's with the paper: to generate "human interest," it tends to focus on individual players, and Sonya is a natural since she got so much attention when she was with McM.  A few years ago, half the paper's coverage of McM-HSU soccer seemed to focus on the HSU goal keeper, Ryan Shaughnessy, whose main appeal was not just that he was very good, but that he was another McM star that transferred teams.

[matalk]

Yeah, everybody who doesn't think she said that raise your hand..............Not me, she said it and in that context.

[inthepaint]

OK Jungle, my feet are back on the ground.  You are right, of course, that Abilene residents are not lining up at the newspaper stands waiting on the next edition to hit the streets!  I got a little carried away.   

[fanstand]

No HSU score yet? They are playing tonite, right?

[dsc]

Final:

HSU 84

LC   78

Per LC's Sports page...Thursday Dec 15th.