LSC Roundup 5-13

Texans add second Top 150 junior college player
Courtesy: Tarleton State University
Release: 05/12/2009

STEPHENVILLE – The Tarleton Texan men’s basketball team has signed another of the Top 150 junior college basketball players in America as head coach Lonn Reisman has announced the addition of forward Donta Smith.

Smith, a 6-4, 220-pound forward from Pearl River Community College, will be a junior for the Texans starting the 2009-10 school year.

“Donta brings an immediate need next year at the forward spot with the loss of Eric Williams,” Reisman said. “Last year, Donta was one of the top rebounders in the country, but he also has the ability to score on any given night. He is a tough match-up due to his athleticism, speed and strength. He has the capability to put the ball on the floor and get to rim, he can hit the outside jumper or he can take it inside and finish over bigger defenders. Donta had a tremendous career at Pearl River and put up excellent numbers including three games where he had 20-plus rebounds. Donta will fit right into our program here at Tarleton State University.”

Lady Buff golfers to start historic bid
West Texas A&M will tee it up today for the first time in the NCAA Division II women's golf tournament at Findlay Country Club in Findlay, Ohio.

The Lady Buffs, who were ranked sixth in the West Region, earned their trip to the national tournament last week when they finished second in the regional tournament at Omaha, Neb.

"We probably weren't expected to be here," said Lady Buffs coach Meredith Jameson, who played twice in the national tournament as an individual. "We were sixth in our region but played well to get here. Our goal at nationals is to play as well as we can and hope for the best. I don't want us to just be satisfied with getting here."

Transfer pays off for Smith and ASU golf
Raelyn Smith was ready to put away her golf clubs for good after two years of playing collegiately at the University of Texas.

Then Angelo State coach Jason Hase convinced her to join the new program at ASU.

With only one tournament remaining on the 2009 NCAA Division II schedule, Smith is still playing — and loving it. She will compete at the national tournament in Findlay, Ohio, today.

“I am very happy with the decision I made,” Smith said.

For ACU, it's a road trip for family
Once the Abilene Christian University men's tennis team wrapped up the South Central Region title Saturday, making it a sweep for the Wildcats teams, Hutton Jones was excited at the idea of packing up the whole family for a road trip to Florida.

He said even Rudy, a stray dog that hangs around the ACU courts and has been adopted by the team, would be making the trip -- a road trip, actually. The team took a bus Sunday from Abilene to the tournament site in Florida.

Unfortunately, Rudy didn't make the trip. Still, it was a full load.

ACU right place for Bolivia's Squillaci
Irene Squillaci wanted to attend a Christian university in the United States. The Santa Cruz, Bolivia, native decided to put her fate in the hands of a higher power -- Google.
Or God. However, one might see it. Abilene Christian University was the first school that came up in her Internet search. The rest is history.

"It's the best thing that's ever happened to me," Squillaci (pronounced ski-LAW-chee) said about coming to ACU. "I believe it was the hand of God bringing me here."

ACU coach Hutton Jones believes a higher power was at work, too. "I pray to God to send me people that need to be in this program," he said. "I guess that's an answered prayer, isn't?"

The senior will cap an impressive four-year career this week as the ACU women's tennis team competes at the Division II national tournament for the fourth consecutive year.