LSC Roundup 2-14

Gholson: In The Nick of Time (Feb. 14)
On paper, it seems so harmless.

A couple of junior college recruits use some assistant coaches’ computers to finish an English correspondence course that will get them academically eligible for the 2007 football season.

College football programs use correspondence courses all the time for academic quick fixes.

So what if these players weren’t enrolled at the school and used someone else’s computer?

No big deal.

Nobody got hurt.
Wrong.

Daniel Polk got hurt.

Tony Burson got hurt.

Some 18 Midwestern State seniors got hurt.

In 2007, the Mustangs had a football team that might have made some noise in the playoffs.
We’ll never know because they never got the chance.

ACU students speak out on athletic teams' punishments
Abilene Christian University students reacted with expressions of commendation, disappointment and dismay when asked what they thought of the NCAA's punishments for the university's track and field and football programs. The NCAA and ACU announced the programs' rule violations and subsequent punishments Tuesday.

Basketball
Lady Buffs adjusting to life without Brister
For the first time in four seasons - 119 games - Emily Brister will not be in the starting lineup when West Texas A&M's Lady Buffs meet Tarleton State today at the First United Bank Center.
Brister, a first-team All-American last season, suffered a ruptured ACL to her right knee Wednesday midway through the first half against Midwestern State at Wichita Falls.

''I have a different role now,'' Brister said during a news conference prior to the Lady Buffs' practice Friday. ''It's being on the bench and giving all the encouragement that I can to my teammates.''

Buffs can take step toward tourney berth
The top four men's basketball teams from the Lone Star Conference South Division will advance to the LSC tournament early next month in Bartlesville, Okla.

If West Texas A&M is to be among those teams, the Buffs can look back at tonight's game in the First United Bank Center against Tarleton State as a major reason why.

With a victory, the fourth-place Buffs (5-3) can move three games ahead of fifth-place Tarleton (3-5) with three games remaining in the regular season. But after seeing his Buffs drop Wednesday's game at Midwestern State (85-75), WT coach Rick Cooper isn't looking ahead toward the LSC or regional tournaments.



Baseball
Rams nab one win in doubleheader
With one swing of the bat, Angelo State University first baseman Trey Carter made sure the Rams didn't go to bed feeling the sting of being swept on the first day of conference play.

'Cats sweep
Abilene Christian pitching and defense shined again, allowing the Wildcats to take two tight Lone Star Conference wins Friday over Southwestern Oklahoma State.

Buffs face tough task in coach's LSC debut
The schedule makers didn't hand first-year West Texas A&M baseball coach Matt Vanderburg a cupcake of an opponent for his Lone Star Conference debut.

In fact, just the opposite.

Vanderburg and his Buffs, 4-1 in nonconference games, open LSC play at noon today by hosting LSC power Central Oklahoma (2-1) at The Amarillo National Bank Dilla Villa.

Softball
'Belles win resoundingly
The Angelo State University softball team kept its perfect season intact Friday, winning both of its games on the opening day of the ASU Blue and Gold Classic at the ASU Softball Complex.

The 'Belles started their day with a 4-1 victory against Lone Star Conference rival Southwestern Oklahoma and ended it with a 3-2 win over Fort Hays State.

WT softball team 5-0
The West Texas A&M softball team remained unbeaten after winning two games in the Angelo State Blue and Gold Classic on Friday at San Angelo.

The Lady Buffs beat Texas-Permian Basin, 10-0, in their tournament opener, then defeated Incarnate Word, 6-3.

Catcher Meghan Brown contributed a combined three RBIs and two runs to help the Lady Buffs improve to 5-0.

MSU softball team wins twice
Brittney Tanner continued her solid start in the circle and drove in three runs of her own to lift Midwestern State to a 9-2 win over Southern Arkansas Friday afternoon.

Gregoire's pitching gives ACU split
Abilene Christian got a complete-game six-hitter from Jacque Gregoire and catcher Jessica Shiery went 4-for-4 to lead the Wildcats to a 9-1 run-rule win Friday over Northeastern State.