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Posted: 1/13/05

TAMIU Sports Notes

 

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Texas A&M International University will take nearly two weeks off before resuming play with a home conference game against Paul Quinn College on Jan. 22. The 12-day break between Monday's game against Jarvis Christian and the Paul

Quinn game is the longest stretch between games for the Dustdevils this season.

Simpson Sets Scoring Mark

Senior Keith Simpson set a school single-game scoring record with 43 points in an 100-95 road win over UT-Permian Basin on Jan. 5. Simpson leads the team, and ranks 11th in the latest Red River Athletic Conference statistics, with a 16.1 points per game scoring average.

He has scored in double-figures in 13 of 16 games this season and 35 of 39 games for his two-year career, scoring 20 or more points a total of 16 times.

 

The Program & Head Coach

The Texas A&M International University men's basketball team is competing as a second year program as members of the NAIA and Red River Athletic Conference. Tarvish Felton (Southern Utah, 1999) was hired as TAMIU's firstcoach in September, 2002.

He guided the Dustdevils to a 10-22 record in the program's inaugural campaign. Highlights of the 2003-04 season include a

three-game winning streak to close the season and a late-season win over NCAA Division II stalwart Incarnate Word. Felton has a career and school record of 16-33.

Probable Starters

Probable Starters
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl/Exp PPG RPG
00 Bo Aluka G 6-3 175 Jr./TR 6.8 3.3
21 Hector Garza G 6-4 190 So./1L 13.7 4.6
23 Keith Simpson F 6-6 220 Sr./1L 16.1 5.1
30 D.J. Firova F 6-4 175 So./1L 6.8 2.3
42 Kyle Edwards C 6-10 220 Sr./TR 9.6 8.1

 

Key Reserves

Key Reserves
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl/Exp PPG RPG
3 Gabe Weinholtz G 6-0 180 Fr./HS 6.4 2.3
10 Michael Starks G 6-1 165 Jr./HS 1.6 1.2
11 Reggie Lopez G 6-1 175 Jr./HS 2.6 0.9
32 Aaron Garza F 6-5 205 Sr./HS 5.2 4.3

 

Noteworthy

TAMIU hit the 100-point mark for the first time this season in a 100-95 win over UT-Permian Basin on Jan. 5. It also marked the second 100-point outing in the two-year history of the program.

The Dustdevils defeated Southwestern Assemblies, 100-84, last season ... Freshman Gabe Weinholtz dished out a season-high six assists in Saturday's win over Wiley College.

He also scored in double-figures for the second time this season, finishing with 11 points. Weinholtz contributed a season-high 15 points in a two-point loss at Wayland Baptist on Jan. 1 ... Senior Kyle Edwards ranks third in the Red River Athletic Conference in blocked shots (1.9 blocks per game) and fourth in rebounding (8.1 rpg). He has registered a school single-game record five blocks in two games this season, most recently against UT-Permian Basin. Edwards also has four double-figure rebounding outings to his credit this season.

The Week Ahead

Texas A&M International University has only one game on the schedule this week, a non-conference home tilt against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday. TAMUK, a NCAA Division II member of the Lone Star Conference, enters play this week with a 3-10 overall record and a five-game losing streak.

TAMIU has an 1-5 all-time record against NCAA D II opponents with the win coming earlier this season against St. Edward's.

Freshman Starting To Emerge

Freshman Nicole Gipson has started to emerge as a defensive force for the Dustdevils. She has recorded back-to-back double-figure rebounding outings, starting with a TAMIU single-game record 19 boards against Wiley College last Saturday. Gipson followed up that record-setting performance with a 10-rebound effort against Jarvis Christian on Monday.

Overall, she is tied for the team lead in rebounding with Vanessa Villarreal (6.6 rebounds per game) while ranking first on the squad in blocked shots (1.8 bpg). Gipson has blocked four shots in a game twice this season, tieing a school-game record established by Nyibol Bior last season.

The Program & Head Coach

The Texas A&M International University women's basketball team is competing as a second year program as members of the NAIA and Red River Athletic Conference. Head coach Marc García (Trinity, 1993) began the task of building a new program in September, 2002.

He guided the Dustdevils to a 14-20 overall record in their inaugural season of competition, including a 13-5 mark over the final 18 games. TAMIU finished fifth in the RRAC regular season standings with a 12-10 record before advancing to the semifinal round of the conference postseason tournament. García has a career and school record of 21-27.

Probable Starters

Key Reserves
No. Name Pos. Ht. Cl/Exp PPG RPG
22 Gloria Miller G 5-7 Jr./1L 4.6 2.1
30 Jermina Tomlinson G 5-6 So./1L 16.6 6.2
11 Becky Mata F 5-7 Fr./HS 5.4 4.6
20 Vanessa Villarreal F 5-10 So./1L 18.4 6.6
24 Lizzy Herrera C 6-1 So./1L 4.6 4.6

 

Key Reserves

Probable Starters
No. Name Pos. Ht. Cl/Exp PPG RPG
00 Nicole Gipson C 6-2 Fr./HS 4.5 6.6
05 Cathy García F 5-8 So./1L 4.8 0.6
13 Valerie Villanueva G 5-4 Fr./HS 4.0 1.8
15 Megan DeNure G 5-3 Fr./HS 2.4 1.1
25 LeaAnn Killian F 5-10 Jr./TR 3.5 2.3
34 Marili Santos C 6-0 Jr./1L 4.3 3.8

 

Noteworthy

Junior Gloria Miller recorded a season-high seven assists in Monday's win over Jarvis Christian. She registered a career-high eight assists three times last season.

... TAMIU has out-rebounded its opponent in three straight games, marking the first time that has been accomplished in the program's history. The Dustdevils were plus 10 rebounds against UT-Permian Basin, plus two against Wiley College and plus five against Jarvis Christian.

Previously TAMIU had rebounded its opponent in back-to-back games twice, one last season and once earlier this season.

 


Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu