NM State Aggies vs NNM Eagles Women’s Basketball 12-20-22 Part 1

This is another late report.  I can only blame Christmas duties.  On that note, I need to start with an out-of-town score first.  Unforgivably, I forgot to note Aggie Volleyball's best win of the year against the UTEP Miners after both their seasons were over.  It was a quirk of scheduling, but both programs really wanted to play each other.  The Aggies had a quick exit from the WAC tournament the week before and were lucky to have gotten in.  The Miners made it to the second of round of the C-USA tournament, but ran into a nationally-ranked team there.

 

For a weekday noon game in El Paso (11-23-22), there was a tremendous crowd of 1,100!  The Aggies weren't intimidated and went out to a 2-0 set lead.  The Miners came back and won the next two, before a close fifth set gave the Aggies a 3-2 win.  It was a tight match throughout. 

 

It was a coming out party for freshman, Ryleigh Whitekettle, who led everyone with 13 kills.  That was encouraging for next season.  Jayde Shelton had 12 kills, and Bianca Perez was back setting and fit right back in.  Next season is going to be very challenging for the Aggies as they join Conference-USA.  There were two nationally-ranked teams in the conference this season.  This game notwithstanding, UTEP was probably also a better program.  Joining a bigger conference, maybe Coach Jordan will be able to recruit better.

 

Okay, back to this day's game.  It was a beautiful day in Las Cruces.  Because it was a noon game for Women's Basketball with Northern New Mexico, I initially wasn't going to take the day off.  But since I had one more vacation day remaining, I decided to use it here.  Ron was glad for something to do to and came with me.

 

We got there at the Pan-Am Center way early as usual.  There were a few other fans present.  We passed by a couple of women with programs who seemed to be taking notes.  I missed my opportunity to ask them the question I'm always asked, “Are you working for the team/newspaper?”  I wonder if they were scouts.

The NNM Eagles had 10 girls listed on their roster, but there were only seven girls in uniform (and one really cute trainer or injured player).  So, they were going to be over-matched as DII team and short-handed.  I found out afterward, that they were also missing their top scorer for the game.  The Aggies, meanwhile, were getting Sylena Peterson back, but seemed to have lost Shania Harper for the game. 

 

There was just under 600 in attendance officially, but it looked more like a couple hundred.  Under the circumstances, any fans were a good showing.  The Cheerleaders, the Sundancers, and Pistol Pete were there, but the Band was gone for the break.  (Pete showed off a tremendous skill for spinning a ball on his finger.)  Before the majority of crowd showed up at tipoff, the girls looked kind of embarrassed performing for mostly empty stands.  

 

The Eagles were on court warming up during the Anthem and came to attention.  The Aggies were back in the locker room.  A girl dance group, The Venom Dancers, moved into the seats right below us.  They were in fedoras, suspenders, and white dress shirts like stylish gangsters. 

 

The Aggies came back out to warmup.  Ashlee Strawbridge, our program covergirl, gave the coach doing commentary for the broadcast a fist bump.  (I don’t know his name.)  Coach Adams came out dressed stylishly, yet casual, in a cream pullover and gray yoga pants.  The opposing coach, Justin Giddens, was near seven-foot tall.  I think he should have inserted himself into the lineup.  That would have made this a really interesting game. 

 

First Quarter

The Eagles scored on their first possession with a running layup.  I found myself applauding, before stopping myself.  It was a natural reaction given the imbalance of the competition.  Taylor Donaldson came right back with a running layup.  The Aggies seemed to be milking the clock a bit on their possessions to perhaps shorten the game.  Ashlee made a jumper on a fast break.  Taylor got a jumper at the buzzer on the next series. 

 

I could easily hear Coach Giddens from the opposite sideline shouting instructions.  He was very much into this game.  At seven minutes left, the Aggies put in five fresh players, including Sylena.  Tayelin Grays scored to make it 8-2 Aggies.  Timeout NNM.  Football Bowl game t-shirts were tossed to the crowd.  The merch kiosk wasn’t open today.  I was going to go look for one.  (A couple of days later, I drove past Sports Accessories and almost stopped.  I’ll wait for the next basketball game and hope for a win by the Football team.)  One of the dancer girls stood on her seat and did a leg lift to get a shirt thrown to her.

 

On court, Ene Adams was having a friendly chat with a ref.  Ene then went over to Coach Adams, who fixed a braid in her hair.  I’m not exactly sure what the issue was, but there is a coach who will take care of her players.  Back to play, Miranda Salazar, one of the shorter girls on court at 5’3” (the Eagles have four such players), hit a three.  She also has long dark hair going down past her waist. 

 

Sabou Gueye made a steal and found Ene under the basket for a bucket.  There were five minutes left, Aggies up 10-5.  A couple of Aggie bench players came in, Lucia Yenes and Sianny Sanchez-Oliver.  The Aggies pressed and got a turnover, however Moe Shida picked up two quick fouls and had to come out.  With four minutes left, the starters were back in.  Coach Adams may have been trying to wear down the short-benched Eagles (though I doubt that was necessary). 

 

Molly Kaiser got a steal, but the Aggies committed their fifth foul to put the Eagles in the bonus.  Ethena Silva put in a three for NNM.  She was the tallest player on their team at 6’.  She also had very long dark hair.  Ruth Sodipe, also on the Eagles, put in a scoop layup.  At this point, I’m noticing other Aggie fans in the crowd applauding them.  Sylena connected with Lucia for a basket at the buzzer.  29-14 Aggies.

 

Second Quarter

The dancer girls left to get ready for their performance.  They put on their dancing shoes and went down to the court.  In play, Tayelin hit a jumper and then got a block.  Again at the seven minute mark, five new players came in.  Eagle Briana Marquez hit a three.  She was one of their short players.  Soufia Inoussa answered with a three.  Molly picked up two quick fouls, but ended up on the floor both times.  Sylena then picked up a foul.  This was all on the same possession by the Eagles. 

 

Soufia was hurt while falling out-of-bounds on a layup by Lucia and had to be helped off.  That was, I’m sure, Coach Adams’ main concern about this game: injuries.  It was 44-19 with under five minutes left during the Media timeout.  A little kid courtside was dancing up a storm during every break with music.  Back to play, Sianny got a steal, but missed the layup after.  Ashlee got a block.  Moe fed Lucia down low for a basket and a foul. 

 

Off court, I could see Soufia getting her ankle taped up.  On court, Lucia got a layup, her ninth point.  Briana hit another three for the Eagles.  Fama Thiam fed Lucia for a jumper.  Ene banked one in off the glass.  Miranda had a steal for the Eagles and just missed a long three at the buzzer.  55-22 Aggies after twenty minutes of play.

 

Part 2   

Card Show: Christmas Cards 2

These are some cards from some charity solicitations.  The first two were from UNM Children's Hospital.  I don't remember where the other two were from.  They're all cute (and none of the say, "Christmas" on them).   

Card Show: Christmas Cards 1

I thought I'd post a few recent cards.  This first one is from Thanksgiving, but I like the watercolor picture.

 

Here's the Christmas card Aunt Judy sent.  It came with a gift card to Cracker Barrel, which dad, Ron (it was nice of dad to invite him), and I used over the weekend for a meal.  Ron got overstuffed because I gave him a couple of chicken strips I couldn't finish.  That and his meatloaf dinner were too much for him.  

The postmark on the envelope was cute.

And here's a card from a USO charity solicitation.  

And this was from a friend at work.

Card Show: Very Vintage 4

 "Ever your friend."

This one is a little envelope mounted on cardboard.  There's a little bitty blank card inside.

 

"Absent by dear."

"A Merry Christmas.  I hope you'll find this Christmas fine in every way--A tiptop time of pleasure--A very happy day."  This one was still in a little blank envelope.

Card Show: Very Vintage 3

This first one may be an apology card.  "As we have been so let us still be friends no cruel breath can chill!"  Maybe not, but lovely verse.

    

"Have kindly thoughts of me."

A little Oriental fan.

"A Merry Christmas," with mistletoe on a four-leaf clover?  Somewhat mixed holiday messages.

"All happiness to you."

Card Show: Very Vintage 2

Very pretty, ornate Valentines.  "A Message of Love."

 

"A Token of Love.  In endless peace and happiness may the years glide away, and may life be a perfect dream of joy from day to day."

"All happiness to you."

"May true friends be around you."

NM State Aggies vs UTEP Miners Women’s Basketball 12-13-22 Part 2

Part 1

 

Halftime

The Sundancers gave a spirited performance at the half.  A cute, perky trainer with the group stood in front of us to make a video of their performance.  (Such a pretty smile.)  Coach Baarts came by going down the sideline tables.  I tried to wave to him to show him my Soccer championship t-shirt to show him how much I paid for it, but didn’t get his attention.  He sat down by AD Mario Moccia at the other end. 

 

Santa came out on the floor with the Cheerleaders.  They performed a high-flying acrobatic routine that wowed the crowd.  Who knew the Jolly Olde Elf was so spry?  Mario went over and got his picture taken with him.  Mario asked for a controversy-free Christmas for NM State Athletics (and a bowl win). 

 

On the sidelines, a guy in the seats that looked like a team trainer casually drained a 3 before the warmups started.  That got a “Whoa” out of the crowd.  In front of broadcasters, the refs met and fist-bumped each other.  There is another team on the court that wants to perform well (not sure if that happened tonight).                

 

Third Quarter

Ene Adams got a layup to start the Aggie scoring for the second half, but a travelling call turned the ball over on the next trip.  The Aggies were defending well and forced a shot clock violation.  Ene grabbed a rebound and made a bucket.  Miner Elina Arike matched her with a quick layup.  The Aggies took a timeout after that, up 35-29, 3 minutes in. 

 

There was a cute commercial for Sunday’s Men’s game and the Teddy Bear Toss at the half.  The fans seem to like the promotion.  Across the court, the girl I was fixating on with the impressive piles of curly hair was rocking out to the Cher song over the PA.  Nobody’s perfect.  The Miners came out pressing again.  Shania Harper picked up her third foul.  Arike got a block on Tayelin Grays and came up with the ball, but stepped out.  Molly got her third foul on a charge call.  She came right back with a steal, but was blocked on her fast break layup.

 

35-31 Aggies with 4 minutes left at the Media timeout.  Harper didn’t call “Glass,” but did get a bank shot out of the break.  Taylor Donaldson was called for a reach in after a turnover.  It was her third foul.  Arike had a steal and layup to make it 37-35.  Timeout Aggies.  Back to the action, Tayelin was called for a questionable charge for her third foul.  Molly made a wild long pass to a UTEP player, who then threw it right back to her on a wild long pass.  Molly would miss a last second shot.  The quarter ended tied, 37-37.  The UTEP bench and their fans were roaring.

 

Fourth Quarter

A super cute girl was on court in the break for the Whataburger Fry Game.  Her and the crowd made the pick and won easily.  Molly was up to 14 points.  Arike and Avery Crouse each had 10 points for the Miners.  Molly went to coast-to-coast on a layup and the Aggies had two defensive stops on UTEP. 

 

The ref wearing the mask got hit by a tipped ball.  It wasn’t a comment on the officiating by the players.  However, Molly was called for her fourth foul.  She was scrambling for a loose ball with a Miner player.  It looked like a jump ball.  Molly came out.  Arike put in a shot from under the basket to put UTEP up 39-41 with 6 minutes left.  After a coast-to-coast layup by Jazion Jackson, UTEP went up 39-43.  Timeout Aggies.

 

Soufia Inoussa drained two free throws after a foul, but Jackson got a layup and made a free throw.  Taylor also picked up her fourth foul on that play.  Molly came back in.  Arike blocked Taylelin again on a shot.  Jackson had another layup to make it 41-48 Miners.  The Aggies hadn’t been shooting much from behind the arc.  They came back with two missed shots.  It was 41-50 with 3 minutes left, before Soufia hit the team’s first 3 of the game. 

 

Molly made a jumper and Taylor hit a 3 to close the score to 49-51.  The Miners came back with a layup and a foul.  The crowd was in an uproar.  They’d been vocal up to this point, but it was turned up more now.  The refs had a lengthy review of the play.  Molly was given the foul and fouled out.  She got a good hand coming out, finishing with 18 points.

 

Taylor hit another 3 on a fast break to cut the score to 52-54.  Timeout Miners.  Ashlee Strawbridge made a steal on an inbounds that went out.  The refs had another long review that did go the Aggies’ way.  Nevertheless, the crowd wasn’t amused.  There was a loudmouth behind me that been going for the whole game and was really letting the refs have it.  Arike hit two free throws after being fouled.  The Aggies were disorganized and turned it over.  52-57 UTEP wins. 

 

Molly Kaiser finished with 18 points and 3 steals.  Ron said he saw her puking into a bucket during the game and that’s he’s seen her do it in every game.  I cannot confirm that.  Taylor Donaldson had 11.  Shania Harper did the dirty work with 10 rebounds.  I think the team was missing Sylena Peterson, who was out for the game.  She’s a pretty good shooter.  For the Miners, Elina Arike led with 16 points and Avery Crouse had 10. 

 

Neither team shot 3’s well.  The Aggies were 3 for 15; the Miners were 2 for 8.  The Miners went 46% shooting, while the Aggies only shot 36%.  The Aggies did go 7 for 7 on free throws.  They did not have a lot of assists, so they weren’t moving the ball around and finding the open shot.  The team is competitive under Coach Adams, but is either lacking the pieces to win and/or they need more experience.

 

The Aggies did go around the sidelines to greet the fans, though they weren’t entirely enthusiastic.  Ron and I were both satisfied with the effort, even with the loss.  Ron was a bit quiet all evening.  I think he was mostly over his cold.  The girls should have an easier foe for next week’s noon game.  I’m taking my last day off for the year for it and am looking forward to it.