Women, Men Open Conference Play Against ENMU

November 29, 2005

Weatherford, OK- Southwestern Oklahoma State will learn if a tough early-season schedule has them ready to compete in the rugged Lone Star Conference when the men’s and women’s basketball teams open league play Thursday against Eastern New Mexico. The women’s game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. with the men’s game to follow at approximately 8 p.m.

The SWOSU women, under the leadership of coach Shelly Pond, enter the contest with a record of 2-4 on the season. The Bulldogs opened the year with victories at Arkansas Tech and Missouri Southern before suffering four straight losses, one of which to the nation’s top-ranked Division II team, Washburn University.

“We didn’t have the final outcome that we wanted in some of those games,” Pond said. “We faced some situations and had pressure…two things we have to deal with if we’re to be successful. You don’t learn a lot by beating teams by 30 or 40 points.”

SWOSU has benefited early by the play of junior college transfer Andrea Oldham (6-0, Jr., C, Stigler). Oldham has led the team in scoring four times this year and is averaging 14 points while making 51 percent of her shots from the floor. She had her best game in the Bulldogs game Saturday against Missouri Southern when scored 21 points in a 69-61 loss.

Eastern New Mexico enters Thursday’s contest undefeated with a 4-0 mark. The Lady Zias have beaten cross state rival Western New Mexico twice and Montana State-Billings and Fort Lewis of Colorado. Their average margin of victory has been 24 points.

On the men’s side, SWOSU hopes to crack the win column for the first time in six tries when they meet ENMU, a team they have beaten three straight times.

Coach Scott Reed’s Bulldogs have gotten outstanding play by Jon Gunn (6-6, Sr., F, Parker, Colo.) Gunn has been the leading scorer in five of the six games and is averaging 17.3 points per game. He leads the team also in rebounding at 5.2 and field goal accuracy with 49.2 percent.

Gunn’s cousin, Reggie Gunn (6-2, Jr., G, Okolona, Miss.) had his best game in a Bulldog uniform in SWOSU’s last game, scoring 22 points in the loss to Science and Arts.

ENMU is 3-1 with its only loss coming at Washburn University in overtime. The Greyhounds were picked fifth in the seven-team LSC South Division.

SWOSU remains at home Saturday, Dec. 3 when they host West Texas A&M University in a men’s and women’s doubleheader. Tipoff for the women’s game is at 2 p.m. with the men to follow at approximately 4 p.m.