Weatherford next for Lady Warriors
By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
March 19, 2004
SALINA, Kan. Thanks to their 74-66 win over Lake Region (N.D.) State College Thursday morning, the East Central Community College Lady Warriors live to play another day in the NJCAA Division I Women's National Basketball Tournament.
Next up in the consolation bracket are the Coyotes of Weatherford (Texas) College. Weatherford had Thursday off after sending Louisburg (N.C.) College packing 84-68 on Wednesday. The Coyotes lost 73-71 to Hiwassee (Tenn.) College in first-round action.
Weatherford entered the tournament as the No. 11 seed. The Coyotes have players from five states and two other countries. Top performers include 6-foot sophomore Sandra Viksryte from Lithuania, 5-foot-9 sophomore Erica Smith, 5-foot-3 freshman Christian Jackson, 5-foot-9 sophomore Laura Kizyte from Lithuania, 6-foot sophomore Karolina Sokalska from Poland, and 5-foot-5 sophomore Mallory Williams.
Viksryte had 22 points against Louisburg and 24 against Hiwassee. Kizyte had 16 against Weatherford and eight against Hiwassee. Sokalska had 13 against Louisburg and four against Hiwassee. Smith had 12 against Louisburg and 14 against Hiwassee.
"We're going to get out and pressure them. The matchup is good because they're a finesse and quickness team like we are.
"We've just got to see if we can keep it a fullcourt game. They don't go very deep on their bench and hopefully we can take advantage of that."
Weatherford had Thursday off.
"I don't think they've got an advantage over us in the rest period because we'll have 24 hours to recover and they had to sit around all day," Hodge said. "Now that we're in the flow of things, hopefully we can keep that going.
"The objective is to do whatever you have to do to find a way to be up here Saturday morning."