LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The New Mexico Highlands basketball teams will bid farewell to 11 seniors in their last game of the season Saturday (March 1) when it takes on Land of Enchantment-rival Western New Mexico. Tip-off for the women's game is 3 p.m. Tip-off for the men's game is approximately 20 minutes following the women's game.
Between the two games, All 11 seniors will be honored for all their contributions to Cowboys and Cowgirls athletics.
New Mexico Highlands Women's Basketball
On the women's side, six seniors will be honored in
Patrina Goree, Tania Hatathlie, Alyssa Lopez, TJ Manson, Brittany Neeley and
China Smith.
Goree is a native of Houston, Texas and is a one-year letter winner here for the Cowgirls. Trina came to Highlands as a transfer student from NCAA Division I Texas Southern University and has appeared in 16 games this season. In her one season, she has 38 points, 23 rebounds, 12 steals and nine assists.
When asked what she would miss most about the women's basketball team, Goree replied, "The one thing I will miss about this team is the sisterhood we have. I will miss the good vibes we shared with such good people."
Hatathlie is a native of Window Rock, Ariz. and is a one-year letter winner here at New Mexico Highlands University. Due to health related issues, Tania has been unable to play the majority of the season, appearing in three games and has one field goal.
When asked what she will remember from her one season at Highlands, she responded, "My most memorable moment is the one trip I was able to attend. Traveling to Nebraska and South Dakota (Mount Rushmore) will be something I will remember." Hatathlie will also miss her teammates the most.
Lopez has been a stalwart of the program for her past four seasons. She finished her career as one of the most prolific scorers in school history with 1381 points (13.2 points per game), 324 rebounds (3.1 per game), 154 steals and 128 assists. A native of El Paso, Texas, Lopez was twice named not only an All-Conference performer, but also an All-Conference Academic honoree.
Alyssa was the conference leading scorer during the 2012-2013 season and was named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Week December 4, 2012. That season, she was also named to the Capital One Academic All-District Six First team. Alyssa was named 2013 RMAC Academic Player of the Year, a first time in school history for any sport here at Highlands.
She even had a double-double with a career-high in points (38) and rebounds (11) her sophomore year against Western New Mexico.
When asked what her most memorable moment about this year, she replied, "My most memorable moment this year would have to be my mile and a half. It was crazy how much support filled the gym. That is what this team does. They are so unselfish and truly genuine people who care about other people's success. They all came to help me pass that mile and a half no matter how it got done. I was struggling and they were there for me. I'll never forget that."
About what she will miss most about the team, she responded, "The thing I will miss about the team is all the bonding moments we have as a team. When we say "family" in a huddle it literally means something to us. These girls mean so much to me, it wouldn't surprise me if we are still hanging out and having team dinners and scavenger hunts after the season is over. We have really gotten close. I love this team."
Manson is a native of Page, Ariz., and has played one season for the Cowgirls. Limited on the season due to injuries, Manson has scored 116 points in 20 appearances (5.8 per game). She also has been potent from the field, hitting 48.5 percent of her shots (49-101). In her only double-double of her career, Mason had 20 points (10-17 from the field) and 11 rebounds against Chadron State.
What she will remember most about her senior year, Manson said, "Every moment I've spent with my wonderful teammates is what I will remember. From our deep conversations we've had in our hotel rooms on the road with the coaches, to the times we've been yelled at in the locker room and on the court."
As for what she will miss the most, she responded, "I will miss seeing everyone every day in their practice uniforms teasing one another and making bets on who can make full or half court shot. I will miss everything about this team and our coaches. I love them all."
Neeley is a native of Colton, Calif., and is a three-year letter winner here at New Mexico Highlands University. Brittany came to Highlands as a transfer student from NCAA Division II power house University of Alaska Anchorage. Over Brittany's 3-year career, she has accumulated 184 points and 95 rebounds. In February, Neeley had 14 points in helping the Cowgirls upset Colorado Springs.
About her senior year, Neeley said, "The most memorable thing this year was visiting Mount Rushmore as a team. Also, the last road trip when we turned the bus into a club on the way back to campus after a win versus Western State. That was awesome!
"I will miss the simple things that you wouldn't think to be as important on a normal day like getting ready in the locker room, the heartbeat between our hands after pre-game talks, all of us on the bus being goofy (drawing on each other), and last but not least I will miss Coach Darling's inspirational talks that bring us all to tears," Neeley added.
Last but certainly not least, Smith has been a force all her career inside for the Cowgirls, finishing with 25 double-doubles. A native of Los Angeles, Calif., Smith came to Las Vegas as a redshirt freshman from NCAA Division I Cal-State Northridge. Over China's four-year career, she has accumulated 1,024 points, 809 rebounds, 149 steals, 93 assists and 50 blocks. China has been named RMAC Player of the Week four times in her career. This year, she was named one of the RMAC's top performers for the month of November. China also broke the RMAC single-game record with 29 rebounds in a contest against University of the Southwest earlier this season, the 12th-best mark in Division II history and the most in a game since 1996. This season, she was named to the RMAC Academic Honor Roll. She also had a career-best 25 points against Southwest, making a career-best 15 free throws from the line alone.
About this season, Smith said, "The most memorable moment this season is beating two teams Cowgirls women's basketball hasn't beaten in a decade. Also visiting Mount Rushmore with my teammates and coaches was something I will never forget."
Finally, "The thing I will miss the most about this team is EVERYTHING from practices with the team, playing with the team, traveling on road trips with the team and just being around each other 24/7."
New Mexico Highlands Men's Basketball Team
The New Mexico Highlands men's basketball team will honor a quintet of seniors in their final game on Henry O. Sanchez Court.
Mannie Cass, Stargell Love, Lavell McDade and
Stuart Sullivan will be completing their second season for the Cowboys while
Dominick Baca is finishing his fourth season (third playing) for Highlands.
A native of Pecos, N.M., Baca has appeared in 66 games for his career and has scored 358 points, grabbed 124 rebounds, dished off 55 assists and made 38 steals. In his final season, Dom has started nine games, reaching double-digit scoring six times. In the Cowboys win over Western New Mexico earlier this season, Baca scored a career-best 21 points.
From Carbondale, Ill., Cass has led the team in scoring and rebounding his two seasons with the Cowboys. He is among the conference leaders and is in the top-100 in the nation in points per game in the 2013-14 season. He maybe had his best month of his career in December of 2013, where he was named the RMAC Male Athlete of the Month. Twice he set new career-highs for points in a game in the month, culminating with 41 in come-from-behind, double overtime win over Western State. He also became the first player in 2013-14 to be named both conference offensive and defensive player of the week. Cass finished his career with four double-doubles, including three this year.
A native of Lumberton, N.C., Love has played in more 51 games the last two seasons for the Cowboys. He finishes his career with a double-digit scoring average (514 points, 10.1 per game) and more than four assists per game. Love may have saved the best for last, reaching double digits in points in four of the last five games, including a season-best 23 points in the Cowboys win over Western State. His career-high was 24 last season in Highlands come-from-behind win over Colorado Mesa. Stargell added his lone double-double of his career with 18 points and 10 assists in the Cowboys win over Chadron State earlier this year. He also had a career-best 10 rebounds earlier this season at Cal-Baptist.
Another member of this class who hails from Carbondale, Ill., McDade has been very consistent in his two seasons as a Cowboy. He is second on the team both seasons with around 15 points per game (610 career points). He has double-digit scoring in 34-of-41 games played in his career, with a career-best 29 last year against Colorado Mines. McDade also adds near four rebounds per game for his career.
Finally, a sharpshooter from Red Oak, Okla., Sullivan is hitting a blazing 44 percent from beyond the arc in 2013-14 and is hitting triples at a pace at more than 40 percent from beyond the arc the last two years. He has six threes in a game three times in his career, including hitting all six in his first career game in a Highlands uniform. Averaging 13 points a game for his career, Sullivan surpassed the 500-point barrier in his last game played. He had a career-high 31 points, including the game winning basket and ensuing free throw attempt, in Highlands upset of Regis in January.
