DRC..Women BB FT. Bend Hightower post 6-2/also 6-4

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UNT notebook

Sanders to sign with Lady Eagles

04/16/2003

By Tim MacMahon / Staff Writer

Fort Bend Hightower post Talicia Sanders has orally committed to play basketball at North Texas and will sign Wednesday, according to her high school coach.

Beaumont Westbrook post Fredrieka Lewis is also leaning toward signing with the Lady Eagles, her high school coach said. The 6-4 Lewis is also considering Southern and Prairie View A&M.

The 6-2 Sanders averaged 15 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks per game to lead Hightower (30-6) to the Class 5A state semifinals last season. She was a four-year varsity starter in basketball and volleyball.

"Now that she can focus on just basketball, I really believe her best basketball is ahead of her," Hightower coach Dee Radin said. "She plays defense really well. She’s very quick and agile for a big post. She’s really a finesse player."

Westbrook coach Jesse White described Lewis as an impressive physical specimen who is just beginning to tap into her talent. Lewis averaged 12 points, 11 rebounds and seven blocks per game for a 27-8 regional semifinalist team last season.

"She came to me as a sophomore and had a lot to learn, but she absorbed it like a sponge," White said. "I give her a couple of years, and she’s going to be something to reckon with."

Mean Green wins ASU Indian Classic

The UNT men’s golf team pulled away from the competition in the final day of play at the ASU Indian Classic to capture the team title by nine strokes at the Ridge Country Club in Jonesboro, Ark.

The Mean Green fired a three-round total of 875 in a field that featured 19 teams. It was the first team title for UNT since winning the Lamar Classic in 2001.

Senior Freddy Espericueta led the way with his best performance of the season, finishing in third place individually with a three-under par 213. Espericueta, the Denton Record-Chronicle UNT Player of the Week, was two shots behind tournament champion Gareth Maybin of South Alabama.

UNT junior Zach Atkinson picked up another top-20 finish as he fired a final round 78 to end the tournament at four-over par. Atkinson finished tied for 17th place.

Mitchell ready to sign with Mean Green

State Fair (Kan.) Community College point guard Marqus Mitchell intends to sign a national letter-of-intent with the Mean Green on Wednesday.

UNT coach Johnny Jones, who cannot comment on recruits until they have officially signed, confirmed that he expects one player to sign Wednesday.

The Mean Green will have one remaining available scholarship, which Jones said he is attempting to fill.

LB McNac undergoes scope on knee

Linebacker Arther McNac, a transfer from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, recently had arthroscopic surgery on his knee to clean out damaged cartilage.

The 6-0, 260-pound McNac originally injured the knee while at NEO. He did not miss any practice time during the spring despite persistent pain and swelling in the knee.

"He really showed some toughness," defensive coordinator Kenny Evans said.

McNac, who will back up Cody Spencer at middle linebacker, is expected to be fully recovered well before two-a-days in August.

Golf teams headed to Sun Belt Championships

The UNT men’s and women’s golf teams open play Monday at the Sun Belt Championships in Niceville, Fla.

UNT has players on both sides that are expected to compete for individual titles. Zach Atkinson had the third-lowest stroke average (72.08) among men in the conference through April 10.

Randi Gauthier, with a stroke average of 74.14, was the second-best woman in the conference.

The Mean Green finished fifth at the Sun Belt Championships last season, while the Lady Eagles finished ninth.

TIM MACMAHON can be reached at 940-566-6870.

Westbrook