**For Immediate Release**
Lady Aggies Pick Up Two Wins Against Western New Mexico
by Scott Puryear of Aggie Sports on 01/23/06

Goodwell, OK- The Oklahoma Panhandle State Lady Aggies are 4-2 in the Heartland Conference standings after beating the Western New Mexico Mustangs 91-65 on Friday night and 85-75 Saturday night. The Lady Aggies improved their over-all season record to 9-10.

Lady Aggies 91, Western New Mexico 65
On Friday night, freshman guard Sarah Furgeson set a Heartland Conference single-game record with 14 assists and tied the all-time school single game assist record, which was first set by Yella Pierau in 1992.

Brandi Lewis nailed a 3-point rocket with just nine seconds gone in the first half, and the Lady Aggies maintained control the entire game, leading 56-36 at the half and holding on for the 91-65 victory.

The Lady Aggies shot 50.7 percent from the field, and five Lady Aggies scored in double figures. April Gahagan sang the National Anthem before tip-off, and then earned a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds in only 22 minutes of play. Taneisha Rogers scored 16, and Nina Kuleff and Bridgett Boykin each netted 15. Lewis popped in a dozen, all from behind the 3-point arc.

OPSU head coach Jerry Olson was pleased with his team’s play at both ends of the court, especially the second half defense. Olson emphasized a single word in describing the Lady Aggie’s winning performance. . . “unselfish.”

Lady Aggies 85, Western New Mexico 75
After Friday night’s loss, WNM started Saturday night’s game looking to return the favor. WNM shot 52 percent in the first half, and the teams went to the locker rooms at half time with the Mustangs leading 38-33.

Olson made some halftime adjustments, and the Lady Aggies came out smoking in the second half scoring, 52 points.

Try as they might, WNM couldn’t stop Kuleff. The junior center hit 15 of 20 shots and scored a team season high 34 points. She also pulled down eight rebounds.

Kuleff battled in the paint with WNM’s Tanneisha Manley, who scored 20 and pulled down a game high 12 rebounds.

Lewis scored 14 for the Lady Aggies, and Rogers added a dozen. Fergeson scored seven points and dished out a game high eight assists.

Olson was happy with the Lady Aggies second-half performance and was proud of Kuleff’s offensive contribution. He also complimented WNM. “They played hard in a very physical game,” Olson said.

The Lady Aggies will be home for another week. Their next game is on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 6:00 p.m. against another Heartland Conference opponent, the University of the Incarnate Word.

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