TAMUC – Sports

WOMEN’S GOLF

Career-best round by Thomas boosts Lions to fourth at DBU Women’s Classic

DALLAS – The Texas A&M University-Commerce women’s golf team shot the lowest team score of the day on Tuesday at the Dallas Baptist Women’s Classic to finish the tournament in fourth place.

The Lions’ Tuesday score of 303 brought their 54-hole total to 922 (+58, 315-304-303). The last two rounds of the tournament are the Lions’ best two rounds of the season. Dallas Baptist won the tournament at 883.

Makena Thomas shot a career-best round of 1-over par 73 on Tuesday with three birdies. She finished in a tie for 11th place on the individual leaderboard at 226 (79-74-73, +10). Her 73 Tuesday is the lowest round by a Lion this season.

Sophie-Charlott Hempel had two birdies Tuesday on the way to a 25th place finish at 232 (82-74-76, +16).

Anya Anders tied her season-best round of 74 on Tuesday with two birdies. She placed in a tie for 27th at 235 (84-77-74, +19). Lauren Leslie came in a tie for 36th at 239 (73-81-85, +23) and Paige Lee Garris placed in a tie for 39th at 240 (81-79-80, +24).

The Lions wrap up their fall season on October 23-24 at the Henderson State/GIC Invitational in Hot Spring, Ark.

1.	Dallas Baptist	290	288	305	883	+19
2.	St. Mary’s (TX)	300	291	315	906	+42
3.	Oklahoma Christian	301	305	309	915	+51
4.	A&M-COMMERCE	315	304	303	922	+58
4.	Midwestern State	305	308	311	924	+60
9.	Rogers State	316	306	307	929	+65
7.	Southwestern Oklahoma State	315	303	312	930	+66
8.	St. Edward’s	309	304	318	931	+67
6.	Texas Wesleyan	303	314	322	939	+75
10.	Texas A&M-Kingsville	333	322	345	1000	+136
11.	Colorado Christian	342	336	326	1004	+140
12.	Wayland Baptist	351	349	337	1037	+173

 

4.	A&M-COMMERCE	315	304	303	922	+58
T11.	Makena Thomas	79	74	73	226	+10
25.	Sophie-Charlott Hempel	82	74	76	232	+16
T27.	Anya Anders	84	77	74	235	+19
T36.	Lauren Leslie	73	81	85	239	+23
T39.	Paige Lee Garris	81	79	80	240	+24

 

VOLLEYBALL
Rylie Fuentes named LSC Setter of the Week.

RICHARDSON – Texas A&M University-Commerce volleyball player Rylie Fuentes has been named the Lone Star Conference Setter of the Week. The award was announced by the conference on Tuesday. She is the second Lion setter to receive the award this season, as Gabriela Rosa received the same award three weeks ago.

Fuentes ­– a sophomore from Robinson, Texas – was the leading setter for the Lions as they hit .258 over three matches last week. Fuentes totaled 66 assists and added 23 digs. She had 23 assists and nine digs in the Lions’ sweep of Southeastern Oklahoma. The team hit .337 in that match. Fuentes then had 16 assists and eight digs against Eastern New Mexico as the team hit .286 in the game. Fuentes finished the week with a season-high 27 assists in the Lions 3-1 win over Western New Mexico. The Lions hit .195 in the match. Fuentes has had seven games with at least 20 assists this season.

Fuentes and the Lions are 6-2 in the LSC and are currently in second place in the conference standings. The team is riding a five-game winning streak. They will face West Texas A&M on Friday and UT Permian Basin on Saturday to conclude the first half of their conference season. First-serve against WT will be Friday at 6:00 p.m. at The Box in Canyon.

LONE STAR CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Offense
Sept. 5 – Hailey Roberts, Tarleton State
Sept. 12 – Sundara Chinn, Angelo State
Sept. 19 – Hailey Roberts, Tarleton State (2)
Sept. 26 – Hailey Roberts, Tarleton State (3)
Oct. 3 – Sundara Chinn, Angelo State (2)
Oct. 10 – Erin Clark, West Texas A&M

Defense
Sept. 5 – Crystal Thomas, West Texas A&M
Sept. 12 – Morgan Seaton, Angelo State
Sept. 19 – Shelley Chapron, A&M-Commerce
Sept. 26 – Amber Strange, Tarleton State
Oct. 3 – Andrea Aguilar, Eastern New Mexico
Oct. 10 – Amber Strange, Tarleton State (2)

Setter
Sept. 5 – Selena Batiste, West Texas A&M
Sept. 12 – Meghan Parker, Angelo State
Sept. 19 – Gabriela Rosa, A&M-Commerce
Sept. 26 – Jordyn Keamo, Tarleton State
Oct. 3 – Jordyn Keamo, Tarleton State (2)
Oct. 10 – Rylie Fuentes, A&M-Commerce

WOMEN’S GOLF

Lions in eighth after the first day of DBU Women’s Classic

DALLAS– The Texas A&M University-Commerce women’s golf team is in eighth place after the day of action of the Dallas Baptist University Women’s Patriot Classic, played Monday. The Lions shot 619 (315-304) on the par 72 Golf Club of Dallas course.

Makena Thomas is the leading Lion after 36 holes in unseasonably warm and windy conditions. She shot 153 (79-74, +9) and is in 22nd place with three birdies on the day. Lauren Leslie is in 24th with 154 (73-81, +10). She eagled the 18th hole in the second round.

Sophie-Charlott Hempel is in 28th place with 156 (82-74, +12), carding two birdies in each round. Paige Lee Garris is in 42nd place at 160 (81-79, +16) and Anya Anders is in 44th places at 161 (84-77, +17).

The Lions will return to the links Tuesday for the final round of the DBU Women’s Classic. The Lions will tee off the first hole beginning at 8:40 a.m. at the Golf Club of Dallas, grouped with Southwestern Oklahoma State and Rogers State.

1.	Dallas Baptist	290	288	578	+2
2.	St. Mary’s (TX)	300	291	591	+15
3.	Oklahoma Christian	301	305	606	+30
4.	Midwestern State	305	308	613	+37
	St. Edward’s	309	304	613	+37
6.	Texas Wesleyan	303	314	617	+41
7.	Southwestern Oklahoma State	315	303	618	+42
8.	A&M-COMMERCE	314	304	619	+43
9.	Rogers State	316	306	622	+46
10.	Texas A&M-Kingsville	333	322	655	+79
11.	Colorado Christian	342	336	678	+102
12.	Wayland Baptist	351	349	700	+124

 

8.	A&M-COMMERCE	315	304	619	+43
T22.	Makena Thomas	79	74	153	+9
T24.	Lauren Leslie	73	81	154	+10
T28	Sophie-Charlott Hempel	82	74	156	+12
T42	Paige Lee Garris	81	79	160	+16
T44	Anya Anders	84	77	161	+17

FOOTBALL

Lions ranked No. 11 in AFCA Coaches’ Poll.

WACO – The Texas A&M University-Commerce football team is ranked No. 11 in the American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll entering the seventh week of the season, as announced Monday.

The Lions were previously ranked second nationally before dropping a 47-42 decision to then-No. 10 Midwestern State last weekend. The Lions came back and scored the game’s final 21 points before running out of time.

A&M-Commerce will carry a 4-1 overall record and 2-1 Lone Star Conference mark into Saturday’s Homecoming game against Western New Mexico. Kickoff at Memorial Stadium is 4:00 p.m.

Three undefeated teams in Super Region Four are ahead of the Lions – No. 4 Minnesota State (6-0), No. 6 Midwestern State (4-0), and No. 10 Central Washington (6-0). Other regional teams in the Top 25 are No. 12 Colorado State-Pueblo (5-1), No. 13 Winona State (6-0), No. 18 Sioux Falls (5-1), No. 20 Colorado Mesa (5-1), and No. 25 Humboldt State (4-1)

A&M-Commerce has been ranked in 33 consecutive AFCA polls, dating back to the 2015 preseason poll. This announcement is A&M-Commerce’s 39th all-time appearance in the AFCA poll since its inception in 2000.

Tickets for the Homecoming game against Western New Mexico are available by visiting WeAreLionsTix.com, calling (903) 468-8756, or visiting the Lion Sales & Service Box Office in the Field House
2017 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll – October 9, 2017

1.	Northwest Missouri St. (34)	6-0	850	1
2.	Shepherd (W.Va.)	5-0	797	3
3.	Indiana (Pa.)	6-0	780	4
4.	Minnesota St.	6-0	750	5
5.	Indianapolis (Ind.)	6-0	688	7
6.	Midwestern St. (Texas)	4-0	682	10
7.	Grand Valley St. (Mich.)	5-1	615	8
8.	Fort Hays St. (Kan.)	6-0	600	11
9.	Slippery Rock (Pa.)	6-0	516	12
10.	Central Washington	6-0	507	13
11.	A&M-COMMERCE	4-1	483	2
12.	Colorado St.-Pueblo	5-1	417	14
13.	Winona St. (Minn.)	6-0	367	22
14.	Bowie St. (Md.)	6-0	358	19
15.	Ferris St. (Mich.)	4-1	356	15
16.	Ashland (Ohio)	5-1	319	18
17.	Assumption (Mass.)	5-0	306	20
18.	Sioux Falls (S.D.)	5-1	287	6
19.	Southeastern Oklahoma St.	6-0	223	23
20.	Colorado Mesa	5-1	216	21
21.	Delta St. (Miss.)	5-1	206	9
22.	West Georgia	5-1	175	25
23.	West Alabama	5-1	172	NR
24.	Wingate (N.C.)	5-0	88	NR
25.	Humboldt St. (Calif.)	4-1	82	17

Dropped Out: California (Pa.) (16), Arkansas Tech (24)

Others Receiving Votes: California (Pa.), 43; Virginia St., 39; Washburn (Kan.), 35; Central Missouri, 22; West Chester (Pa.), 22; Azusa Pacific (Calif.), 18;Eastern New Mexico, 17; Catawba (N.C.), 10; Notre Dame (Ohio), 3; Arkansas Tech, 1.