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Show THUNDERBIRD THETHUNDERBIRDnSOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITYDTHURSDAY DECEMBER 5, 1991 The Thunderbirds are looking to even their cage record at 2 tonight as they battle the Indians of Southeast Missouri at 7:30 in the 2-- Centrum. The Birds are coming off two consecutive losses to New Mexico State and Saturday afternoon the Thunderbirds fell to Nebraska 106-10- The meeting between SUU and Indians marks the first meeting between the two clubs. SE Missouri is doing what Southern Utah did five seasons ago, breaking into Division I basketball. They may be playing their first year at this level, but theyve had a very successful program at the Division II level. The adjustment (to Division I) wont be as tough for them as it has been for some schools, said SUU Head Coach Neil Roberts. After Thursdays game the Birds will be on the road for two games against Illinois State Saturday night and then they will move to Evansville, Ind., Monday night. This will be a tough trip, Roberts said. Were not playing any easy people. This year were playing some really good people, but thats the way we want it. As with Southeast Missouri, the Birds will be seeing Evansville for the first time. The Aces finished 7 in the Midwestern Collegiate 4 Conference and overall last year. One of the hottest players on the Bird team throughout the first three games has been Davor Marcelic, averaging 24.7 points per game. Not only is he the leader in scoring, but is averaging 4.7 assists, which leads the team, and is third in rebounding with 6.3 rebounds per game. However, it takes more than just one player for a successful team. Also showing outstanding stats is Dana Achtzehn, who is second behind Marcelic in scoring at 20.3 points per game. Achtzehn leads the team in rebounding with 10 boards. The Birds will be back home in the Centrum on Dec. 14 and 16 when they play Weber State and Montana. Tip-of- f for both contests is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. 10 Lady Birds hit road in search of first win Birds to battle Indians tonight BY RICK PLUMHOF Thunderbird Staff Writer PAGE BY JAY HINTON Thunderbird Sports Editor The SUU womens basketball team will look to pick up its first win of the season as it battles UC Riverside, Cal Poly Pomona road swing beginning and Loyola Marymount in a three-gam- e and in Calif., Riverside, running through Sunday. tonight Unfortunately the Lady Birds will be without the services of high scorer Libby Price, who suffered a broken ankle in Mondays practice. According to SUU Head Coach Larry Shurtliff, Price, who averaged 16.5 in the opening two games, will be out of action for at least eight weeks, but possibly more. Although the Lady Birds dropped their first two games of the season, Shurtliff said the team played well in the Real Dairy Tournament in Boise, Idaho, and he expects his team to win this weekend. He also said that he doesnt expect the same type of competition they faced this week because Wyoming and Colorado State fielded teams with size and depth. 14-1- SUUs Rick Roberts fuels the Thunderbirds off the bench with 3. 7 points per game and two assists per outing. We played pretty good defensively, both in zone and n defenses, said Shurtliff. Offensively, we are beginning to get comfortable with the system. We are shooting the ball very well. We are coming right along. About the only thing we wanted from the team that we didnt get was a victory. I think Colorado State and Wyoming had a little more in their program. They were probably deeper as far as the bench and talent goes. I think the teams that we play this week will be strong team, but I cant see that theyll have the same type of kids throughout their program. Candice Lords, who is averaging 13.5 points per game, is expected to fill the shoes of Price in the scroing department. Shurtliff said that either Kim Vadala or Heather Sonne will fill the vacancy left by Price, depending on the type of team he will need for a particular game. After their three game road swing, the Lady Birds will be at e home for a homestand as they face Texas El Paso Dec. 14 at 5 p.m. and Montana on Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m. man-toma- two-gam- For the Christensens, caging is the name of the game BY DAVID McEWEN Thunderbird Staff Writer Basketball, for SUU guard Kyle Christensen, is a family affair. Christensen, following in the footsteps of his father and oldest brother who had respectable careers for Colorado State (Formerly Colorado A&M) and College of Eastern Utah, respectively, chose to continue his cage career here after two illustrious years at Utah Valley Community College, and hes hoping for more family support to get him through his two years as a Thunderbird. Christensen said that basketball wouldnt have been the same for his brother and himself if it was for the support they received from his mother and sisters, who arc great basketball fans. All of my sisters enjoy watching us play and my mother is a great supporter as well, said Christensen. Christensen attributes many of his abilities to the help of his father who was always willing to as he grew up in rebound or play Richfield, Utah. His basketball career started at Richfield High School where the Wildcats took the 2A State Championship in his sophomore and senior seasons. At the end of his senior year he was named 2A one-on-o- Most Valuable Player and was named to the team. During his senior season he sign a letter of intent to further his basketball skills at Utah Valley Community College under Head Coach Duke Reid. Before serving an LDS mission to the Dominican starter for Republic, Christensen was a part-tim- e the Wolverines. After he returned home, he was a starter throughout his sophomore season. All-Sta- Although Christensen is a newcomer to the SUU program, he is quite familiar with the Centrum. We took the state championship here, said on the Centrum floor. Christensen, The humble but confident guard describes himself as a player that can contribute. I concentrate and think about what I need to do so that I can play to the best of my ability throughout the game, said Christensen. He also said he is looking forward to contributing as much as possible to a successful team. The basketball legacy in the Christensen family added another member when Christensen married Rama Jean Christensen one month ago. Rama Jean, like Christensens sister and mother, is excited about her husband playing basketball, even though she she has sacrificed a lot for him. Rama Jean Christensen gave up her crown as Miss Utah Valley and a third place finish in the Miss Utah pageant when she got married. I can be a good listener, said Rama Jean. I can be a good promoter. In the stands I can smile at him, if he ever looks at me, and give him the thumbs up or just be there for him. Christensen, a junior majoring in business administration, said hes excited to play here and to do the best I can to contribute on the team and make the best contribution I can to the team. |