Head coach Yvonne Sanchez dismissed Ebony Walker from the team after Walker was charged with domestic violence following an alleged altercation with Tredarius Moten on Nov. 4.
“The decision was made with thoughtful consideration for Ebony and our basketball program,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez initially suspended Walker indefinitely while information about the alleged domestic violence case was under review. Walker was accused of throwing a knife at Moten the night of the altercation.
A witness to the event alerted APD of a disturbance, claiming Walker had thrown multiple knives in Moten’s direction in the parking lot of their apartment complex, according to the police report.
Sanchez said in the release that the decision to cut Walker from the team was not an easy one, but that the matter is settled. In a previous press conference, Sanchez said the incident put a black eye on the team and the program.
Although Walker is no longer a member of the team, Sanchez said she doesn’t think any less of Walker as an individual.
“Ebony will graduate in December and will be able to move on with her life and her career,” Sanchez said. “She is a good person and deserves a successful future.”
Walker’s return to New Mexico after transferring from Texas Tech was not a successful one. The former captain played in just three games for the Lobos before an Achilles injury ended her season early in 2013.
Senior Maddie Muraida is the only center listed on UNM’s roster. However, the Lobos’ depth in the forward slot will provide a much-needed presence in the paint. Junior forward Khadijah Shumpert will likely take on the big body presence down low with the absence of Walker.
Walker’s leadership will be missed on the squad, leaving guard Antiesha Brown as the only starting senior left on the roster.
The Lobos got off to a sluggish start in the season, dropping all three games in the Maggie Dixon Classic in Chicago. New Mexico hasn’t had a lot of time to adjust without its dominant post player since the suspension took place just days before the Lobos’ exhibition game.
While the Lobos’ schedule has been a rigorous one, facing two top-25 teams in just the first weekend on the court, the Lobos will face yet another top-tier team in Stanford on Monday. The Cardinals took down Connecticut on Monday night, snapping UConn’s 47-game winning streak.
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The Lobos’ first home game will take place at the Pit on Monday with tip-off scheduled at 7 p.m.
Liam Cary-Eaves is assistant sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Liam_CE.
