By Stephanie Herrera
New Mexico State Athletic Media Relations Student Assistant
New Mexico State women’s basketball players Irma Kmitaite-Smith and Anikia Jawara have a little more added to their plate than playing basketball and going to school.
Kmitaite- Smith, a senior guard, recently had her baby girl seven months ago and Jawara, a senior forward, has a son who is four years old.
“After I had my son, that’s when I had decided it was time to go and play ball,” Jawara said. Kmitaite- Smith said she just had the mind set that she was going to come back and play no matter what.
As student-athletes the women have responsibilities such as staying on top of their school work, going to practices, and attending team functions. Kmitaite- Smith and Jawara say with the help from the community and their family they are able to get through the year.
“I have a lot of help from my husband and my brother,” Kmitaite-Smith said.
“The community and everyone who is involved with the basketball team is who helped me get through my schooling,” Jawara said.
The women both miss their children tremendously when their out on their schedules.
“She had the hardest time in Canada,” Jawara said about Kmitaite-Smith's trip with the Aggies to Canada this past summer. “First time she had to leave her baby, she was a little distraught for a minute, but she handled it.”
Jawara’s son is out in Georgia, but she says he loves the fact that mommy plays basketball.
“He loves everything about it, he loves the team, he loves the teammates, and he loves the court.”
For the 2006 season, Jawara was one of only two players to start in every game on the year. She averaged 13 points per game, grabbed seven rebounds on the year, and had 31 steals and 47 assists.
Kmitaite-Smith took a red shirt due to personal reasons, but for the 2005 season, she was NMSU’s second-leading scorer averaging nine points per game and added three rebounds and two assists per game.
After their senior year, both women said they will be staying for their masters, and continue to raise their family.
As you go out and support your Aggie basketball team, remember that numbers 13 and 21 are not only athletes, but mother’s as well.