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ROLL CALL!!
14 Sep
For Gulf South Conference Info, Go To: http://www.gulfsouthconference.org
GSC Head Coaches Close in on Milestone Wins
North Alabama's Peck--1 win away from 150.
Lincoln Memorial's Smith--1 win away from 100.
Henderson State's Thigpen--9 away from 200 as coach in GSC.
Valdosta State's Cantrell--9 away from 100.
14 Sep
FLORENCE, S.C.(OTW) - The women's volleyball match between Francis Marion University and Fayetteville State University scheduled for Tuesday night (Sept. 14) in Florence has been canceled due to approaching Hurricane Floyd. The non-conference match will be made up at a later date.
The Patriot women are currently 5-4 and will open Peach Belt Athletic Conference play this weekend. FMU will host Augusta State University, Friday (Sept. 17) at 7 p.m., and USC Aiken, Saturday at 2 p.m.
Collegiate Women's Lacrosse
#9 Longwood Takes 14-9 Triumph At #7 Millersville (Pa.)
MILLERSVILLE, Pa. -- #9 Longwood (5-1) took a 14-9 victory at #7 Millersville (Pa.) Saturday in Pennsylvania. The Lancers were led by sophomore All-American Natalie Smith/Albemarle HS with four goals and three assists, followed by senior Laurie Hogan/Albemarle HS with six goals. Other scoring included freshman Beth Hadrys/Joppatowne (Md.) HS (1g, 4a), sophomore Kris Denson/Stafford HS (1g, 1a), seniors Dawn Duboski/Cherokee (N.J.) HS (1g) and Melissa Miranda/Kempsville HS (1g), along with junior Tina Whitaker/Floyd E. Kellam HS (1a). LC sophomore keeper Rachel Bunn/Northeast (Md.) HS made 11 saves.
Longwood, ranked #9 in this week's IWLCA Poll, will play again Wednesday, March 24, at Bridgewater.
Summary 1 2 F
#9 Longwood 8 6 14
Millersville (Pa.) 2 7 9
LC Scoring: Natalie Smith (4g, 3a), Laurie Hogan (6g), Beth Hadrys (1g, 4a), Kris Denson (1g, 1a), Dawn Duboski (1g), Melissa Miranda (1g), Tina Whitaker (1a)
Top MU Scorers: Moss (4g), Roberts (3a)
LC GK Saves: Rachel Bunn (11)
MU GK Saves: Kelly Mohan (8)
Shots: LC (32) MU (35)
Records: LC (5-1), MU (0-1)
Longwood Drops CVAC Doubleheader At #3 Mount Olive (N.C.)
MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. -- Longwood (14-11, 4-9 CVAC) lost both games of a CVAC baseball doubleheader at #3 Mount Olive (N.C.) (29-1, 13-1 CVAC) Saturday in North Carolina, dropping the first game 9-1 and the second game 4-2. In game one, LC was led by sophomore Travis Pfitzner/Gar-Field HS who was 1-3 with a run scored, while classmate Mike Sullivan/Gar-Field HS (2-2) took the pitching loss -- allowing 13 hits with three strikeouts in five-innings. In game two, LC was led by sophomore Ryan Costa/Buffalo Gap HS who was 1-2 with a solo home run in the 7th-inning. Senior Greg Edmonds/Midlothian HS (2-1) took the mound loss with 5.2-innings of seven-hit, three-strikeout pitching.
March 20, 1999
Longwood Takes CVAC Doubleheader From Erskine (S.C.)
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood (22-6, 4-0 CVAC) won both games of a CVAC softball doubleheader against visiting Erskine (S.C.) (8-10, 7-7 CVAC) Saturday at Lancer Field, winning the first game 11-1 and taking the second game 8-6. In game one, LC was led by senior Libby Gough/Amelia County HS (2-3, double, two runs, RBI), junior Emily Brown/Fluvanna County HS (2-2, two runs), along with freshmen Jamie Englehart/Brentsville HS (2-4, double, two runs) and Colleen Cooney/Stafford HS (2-3, two runs, RBI) -- each with two hits. Graduate student Stacey Rose/Thomas Jefferson HS (11-3) pitched a complete-game, five-hitter with one strikeout for the five-inning win. In game two, LC was led by Englehart (4-4, home run, double, two runs, two RBI) and freshman Sarah Lavinus/ Lloyd C. Bird HS (3-4, double, three runs) with Englehart adding to her new school-record for home runs in a season -- now totaling seven homers. Sophomore Denise Wack/Great Bridge HS (11-3) tossed a complete-game, five-hitter with four strikeouts for the win.
March 20, 1999
Collegiate Men's & Women's Tennis
Longwood Sweeps Mount Olive (N.C.) and Pfeiffer (N.C.), Falls At Belmont Abbey (N.C.)
MISENHEIMER, N.C. -- The Longwood men's and women's tennis teams won two matches each Saturday in North Carolina. The LC men defeated Mount Olive (N.C.) 6-3 and Pfeiffer (N.C.) 5-4, while the Lancer women defeated Mount Olive 7-2 and Pfeiffer 5-4. On Friday, March 19, LC lost men's and women's matches at Belmont Abbey (N.C.) by scores of 9-0 and 5-4, respectively. The LC men are now 9-7 overall, 2-4 in the CVAC, while the Lancer women are now 13-2 overall, 5-1 in the CVAC.
NCAA Division II Women's Basketball South Atlantic Regional Tournament
at Francis Marion University in Florence, S.C.
(Smith Univ. Center)
#10 Kennesaw State 76 #6 Francis Marion 72
FLORENCE, S.C. - Kennesaw State University senior center Dion Thornton scored 24 points, including 19 in the final 20 minutes, and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the 10th-ranked Lady Owls to a 76-72 win over sixth-ranked Francis Marion University in the championship game of the NCAA Division II women's basketball South Atlantic Regional Tournament, Saturday night.
KSU improves to 28-3 and advances to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in Pine Bluff, Ark., March 17, 18, 20. FMU, a Final Four participant last year and the region's top seed, ends its year at 27-3.
Thornton was named the regional's Most Outstanding Player, while teammates Justyna Stanioch (20 points and 10 assists) and Rima Petronyte (nine points and seven assists) were also selected to the All-Tournament Team.
Francis Marion juniors Jennifer Brabson and Chiffonia Adderson scored 26 and 18 points respectively, and were also named to the All-Tournament Team. Brabson also hauled down a game-high 11 rebounds. Sophomore guard Christy Wright contributed 10 points and six assists.
The tightly contested first half featured seven ties and 12 lead changes. Wright keyed a 6-0 FMU run that broke a 28-28, but the Patriots were held scoreless for the final 4:45 of the half as the Lady Owls drew to within 34-32.
The Patriots opened a seven-point margin on three occasions following intermission, the last time at 55-48 on a Brabson 16-foot jumper with 11:15 remaining. KSU answered with a 10-2 spurt that gave the Lady Owls their first lead of the second half at 58-57.
Wright tied the score at 70-70 on a free throw with 2:00 left, but Stanioch scored on a free throw at 1:27, and then following an Adderson miss, hit a layup with 53 seconds left to make the score 73-70. After Wright missed a shot at the Patriots' end, Thornton sealed the win with a layup with 10 seconds left that gave KSU a 75-70 lead.
Kennesaw State hit 16 of 23 second-half field goal attempts, and shot 54.5% for the game. It marked the first time in 56 games, that FMU had allowed an opponent to shot 50% or better from the floor.
6 Mar
#10 Kennesaw State 81 Bowie State 70
FLORENCE, S.C. - Center Dion Thornton scored a game-high 20 points and point guard Rima Petronyte tied her own school record with 17 assists to lead tenth-ranked Kennesaw State University to an 81-70 win over Bowie State University in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II women's basketball South Atlantic Regional Tournament.
KSU improves to 27-3 and advances to face the Francis Marion University/Wingate University winner in Saturday's regional title contest at 7 p.m. Thornton was followed by Monika Siwczak with 16 points, Justyna Stanioch with 15, and Mamy Ndoye and Ewelina Zmuda with 10 points each.
Tiffany Moss came off the Bowie State bench to score a team-high 15 points and grab nine rebounds before fouling out. Trenita Shields scored 14 points, while Beverly Winstead added 11 points as BSU, seeded second in this regional, ends its season at 25-4.
Kennesaw State shot 52.8% from the floor in the first half and took advantage of 12 BSU turnovers to grab a 42-29 lead at intermission. The final KSU points came on a 48-foot shot from Siwczak at the halftime horn.
The Owls led by as many as 28 points on two occasions in the second stanza, and the final 11-point margin was as close as the Lady Bulldogs would get after Siwczak's halftime buzzer-beater.
Petronyte did not score and committed only five turnovers, while tying the school single-game record she set earlier this season.
Semifinal Game on Friday, March 5, at 8 p.m.
#6 Francis Marion 85 #25 Wingate 72
FLORENCE, S.C. - Francis Marion University junior center Chiffonia Adderson scored 16 second-half points to spark the sixth-ranked Patriots to a come-from-behind 85-72 win over 25th-ranked Wingate University in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II women's basketball South Atlantic Regional Tournament.
FMU improves to 27-2 and advances to face 10th-ranked and fellow Peach Belt Athletic Conference foe Kennesaw State University (27-3) in the regional championship game Saturday at 7 p.m.
Adderson led the Patriots, who trailed 36-35 at halftime, with 18 points and seven rebounds. Junior Jennifer Brabson scored 17 points as did sophomore guard Christy Wright.
Junior forward Erin Johannes led four Wingate (23-7) players in double with 18 points, while Addie Holbrook scored 16 in her final collegiate game, and Kim Abbott and Temeshia Dawkins added 12 and 11 points respectively.
Adderson's layup off a Brabson assist to open the second stanza gave the Patriots a lead they would not relinquish. FMU would build an eight point margin (48-40), but the Bulldogs rallied to within one point on three occasions, the last time at 53-52.
The Patriots would again go up eight at 63-55, but a seven-foot jump shot by Johannes at the 3:27 mark made the score 72-69. FMU countered with a 9-0 run to lead 81-69 with just over a minute remaining. The Patriots shot a sizzling 66.7 percent from the floor in the second half, and for the game committed a season-low 11 turnovers.
GSC LANDS TWO IN NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
HSU, UWG FACE ONE ANOTHER IN FIRST ROUND
Birmingham, AL---The good news is that for the sixth straight year the Gulf South Conference will be represented in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament by two teams: newly-crowned GSC Champion Henderson State University (22-7, 11-1) and West Georgia (21-6, 11-3). The bad news is that the Reddies and Braves must face one another in the first round when the South Region Tournament begins Thursday, March 4 at Shelby State C.C. (hosted by Le Moyne-Owen College) at 8:00 pm (CST).
In 15 Elite Eight appearances, GSC teams have advanced to the semifinals nine times and the Championship Game three times, walking away with the title each time (North Alabama, 1979 and 1991, and Jacksonville State, 1985). Last season, Delta State became the second GSC team in three years to reach the Elite Eight, losing in the quarterfinals to Kentucky Wesleyan, 76-68.
Henderson State makes its first post-season appearance since 1982. Prior to joining the GSC, the Reddies reached the NAIA Tournament seven times, posting a 16-7 record (.696) with two appearances in the Championship Game.
Although this will be HSU's first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament, West Georgia will appear in the "Big Dance" for a third consecutive year. In 1998, the Braves edged state rival Fort Valley State, 77-74, before falling in the Regional Semifinal versus Lynn University, 104-92. In 11 appearances (six as a GSC team), UWG has a 7-11 record, reaching the Regional Final three times.
As for the game itself, the Braves and Reddies have met only twice with UWG eliminating HSU from the GSC Tournament each time (99-90 in 1996 and 100-91 in 1997). While both teams clinched their third straight 20-win seasons this year, it is Henderson State that holds the hot hand capturing its first-ever GSC Championship while riding a Conference season-high nine-game winning streak. Another victory will move them into a tie for seventh place on the GSC's consecutive wins list (10, Delta State, 1997-98, and Nicholls State, 1977-78).
West Georgia seeks to snap a two-game losing streak following an 89-75 loss to Southern Arkansas in the opening round of the GSC Tournament. A Braves' win in this game will also move UWG Head Coach Ed Murphy into a second-place tie with North Alabama's Bill L. Jones (1975-88) on the GSC career wins list (259).
The winner of the HSU-UWG game will advance to the Regional Semifinals to face host Le Moyne- Owen (TN) (21-3), Friday at 8:00 pm. The other Regional Quarterfinal matches Lynn (FL) (24-5) and Paine (GA) (16-11) with the winner to face Florida Southern (25-7), Friday. The Championship Game is scheduled for 7:00 pm, Saturday.
NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL SOUTH REGION TOURNAMENT
(Mar. 4-6 @ Shelby State C.C., hosted by Le Moyne-Owen College)
March 4, 1999
Game 1 Lynn (FL) vs. Paine (GA), 6:00 pm
Game 2 Henderson State vs. West Georgia, 8:00 pm
March 5, 1999
Game 3 Winner of #1 vs. Florida Southern, 6:00 pm
Game 4 Winner of #2 vs. Le Moyne-Owen, 8;00 pm
March 6, 1999
***NCAA SOUTH REGION CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AT 7:00 PM***
ALL TIMES CENTRAL
TWO GSC TEAMS SECURE BIDS TO NCAA DIVISION II
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Birmingham, AL -- Two Gulf South Conference women's basketball teams, Delta State and Arkansas Tech, have filled their cards for the "Big Dance."
Delta State (25-4) will be making its 12th appearance in the NCAA Tournament after winning the Gulf South Conference Championship Tournament over the weekend. The Lady Statesmen have won three NCAA Division II crowns (1989, 1990, 1992) and have appeared in 12 of the last 13 NCAA Tournaments, including the last four. Although DSU comes into the Tournament riding a nine-game winning streak, erasing the memory of an 80-64 loss to Arkansas-Monticello in the opening round of last season is foremost on its mind. They get their chance, Thursday, at 8 p.m., against Clark-Atlanta (21-8).
Arkansas Tech (26-6) makes its second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament on an at- large bid. The Golden Suns advanced to the GSC Championship Game last weekend, before falling to host Delta State, 63-59. ATU, made its first season of Division II eligibility a memorable one, advancing to the Elite Eight before losing, 69-61, to Francis Marion. The Golden Suns begin their quest for a NCAA Title against Florida Southern (20-9), Thursday, at 6 p.m. (EST). The winner of that game played Rollins (FL) (27-2), Friday, at 6 p.m. (EST).
The Championship Game is scheduled for Saturday at 7:00 p.m. (EST).
NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SOUTH REGION TOURNAMENT
(Mar 4-6 @ Fort Valley State University)
March 4, 1999
Game 1 Florida Southern vs. Arkansas Tech, 6:00 p.m.
Game 2 Clark-Atlanta vs. Delta State, 8:00 p.m.
March 5, 1999
Game 3 Rollins (FL) vs. Winner Game 1, 6:00 p.m.
Game 4 Fort Valley State vs. Winner Game 2, 8:00 p.m.
March 6, 1999
***NCAA SOUTH REGION CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AT 7:00 PM***
ALL TIMES EASTERN
HSU CAPTURES FIRST-EVER GSC MEN'S BASKETBALL TITLE
Birmingham, AL---Henderson State University (22-7, 11-1) became the first team from the state of Arkansas to win the Gulf South Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, unseating two-time defending champion Delta State, 57-49, at Lincoln Memorial University.
In addition to their first-ever GSC title, the Reddies' victory also earned them their first- ever NCAA Division II Tournament berth. The Conference must now await word Sunday evening regarding how many of its other teams will receive bids to the NCAA Tournament with Delta State, Lincoln Memorial and West Georgia being the main contenders.
HSU forward David Lewis earned Tournament Most Valuable Player honors, leading the Reddies to a GSC season-high ninth straight victory, their third straight over DSU this season, with 12 points and nine rebounds. For the Tournament, he averaged 17.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals.
The Reddies advanced to their first GSC Tournament Championship Game via wins over West Florida, 70-56, and Southern Arkansas, 72-52, in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively. Delta State, playing in a GSC record fifth straight title game (ninth overall and also a GSC record), completed the all West Division showdown, defeating Alabama-Huntsville, 71-45, and Arkansas- Monticello, 111-68, the largest margin of victory ever in a GSC Tournament game.
The Tournament may have been played at the No. 1 seed in the East Division, but it was the West Division teams that had all the fun, eliminating all East teams in the first round. In addition to HSU and DSU's wins in the opening round, Southern Arkansas and Arkansas-Monticello made their first-ever GSC Tournament appearances moments they will never forget. The Muleriders upset Co-East Division Champion West Georgia, 89-75. The Boll Weevils shocked the other East Champion and host Lincoln Memorial, 80-79 on a tip-in at the buzzer by forward Nate Camper off an inbound pass from three-quarters court by guard Marche' Beard.
FMU WOMEN CAGERS SEEDED FIRST ; HOST NCAA DIVISION II REGIONAL BASKETBALL
TOURNAMENT, MARCH 4-6
FLORENCE, S.C. - The Francis Marion University women's basketball team has been selected as the top seed and host for the 1999 NCAA Division II South Atlantic Region Tournament, to be held Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (March 4-6). The entire 48-team national tournament field was announced Sunday evening (Feb. 28).
The regional tournament will consist of two first-round games on Thursday, two semifinal contests on Friday, and the regional title game on Saturday. All action will be held in FMU's 3,027-seat Smith University Center.
On Thursday, Kennesaw State University (25-3 record) will play Lander University (20-9) at 6 p.m. in one first-round game, while Wingate University (22-6) will face Presbyterian College (24-5) at 8 p.m. in the other first-round contest.
On Friday at 6 p.m., second-seeded Bowie State University (25-3) will play the KSU/Lander winner in one semifinal game, while top-seeded and second-ranked Francis Marion (26-2) will play the Wingate/Presbyterian winner in the other semifinal at 8 p.m.
The regional championship game will be held Saturday at 7 p.m. The winner of the regional advances to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight to be held March 17, 18, and 20 in the Pine Bluff (Ark.) Convention Center. Top-ranked University of North Dakota (26-1) is the two-time defending national champion.
Admission each day of the regional will be $6 for adults, $3 for students, and children five years old and younger will be admitted free. Bowie State (CIAA), Lander (Peach Belt Athletic Conference), and Presbyterian (South Atlantic Conference) received automatic bids as winners of their conference tournaments.
This is the second year FMU has been chosen to host the regional tournament. FMU won last year's regional and advanced to the Division II Final Four with a 30-3 record.
This is the fifth time FMU has hosted a women's regional or national basketball tournament. In addition to last year, the school hosted the NAIA Bi-District XI title games in 1986 and 1984, the 1977 AIAW Small College Region 2 Tournament, and the 1978 AIAW Small College National Tournament.
KWC MEN/NKU WOMEN FAVORED TO CAPTURE PEPSI/GLVC TOURNAMENT THIS WEEK
The No. 2-ranked Kentucky Wesleyan College men and No. 13 Northern Kentucky University women have earned the No. 1 seeds and are favored to capture the second annual Pepsi/Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Tournament this week at Roberts Stadium in Evansville, Indiana.
Kentucky Wesleyan, 27-2 overall, wrapped up its record 12th GLVC title with a 20-2 record this season. The Panthers will open play at 8:30 p.m. (CST) on Thursday, February 25 against No. 8-seed IPFW. Other first round games that day have #3 Lewis vs. #6 SIUE at noon, #4 Indianapolis vs. #5 Northern Kentucky at 2:30 p.m., and No. 2 Southern Indiana vs. No. 7 Quincy at 6 p.m.
Northern Kentucky, 24-2 overall, will take a 16-game winning streak into its opening round game against No. 8-seed Kentucky Wesleyan at 8:30 p.m. (CST) on Wednesday, February 24. Other first round women's games have No. 3 SIUE vs. No. 6 UMSL at noon, No. 2 Bellarmine vs. No. 7 Saint Joseph's at 2:30 p.m., and No. 4 Southern Indiana vs. No. 5 Lewis at 6 p.m.
The respective winners earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament. Pairings for that tournament will be announced on Sunday, February 28.
****MEN'S BASKETBALL HIGHLIGHTS***
WEST GEORGIA-LINCOLN MEMORIAL FIGHT FOR RIGHT TO HOST GSC TOURNAMENT
West Georgia-Lincoln Memorial winner earns East Division No. 1 seed.
West Florida clinched East Division No. 4 seed.
Henderson State clinches No. 1 West Division seed, needs win to win Division outright.
Delta State and Southern Arkansas battle for West Division No. 2 and 3 seeds.
Arkansas-Monticello and Arkansas Tech battle for West Division's final berth
GSC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
EAST DIVISION--F, Mike Morgan, West Florida, JR, 6-5, 215, Boca Raton, FL
WEST DIVISION--F, Chris Sykes, Delta State, SR, 6-6, 255, Aberdeen, MS
The Gulf South Conference men's basketball release is now available on our web site at http://www.gulfsouthconference.org.
FMU MEN LEARN PBAC TOURNAMENT OPPONENT [COMPLETE PBAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE]
FLORENCE, S.C. - The Francis Marion University men's basketball team will play their first-round Peach Belt Athletic Conference Tournament game Saturday afternoon (Feb. 20), while the second-ranked FMU women's team will play a quarterfinal game on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 21).
The PBAC Tournaments will be held in Savannah, Ga., on the campus of Armstrong Atlantic State University, Feb. 19-24.
The Patriot men own a 15-11 record and are the third seed from the PBAC North Division. FMU will play the sixth seed from the South Division, Kennesaw State University (10-15), Saturday at 2 p.m. The winner of that contest will play the South Division's second seed, Columbus State University (17-9), in a quarterfinal game on Monday (Feb. 22) at 2 p.m. Should FMU advance to the semifinals, the Patriots would play Tuesday at 6 p.m., and the men's title game is set to tip-off Wednesday at 8 p.m.
FMU, the number one pick in the PBAC coaches' preseason poll, finished the season strong, losing only to Columbus State and the North Division's number two seed Lander University, both on the road, in the final nine games of the year. FMU defeated KSU 73-53 on Jan. 11 in Florence in the two teams' only meeting of the year. Sophomore swingman Wade Tucker scored a career-high 21 points to lead the Patriots, who also got a 17-point, 11-rebound performance from senior center Allen Wilson.
The Patriots lead the all-time series with KSU 6-5, but the Owls knocked the Patriots from the PBAC Tournament last year with a 71-64 win in the quarterfinals.
Wilson leads the team in scoring (13.0 points per game) and rebounding (8.2 rebounds per game), while sophomore Will Tucker averages 12.4 ppg and junior point guard Yaron Lahat is scoring 10.4 ppg, while handing out 6.2 assists per game. The Patriots lead the PBAC and are ranked ninth nationally in team scoring defense, allowing only 61.8 ppg, while scoring 64.3 ppg. In half of its games this season (13 games ; 10-3 record), FMU has held its opponents under 60 points.
Senior 6-6 forward Julius Teal leads Kennesaw State in scoring (20.6 ppg) and rebounding (8.0 rpg), while ranking second in the conference in double-doubles (points/rebounds) with 10. Wilson has eight double-doubles this season.
FMU has a 3-7 record in the previous seven Peach Belt tournaments.
The FMU women are the top seed in the women's tournament with a 25-1 overall record. Francis Marion captured its first PBAC regular season championship with a perfect 16-0 mark.
Francis Marion receives a first-round bye in the tournament and will face the University of North Florida (17-9)/USC Spartanburg (6-20) winner in a quarterfinal contest on Sunday (Feb. 21) at noon. A win Sunday would put the Patriot women into the semifinals, Tuesday at noon. The women's championship game will be Wednesday (Feb. 24) at 6 p.m.
COMPLETE PBAC MEN'S TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
At Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Ga.
First-Round Games - Saturday, Feb. 20
Noon North Florida (11-15) vs. UNC Pembroke (5-21)
2 p.m. Francis Marion (15-11) vs. Kennesaw St. (10-15)
6:30 p.m. USC Aiken (13-13) vs. Clayton State (15-11)
8:30 p.m. USC Spartanburg (4-22) vs. Armstrong Atlantic St. (16-10)
Quarterfinal Games - Monday, Feb. 22
Noon UNF/UNCP winner vs. Augusta State (17-9)
2 p.m. FMU/KSU winner vs. Columbus State (17-9)
6 p.m. USCA/CCSU winner vs Georgia Coll. & St. (20-4)
8 p.m. USCS/AASU winner vs. Lander (20-5)
Semifinal Games - Tuesday, Feb. 23
6 p.m. Winners of Monday's noon and 2 p.m. games
8 p.m. Winners of Monday's 6 and 8 p.m. games
Championship Game - Wednesday, Feb. 24
8 p.m. Tuesday's semifinal winners
COMPLETE PBAC WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
At Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Ga.
First-Round Games - Friday, Feb. 19
Noon North Florida (17-9) vs. USC Spartanburg (6-20)
2 p.m. Augusta State (12-14) vs. Clayton State (9-17)
6:30 p.m. Georgia Coll. & St. (16-9) vs. USC Aiken (5-21)
8:30 p.m. UNC Pembroke (16-10) vs. Armstrong Atlantic St. (12-14)
Quarterfinal Games - Sunday, Feb. 21
Noon UNF/USCS winner vs. Francis Marion (25-1)
2 p.m. ASU/CCSU winner vs. Columbus State (23-6)
6:30 p.m. GCSU/USCA winner vs Lander (17-9)
8:30 p.m. UNCP/AASU winner vs. Kennesaw State (23-2)
Semifinal Games - Tuesday, Feb. 23
Noon Winners of Sunday's noon and 2 p.m. games
2 p.m. Winners of Sunday's 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. games
Championship Game - Wednesday, Feb. 24
6 p.m. Tuesday's semifinal winners
USA Today/Women's Basketball Coaches Association
Division II Basketball Poll
Feb. 16, 1999
Points/Record/Previous
1. North Dakota (21 first-place votes)549 22-1 1
2. Francis Marion (S.C.) (1) 527 25-1 2
3. St. Rose, N.Y. 503 24-1 3
4. Bentley, Mass. 469 25-2 4
5 Northern Michigan 457 22-2 6
6. Emporia State, Kan. 405 22-2 10
7. Michigan Tech 399 22-2 9
8. North Dakota State 393 19-4 5
9. Missouri Western 351 21-2 12
10. Kennesaw State, Ga. 345 23-2 7
11. Nebraska-Kearney 321 21-3 8
12. Arkansas Tech 305 23-3 13
13. Northern Kentucky 297 22-2 14
14. UC Davis 261 21-3 11
15. Rollins, Fla. 254 22-2 15t
16. Fort Valley State, Ga. 222 24-2 17
17. Cal Poly Pomona 197 20-4 15t
18. West Florida 170 21-3 19
19. Binghampton, N.Y. 124 22-3 21
20. Shippensburg, Pa. 122 20-4 20
21. South Dakota State 91 18-5 22
22. Delta State, Miss. 77 19-4 23
23. Truman State, Mo. 65 20-4 18
24. Southwest Baptist, Mo. 62 20-4 25
25. Pittsburgh-Johnstown, Pa. 39 20-4 24
GLVC Men's Standings
(thru AM Monday, February 15, 1999)
GLVC OAll
KWC 18-2 25-2
USI 17-3 21-3
Lewis 15-5 18-6
~Indy 12-7 14-9
~NKU 12-8 15-9
SIUE 11-9 12-12
~Quincy 9-10 11-12
Bellarmine 7-13 10-16
* SJC 7-13 8-16
IPFW 6-14 9-15
UMSL 4-16 6-18
UWP 1-19 2-22
~clinched berth in GLVC Tournament
* not eligible for GLVC Tournament
Thursday Games
Indianapolis at UMSL, 7:30 p.m.
Southern Indiana at Kentucky Wesleyan, 7:30 p.m.
Northern Kentucky at Quincy, 7:30 p.m.
Saint Joseph's at UW-Parkside, 7:30 p.m.
SIU Edwardsville at Bellarmine, 8 p.m.
Lewis at IPFW, 8 p.m.
Saturday Games
Lewis at Saint Joseph's, 3 p.m.
Northern Kentucky at UMSL, 3 p.m.
UW-Parkside at IPFW, 3 p.m.
Indianapolis at Quincy, 3:30 p.m.
SIU Edwardsville at Kentucky Wesleyan, 7:30 p.m.
Southern Indiana at Bellarmine, 8 p.m.
GLVC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
MEN'S Co-POW
University of Southern Indiana senior forward Leighton Nash averaged 19.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and shot 72.7 percent from the field to lead his team to three conference triumphs to earn Co-Player of the Week honors in the GLVC. Nash actually scored more points than minutes played as the 6-7 forward led USI to its seventh straight 20-victory season. Hobbled by an injured foot, Nash is slowly regaining his All Conference caliber form. He came off the bench Thursday and scored 21 points on 9-12 shooting in just 12 minutes of action as USI recorded victory No. 20 over Quincy. He came back on Saturday to pour in a career-high 30 points on 12-14 shooting and grab 12 rebounds as the Eagles whipped visiting UMSL. His numbers for the week: 59 points (19.7 ppg), 24-33 FGs (72.7%), 11-17 FTs (64.7%), 20 rebounds (6.7 rpg), eight steals (2.7), five assists and two blocked shots. He is a senior communications major from Waterloo, Indiana.
Lewis University senior center Milosh Pujo averaged 21.3 points, shot 63.4 percent from the field, averaged 8.0 rebounds and led his team to three conference victories -- including an upset of No. 1-ranked Kentucky Wesleyan -- to share Co-Player of the Week honors in the GLVC. A 6-8 pivotman, Pujo scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a triumph over UW-Parkside on Tuesday. He came back on Thursday with a 24-point, eight rebound effort and gave his team a tremendous boost in the NCAA picture with that upset over KWC. He also hit 10-15 shots in that game. Saturday, he scored 23 more points and grabbed nine rebounds as Lewis defeated Bellarmine to run the Flyers' record to 18-6 on the season. Pujo's numbers: 64 points (21.3 ppg), 26-41 FGs (63.4%), 12-17 FTs (70.6%), six assists and two blocks. He is a business administration major from Munster, Indiana.
GLVC Men's Roundup
USI MAKES BID TO CAPTURE No. 1 SEED IN GLVC TOURNAMENT
Southern Indiana is back and could steal away the GLVC Tournament's No. 1 seed. The Screaming Eagles are one game behind No. 1-ranked Kentucky Wesleyan with two games to go. All eyes will be on Owensboro this Thursday when USI comes calling, hoping for an upset. If Coach Bruce Pearl's team can defeat KWC and Bellarmine this week, it would earn the No. 1 seed on the upcoming GLVC Tournament (the tiebreaker is that USI and KWC split, but USI defeated third- place Lewis twice and KWC split with the Flyers). The last spot and No. 8 seed in the GLVC Tournament is still up for grabs. Bellarmine and IPFW are just one game apart entering the last week of the regular season. The Mastodons helped their cause with a big 86-79 upset at Indianapolis on Saturday, while BC dropped a 85-79 decision at Lewis. BC must host SIUE and USI this week, while IPFW hosts Lewis and UWP. A rare Monday night GLVC doubleheader has Quincy at Indianapolis as both hope to hold or improve their seeds. The doubleheader is a make-up of a Jan. 2 snow-out.
MEN'S TEAMNOTES
Bellarmine -- Herb Gaines has led BC in scoring in five of his last six games -- all off the bench -- and hopes to help the Knights capture the No. 8 seed in the GLVC Tournament. He is averaging 11.5 ppg and is No. 2 in the GLVC in FT percentage (84.4%). He scored a career-high 21 points against Lewis ... Ron Brooks also tied a career-high this past week when he poured in 26 points at UWP on Thursday.
Indianapolis -- Indy clinched its sixth consecutive winning season. The last time the 'Hounds lost six straight winning campaigns was 1961-67 ... Indy has a "magic number" of two to clinch at least a fourth-place finish in the GLVC after being picked seventh in the coaches' preseason poll ... Senior guard Chad Peckinpaugh tied the UI school record with eight steals vs. SJC ... Senior forward Chad Gilbert enters Monday's game vs. Quincy needing 13 points to become the 30th player in IU history to score 1,000 points ... Junior center Kevin Skurka scored in double figures in all three games last week, hitting 17-25 FGs (68.0 percent) ... Sophomore guard Andy Foster scored 40 points in Indy's loss to IPFW on Saturday. He hit 13-23 shots, including 9-17 from the arc. The 40 points was the most by an Indy player since 1991.
Kentucky Wesleyan -- Head coach Ray Harper has won more games (76) than any KWC coach in their first three seasons ... The 25 victories is currently the second most regular-season victories in history. The record is 26 set in 1990 ... KWC has won 56 of its last 61 games ... Antonio Garcia averaged 18.6 ppg and 14.7 rpg last week to go along with three double-doubles ... KWC is the only men's or women's team in the conference undefeated at home. The Panthers are 12-0 in the Sportscenter with a big game against USI this Thursday.
Lewis -- The Flyers free throw shooting could be a big asset in the post- season. Lewis leads the GLVC in FT Percentage and stood No. 18 in the nation last week at 73.2 percent ... The Flyers have won five straight and 15 of its last 18 ... Lewis has hit 81 percent of its FTs during its current five-game streak ... The Flyers committed just nine turnovers in their triumph over KWC ... Jaron McCracken is back on track after a bit of a slump. He scored 53 points in last week's three games ... Pujo broke his own GLVC record for FTM and FTA in a season. He is 119-147 this year, topping the 114-146 of two year ago. He now has 1778 points.
Missouri-St. Louis -- Senior Dwon Kelly scored a season-high 20 points in UMSL's triumph over Quincy last Thursday. Kelly was 7-10 from the field, including six treys ... Kechan Johnson and Greg Ross each scored career highs against USI -- Johnson scored 18 and Ross a team-high 24 points.
Northern Kentucky -- NKU placed seven players in double figures during its 97-64 triumph over SJC on Saturday ... NKU senior Mike Vieth, the GLVC's leading shot blocker, swatted away another five shots in the SJC game and also scored 13 points ... NKU has now beaten SJC 10 consecutive times, dating back to the 1994-95 season.
Quincy -- The 46 points against USI last week was the lowest output by a Hawk squad in the eight-year Steve Hawkins regime ... Curtis Wills continues to shoot the ball well, as he has connected on 63 percent of his shots.
Saint Joseph's -- The Pumas have been led by the trio of Greg Taylor, Brandon Yates and Brent Mason. The three have led SJC in scoring in all but two games. Yates (13.9 ppg), Mason (13.2) and Taylor (12.9) also lead SJC in every category but assists.
SIU Edwardsville -- The Cougars have four players in double figures -- Travis Wallbaum (14.4), Antonio McKinzie (13.0), Ben Wierzba (13.0) and Ty Moss (12.1) ... SIUE has won five of its last six games ... SIUE hit 76.3 percent of its FT's so far in February.
Southern Indiana -- USI has reached the magical 20-victory mark in seven seasons. Senior Leighton Nash had a career-high 30 points against UMSL, had 21 in 12 minutes against Quincy, and shot 72.7 percent for the week. USI finished 14-1 at the PAC Arena.
GLVC Women's Standings
(thru AM Monday, February 15, 1999)
GLVC OAll
NKU 18-2 22-2
SIUE 16-4 18-5
BC 15-5 17-7
USI 15-5 17-10
Lewis 12-8 15-9
UMSL 12-8 13-11
SJC 11-9 14-10
KWC 10-10 14-10
UWP 3-17 4-20
Indy 3-16 6-18
Quincy 2-17 3-20
IPFW 2-18 2-22
~clinched berth in GLVC Tournament
Thursday Games
Indianapolis at UMSL, 5:30 p.m.
Southern Indiana at Kentucky Wesleyan, 5:15 p.m.
Northern Kentucky at Quincy, 5:15/7:30 p.m.
Saint Joseph's at UW-Parkside, 3 p.m.
SIU Edwardsville at Bellarmine, 5:45 p.m.
Lewis at IPFW, 3 p.m.
Saturday Games
Lewis at Saint Joseph's, 1 p.m.
Northern Kentucky at UMSL, 1 p.m.
UW-Parkside at IPFW, 1 p.m.
Indianapolis at Quincy, 1 p.m.
SIU Edwardsville at Kentucky Wesleyan, 5:15 p.m.
Southern Indiana at Bellarmine, 5:45 p.m.
WOMEN'S Co-POW
Northern Kentucky University freshman forward Michelle Cottrell averaged 22.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, shot 63.4 percent from the field, and led her team to three GLVC victories and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament to earn Co-Player of the Week honors in the GLVC. This is the second time this season that Cottrell has won POW honors. The 5-11 forward began the week with a 18-point, 11-rebound effort as NKU defeated Indianapolis for its 20th triumph of the season, 78-56. She came back on Thursday to pour in 24 points and grab seven rebounds as NKU streaked by IPFW, 99-55. She saved her best performance for Saturday, scoring 25 points and grabbing 18 rebounds as NKU eased past St. Joseph's, 68-64. She keyed a late 12-2 run in the St. Joseph's game scoring eight points, including pulling down two critical offensive rebounds and converting them into scores in the final minute of the game. In addition, her two double-doubles picked up the slack for the injured Shannon Smith, who sat out all three games with an injured knee. Her numbers for the week: 67 points (22.3 ppg), 26-41 FGs (63.4%), 15-23 FTs (65.2%), 36 rebounds (12.0 rpg), and nine steals (3.0 stp). She is from Florence, Ky.
Saint Joseph's College junior forward Angie Hupfer averaged 34.6 points, 13.0 rebounds, shot 62.7 percent from the field -- including 63.6 percent from the arc -- to earn Co-Player of the Week honors in the GLVC. This is the fifth time Hupfer has won or shared the award this season. A 5-11 power forward, Hupfer began the week with a strong 20-point, 16 rebound effort as SJC defeated IPFW. She came back on Thursday with a near record-breaking performance, pouring in a career-high 48 points on 18-24 shooting and grabbing 11 rebounds in a triumph at Indianapolis. She finished off the week with a 36-point, 12 rebound effort in a loss at No. 14 Northern Kentucky. Her numbers for the week: 104 points (34.6 ppg), 39 rebounds (13.0), 7-11 treys (63.6%), 13-14 FTs (92.9%), eight steals, and eight assists. She is a marketing major from Pendleton, Indiana.
GLVC Women's Roundup
NKU CLAIMS SHARE OF REGULAR-SEASON TITLE; No. 1 SEED IN GLVC TOURNAMENT
Northern Kentucky University wrapped up at least a share of first GLVC title since 1990-91 season by winning three games this past week. SIUE is two games behind with two games to go, but NKU would win the No. 1 seed in the upcoming GLVC Tournament via tiebreakers (NKU and SIUE split, but NKU defeated third- place Bellarmine twice and BC defeated SIUE once). NKU will play either St. Joseph's or Kentucky Wesleyan in first-round action of the GLVC Tournament on Wednesday, February 24. Seeds Nos. 2-3-4 will be decided this week and those games will also have big NCAA Tournament implications. SIUE, Bellarmine and USI are all hoping for an NCAA berth. Thursday has SIUE at Bellarmine, while USI is at rival Kentucky Wesleyan. Saturday has USI at Bellarmine and SIUE at Kentucky Wesleyan. Seeds 6-7-8-9 will also be slotted. Big games have Lewis at St. Joseph's on Saturday and KWC hosting both USI and SIUE this week.
WOMEN'S TEAMNOTES
Bellarmine -- Home games with SIUE and USI finish the regular season and loom large in the GLVC and NCAA picture. First-year coach Dave Smith's team is 8-3 at home this season and has a chance to win 20. The Knights enter this week at 17-7 with at least three games remaining. Two home triumphs could also mean a No. 2 seed in the upcoming GLVC Tournament ... Sophomore Stephanie Hutchcraft is on track to top the coveted 1,000-point mark early next year.
Indianapolis -- Junior guard Kendall Virgin scored a career-high 26 points in Indy's 79-75 OT win over IPFW on Saturday. She hit a key trey in the final minute of regulation and the game-winning three-pointer with 45 seconds left in overtime ... Sophomore forward Elizabeth Ramsey recorded her third 30-point output of the year with 30 vs. SJC on Thursday. She needs 54 points in her final three games to break the school record of 531 points.
Kentucky Wesleyan -- Angie Johnson broke KWC's career scoring record on Thursday at Lewis with her first basket. She currently has 1,700 points ... Kelly Brewer tied the school career assist record on Saturday at UWP. She enters Thursday's game against USI tied with Stacy Calhoun (1987-90) with 465 assists ... KWC's 14th win of the season assured them of their first winning season since 1992 during Scott Lewis' first tenure as coach. KWC was 21-7 that year.
Lewis -- Carey Jewell scored a career-high 32 points vs. Bellarmine, eclipsing her previous mark of 30 set in this year's first meeting with BC ... Jewell also played 40 minutes without a turnover in Saturday's win, and she passed the 300-assist mark for her career (303) with six in that game ... Lewis has won three straight for the first time this year ... Kellie Harmas scored 59 points in three GLVC wins last week, including consecutive season highs of 22 points vs. KWC and 23 vs. BC ... Lewis made a season-high 13 treys (13-of-26) vs. BC and had a season-low eight turnovers.
Missouri-St. Louis -- Tawanda Daniel recorded her second career double-double with a 22-point, 12-rebound effort vs. USI ... Since joining the GLVC, the Riverwomen have beaten every GLVC opponent at least once, except for one -- SIU Edwardsville.
Northern Kentucky -- NKU extended its winning streak to 14 games with its 68-64 victory over SJC. The longest winning streak in NKU history is 25, set by the 1975-76 team ... NKU senior point guard Katie Kelsey became the school's all-time career assists leader last Thursday when she recorded her 467th assist.
Quincy -- Kelley Storm has scored in double figures in the last five games ... QU still has one of the better FT shooting teams in the GLVC, hitting on 72.5 percent of its attempts ... Laura Jenkins had a career-best 13 points on Saturday.
Saint Joseph's -- All America candidate Angie Hupfer has all but wrapped up the Division II scoring title. The 5-11 forward entered this week with a 30.3 ppg average, 4.9 ppg ahead of No. 2 Darcy Stracko of UN-Kearney (25.4 ppg) ... SJC is No. 11 in the country in offensive output, averaging 82.6 ppg ... Hupfer is now No. 3 on the all-time SJC scoring list with 1,762 points and is 518 points behind leader Jeanette Yeoman. She has 14 double-doubles including three in a row.
SIU Edwardsville -- SIUE is one of the few teams on any level in college basketball that has two players in the Top 20 in scoring. Sophomore Misi Clark is No. 11 in Division II scoring at 20.7 ppg; Kim Lowe is No. 17 at 20.0 ppg ... Clark became the 15th player in SIUE history to score 1,000 points and the first to do it during her sophomore season ... Lowe, already SIUE's all- time leader in rebounding, just took over the career lead in FTM with 350 ... Erica Cory appears to be out for the season with a back injury ... Kristi Eller, a freshman, has stepped into the starting role in Cory's place and hit 10-16 shots in three games last week.
Southern Indiana -- Senior guard Adrienne Seitz had a record-breaking week. She set the USI career record for steals (191), the single-season record for assists (172), and the single-game record for assists against IPFW (14) ... Freshman forward Casey Hughes has averaged 20.0 ppg since missing the IPFW game with a back injury ... USI set a team record for three-point field goal shooting with an 8-12 performance against UMSL ... The Lady Eagles are finishing strong after a slow start. USI was 5-7 after 12 games and 12-3 since ... Freshman forward Casey Hughes averaged 22 ppg in three games last week. That included 25 points against Quincy and 29 against UMSL.
#2 FMU WOMEN HOLD OFF LADY BOBCATS 67-61
FLORENCE, SC - Francis Marion University junior Jennifer Brabson scored 13 points and the FMU bench chipped in 28 points as the second-ranked Patriots held off a late Georgia College & State University rally for a 67-61 win in Peach Belt Athletic Conference women's action Saturday night.
The Patriots conclude their 1998-99 season with a 25-1 overall record (best in team history) and a 16-0 conference mark. The top-seeded Patriots will play in the quarterfinals of the PBAC Tournament (against the USC Spartanburg/North Florida winner), Sunday in Savannah, Ga.
FMU freshman Christy Thomas came off the bench to score 12 points, as all 11 Patriots scored. FMU extended the nation's longest winning streak (NCAA Division II women) to 16 games, and the team has now won 17 consecutive home contests.
Beth Heyer led GCSU (15-9, 8-6) with 23 points, including six of nine three-point attempts. Quintina Harris scored 15 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.
The first stanza featured four ties and three lead changes before FMU grabbed a 28-22 lead at intermission. In the second half, the Patriots took a 49-34 lead on a three-pointer by Thomas with 10:54 remaining. The Lady Bobcats rallied behind Brett Haggard, Heyer, and Harris to trim the margin to four points (65-61) with 36 seconds left.
Thomas was then fouled with 24 seconds left, and missed the front end of the one-and-one shot, but Heyer had stepped into the lane attempting to call time out after the ball was handed to Thomas. Given a reprieve, Thomas nailed both free throws to account for the final margin.
FMU MEN BURN #21 GCSU IN SECOND HALF FOR 69-55 WIN
FLORENCE, SC - Junior point guard Yaron Lahat recorded the second triple double in team history with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists to lead the Francis Marion University men's basketball team to a 69-55 win over 21st-ranked Georgia College & State University in Peach Belt Athletic Conference action Saturday night.
FMU sophomore swingman Will Tucker scored a game-high 19 points, while senior center Allen Wilson scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds in his final Smith University Center appearance.
The Patriot win for the seventh time in the last nine games to end the regular season with a 15-11 overall mark and an 8-8 conference record (good for third place in the PBAC North Division). Julius Joseph led GCSU (19-4, 11-3) with 18 points.
Despite four ties, at 2-2, 4-4, 6-6, and 27-27, FMU never trailed in the contest. The Patriots led 24-20 at halftime, but after the Bobcats tied the score at 27-27, FMU put together a 16-2 run to lead 43-29 with 13:26 left. That lead would grow to 57-39 on a 13-foot jump shot by Wade Tucker with 7:14 remaining, as the Patriots opened the second stanza by hitting 15 of their first 20 field goal attempts.
FMU shot 58.7 percent for the game, while GCSU shot 35.6 percentage, including only six 27 from behind the three-point arch.
The Patriots will play in the first round of the PBAC Tournament, Saturday in Savannah, Ga.
The Francis Marion University baseball team split a Peach Belt Athletic Conference doubleheader with UNC Pembroke, Saturday afternoon, losing game one 3-1 and winning game two 3-2 in eight innings.
Marty Watson (1-1) took the loss for the Patriots in the first game, despite pitching a seven-hitter and striking out seven. Freshman Josh Guthrie (1-1) scattered eight hits to win game two, as FMU pushed across the winning run with one in the bottom of the eighth.
The two teams will conclude their three-game series with a single game Sunday at 1 p.m. on FMU's Cormell Field.
The eighth-ranked FMU men's tennis team defeated #23 Presbyterian College 8-1, Saturday in Florence. The Patriots (2-0) will host local rival Coker College, Wednesday at 2:30.
3 Feb
FMU'S GRIFFIN NOTCHES 700TH WIN ;
PATRIOTS DOWN BARTON 3-0 IN SEASON OPENER
FLORENCE, S.C. - Junior J. Taylor drove in two runs and Francis Marion University head coach Gerald Griffin recorded his 700th career win as the Patriots shutout Barton College 3-0 in college baseball action Sunday afternoon.
Francis Marion wins its season opener, while the Bulldogs drop to 0-4.
Griffin began his 33rd season as a college head coach by posting his 700th career win (against 473 losses and one tie). He recorded 81 wins while coaching at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, N.C., before beginning the FMU program in 1973, where he has recorded 619 victories. He entered the 1999 season ranked 12th among active NCAA Division II coaches in victories and 16th on the all-time Division II wins list.
FMU right-hander Marty Watson picked up the win (his seventh consecutive) as he allowed only four hits over eight innings, while striking out six and walking no one. Senior Ike Brunson picked up the save as he pitched the ninth inning.
Barton threatened in the top of the ninth inning as Brent Bunn led off with a single. After a pop out to left field, Carson Stallings singled to put runners at first and second. Brunson then struck out the next two batters to end the game.
The Patriots scored all the runs they would need in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore Todd Hewitt led off the season with a double down the left field line. A bunt single by Bert Beatson put runners on the corners. After Barry Mongello struck out, Jason Alford collected a run-scoring single to left field. A wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, before Taylor, in his first game as a Patriot, grounded out to third base to drive in FMU's second run.
A wild pitch on a third strike to Mongello in the sixth inning allowed the senior catcher to reach base. One out later, Taylor collected his second run batted in when he doubled to rightcenter field.
Right hander Chad Stoop went the distance for Barton, but saw his record dip to 0-2. He allowed only six hits, while striking out nine and also allowing no walks.
#2 FMU Women Shoot Down Lady Rifles 75-55
FLORENCE, SC - Four Patriots scored in double figures as the second-ranked Francis Marion University women's basketball team equaled its best start in school history with a 75-55 Peach Belt Athletic Conference win over USC Spartanburg, Saturday afternoon.
Junior Chiffonia Adderson scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Patriots to their 14th consecutive win. Junior Jennifer Brabson scored 13 points and hauled down six rebounds, while Christy Wright scored 11 points and equaled her career high of 10 assists, and freshman Christy Thomas added 11 points.
FMU is now 23-1 and has equaled the best 24-game start in the program's storied 26-year history. The 1980-81 squad started 23-1 enroute to a 27-5 record.
Brabson surpassed the 1,500-point mark in the game and moved past former FMU great Lisa Waldrop into seventh place on the Patriot career scoring list with 1,505 points. Adderson also passed Waldrop, but on the career rebounding list, to move into 10th place with 778.
FMU struggled in the first stanza, shooting only 34.4% from the floor and leading by only two (33-31) at intermission. Wright and Thomas keyed a 13-2 run in the second half that expanded a 41-35 FMU lead into a 54-37 advantage (with 11:49 remaining).
USCS would get no closer than 11 points the rest of the game, as the Patriots shot 59.4% in the second half. The Lady Rifles (5-17, 2-10) hit on only eight of 33 second-half field goal attempts. FMU committed a season-low 13 turnovers.
Lakeshia Salters came off the bench to lead USCS with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
The Patriots, now 14-0 in the PBAC, play at Lander University, Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. DOUBLE-DOUBLES LEAD FMU MEN PAST USCS
FLORENCE, SC - Senior Allen Wilson (15 points, 11 rebounds) and junior Yaron Lahat (14 points, 10 assists) each recorded double-doubles to lead Francis Marion University to a 64-58 win over USC Spartanburg in Peach Belt Athletic Conference action Saturday.
Sophomore Will Tucker led FMU with 19 points as the Patriots (14-10, 7-7) won for the sixth time in seven games. It was the 400th win for Francis Marion in 29 seasons of intercollegiate basketball.
Thaddeus Jackson led the Rifles with 21 points, while the Patriots held USCS' leading scorer Derrick Drummond (14 ppg) to only three points on one of seven shooting.
FMU led 27-26 at halftime and led 57-55 with 1:17 remaining in the game. Tucker nailed a 15-foot baseline jumper to push the margin to 59-55 and after a USCS turnover, Lahat hit two free throws to give the Patriots a 61-55 advantage. The Rifles twice cut the margin to four, but two free throws by Wilson with 11 seconds left sealed the win.
The Patriots shot 53.7% for the game and committed only 12 turnovers, while outrebounding USCS 24-19.
****MEN'S BASKETBALL HIGHLIGHTS****
GSC MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAMS FIGHT FOR LEAGUE TOURNAMENT BERTHS
Henderson State-Delta State ready for Round Two.
Southern Arkansas and Arkansas Tech pull off upsets.
West Georgia two wins away from GSC Tournament berth.
extend home winning streak to 20.
West Florida faces key weekend matchups in fight for playoffs.
GSC MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
EAST DIVISION--F, Kenny Gamble, North Alabama, JR, 6-6, 225, Lakeland, FL
WEST DIVISION--F, Rodney Dean, Central Arkansas, SR, 6-3, 190, Markham, IL
*********************************************************************************
****WOMEN'S BASKETBALL HIGHLIGHTS****
ARKANSAS TECH GRABS INSIDE TRACK TO HOSTING GSC TOURNAMENT
Arkansas Tech knocks off Delta State to take sole possession of West Division lead.
West Florida still unbeaten in GSC play.
Delta State Coach Lloyd Clark one win away from victory No. 400.
GSC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
EAST DIVISION--F, Serita Gauldin, North Alabama, JR, 6-0, Dyersburg, TN
WEST DIVISION--P, Evelyn Willis, Southern Arkansas, SR, 6-0, Sibley, LA
#2 FMU WOMEN BLAST UNCP 105-45
PEMBROKE, NC - Junior Jennifer Brabson and Chiffonia Adderson scored 23 and 22 points respectively to lead second-ranked Francis Marion University to a record-setting 105-45 win over UNC Pembroke, Wednesday night in Peach Belt Athletic Conference action.
FMU won for the 13th straight time and improved to 22-1 overall and 13-0 in the PBAC. Freshman Kendra Rowland came off the bench to score a career-high 18 points (9 rebounds) and sophomore Christy Wright added 11, as all 11 Patriots scored.
Freshman Ginnell Curtis led the Lady Braves (14-8, 5-7) with 11 points.
FMU raced to a quick 14-0 lead as UNCP missed its first nine field goal attempts. The Patriots led 20-5 at the 13-minute mark, 33-7 at the 8-minute mark, and 44-9 at the 5-minute mark enroute to a 58-16 halftime lead. The 58 points was a record for most points scored in the first half of a Peach Belt contest.
The Patriots' largest lead was 61 points which occurred twice in the final three minutes.
The 60-point final margin was a record for a PBAC game, and the largest for Francis Marion in 319 games dating back to a 128-34 spanking of Morris College in 1988. The Patriots set a team record and tied the PBAC-game record for free throws made (42). FMU attempted 54 charity tosses.
FMU will host USC Spartanburg for Homecoming, Saturday at 2 p.m.
FMU MEN DOWN BRAVES 61-46
PEMBROKE, NC - Sophomore Will Tucker scored 19 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead Francis Marion University to a 61-46 Peach Belt Athletic Conference win over UNC Pembroke, Wednesday night.
Senior center Allen Wilson came off the bench to score 13 points and haul down six rebounds as the Patriots (13-10, 6-7) won for the fifth time in their last six games.
Trailing 15-10 with 9:32 remaining in the first half, Wilson scored seven points in a 14-0 Patriot run that gave FMU the lead for good. Francis Marion led 24-19 at intermission.
After the Braves cut the margin to 31-25 on a Mike Lowery tip-in at 15:15, the Patriots responded with a 7-0 run to make the score 38-25. The lead grew to 47-32 on two Wilson free throws with six minutes left on the clock.
UNCP cut the lead to 49-38, but Tucker was fouled on a three-point attempt and drained all three free throws, and after he and Yaron Lahat each dropped in single free throws, the lead had ballooned to 54-38 with only 2:03 remaining.
FMU connected on 22 of 50 shots from the floor, including six of 12 attempts from behind the arch, and 11 of 15 free throws. The Patriots committed only nine turnovers.
Theotis Gibson led the Braves (3-19, 1-11) with 19 points.
PATRIOT BASEBALL TEAM OPENS 1999 SEASON SUNDAY
FLORENCE, S.C. - The Francis Marion University baseball team will open the 1999 season Sunday (Feb. 7) when the Patriots host Barton College at 2 p.m. on Cormell Field, a contest that could be a very memorable one for Patriot head coach Gerald Griffin.
Francis Marion returns nine lettermen, including six starters, from last season's 23-24 squad that tied for fifth during the Peach Belt Athletic Conference regular season and then advanced to the conference's "Final Four" tournament. This year's Patriot squad has been picked to finish seventh in the PBAC, according to the preseason coaches' poll.
Griffin, who began the Patriot baseball program in 1973, enters the 1999 season one win short of 700 for his career. Combining his 26 years at Francis Marion and six seasons at St. Andrews Presbyterian College, Griffin has posted a 699-473-1 mark in 32 seasons. He enters this season ranked 12th among active NCAA Division II coaches in victories and 16th on the all-time Division II wins list.
All-Region selection Barry Mongello, who batted .384 with 12 home runs and 55 runs batted in last year, senior right fielder Bert Beatson (.325, 6 HRs, 37 RBIs), and right-handed pitcher Marty Watson (6-0 record, 1.08 earned run average) head the list of returning FMU players. Other returning starters include first baseman Jason Alford (.307, 8 HRs, 25 RBIs), left fielder Matt Jarrett (.329, 1 HR, 7 RBIs), center fielder Todd Hewitt (.279, 9 RBIs), and shortstop Paul Mucci (.275, 14 RBIs).
The Patriots' 45-game schedule includes 23 home contests and the 30-game PBAC slate. This year, the conference will not sponsor a post-season tournament, with the first-place finisher during the regular-season being crowned the PBAC champion.
This will be the 27th season of Patriot baseball. The program has compiled a 618-385-1 overall record (.616 winning percentage), including 21 20-win seasons, and five 30-win seasons.
FMU WOMEN SOOOOOO CLOSE TO #1 IN NATION
FLORENCE, S.C. - By only a single point, the Francis Marion University women's basketball team missed being ranked as the number one team in the nation.
Riding a 12-game winning streak, FMU remained second in the latest USA Today/Women's Basketball Coaches Association NCAA Division II Top 25 poll, released Monday (Feb. 1), but by only that one point.
The Patriots moved closer to the top spot thanks to North Dakota State University's 87-83 win over two-time defending national champion and No. 1 University of North Dakota, which broke the Fighting Sioux's 46-game winning streak. UND retained 16 of 24 first place votes and collected 579 total points, while FMU picked up the other eight first-place votes and 578 total points.
It was 13 seasons ago that the Patriots last held the number one spot, when the 1985-86 squad won the NAIA national championship. It is also believed, the last basketball team in South Carolina (men or women) to occupy the top spot in a national poll was the Claflin College women's team in the final 1990-91 NAIA regular-season poll.
The FMU women are off to the second-best start in the program's storied 26-year history at 21-1, and are the lone unbeaten team in the Peach Belt Athletic Conference (12-0). Only the 1980-81 squad, which started 23-1, opened a season with a better record. The Patriots have also won 15 straight home games, a conference record 16 consecutive PBAC road contests, and 51 of their last 55 games. The Patriots own the second-longest current winning streak among Division II women's programs.
"To be ranked even second is a great honor for the team, the program, Francis Marion University, and me personally," said first-year Patriot head coach Lee Buchanan. "This shows what good team unity, hard work, and a little luck can achieve. It's nice to get recognition from around the country. We will continue to work hard to retain this lofty ranking, and maybe even make it to number one, but our ultimate goal is to be ranked number one following the national championship game on March 20."
Earlier this season, the Patriots won the prestigious Disney Tip-Off Classic, and in the process defeated (at that time) the nation's second-, sixth-, and 15th-ranked teams. Three weeks ago, FMU defeated then 13th-ranked Kennesaw State University 77-74. FMU's lone loss was to Mars Hill College (75-68) in the championship game of Mars Hill's Lady Lion Classic on Dec. 6.
Junior Jennifer Brabson (17.3 points per game), sophomore Christy Wright (15.5 ppg, 4.3 assists per game), and junior Chiffonia Adderson (14.8 ppg, 8.5 rebounds per game) lead a young FMU squad that does not include any seniors on the 1998-99 roster.
Fellow PBAC member Kennesaw State moved up one position to No. 9.
Francis Marion finished last season with a 30-3 record and advanced to the NCAA Division II national semifinals. FMU was ranked fifth in the final 1997-98 Top 25 poll.
USA Today/Women's Basketball Coaches Association Division II Basketball Poll (Feb. 1)
Record Previous -Points
1. North Dakota (16 first-place votes) 579 18-1 1
2. Francis Marion (S.C.) (8) 578 21-1 2
3. St. Rose (N.Y.) 532 20-1 3
4. Northern Michigan 520 19-1 4
5. Bentley (Mass.) 494 21-2 5
6. Michigan Tech 474.5 18-1 6
7. North Dakota State 454 16-3 9
8. Nebraska-Kearney 394 18-2 7
9. Kennesaw State (Ga.) 390 20-1 10
10. Emporia State (Kan.) 384 18-2 11
11. UC-Davis 366 18-2 8
12. Missouri Western 349 18-2 12
13. Arkansas Tech 313 19-3 13
14. Northern Kentucky 265.5 17-2 16
15. Truman State (Mo.) 241 15-3 14
16. Cal Poly Pomona 216 17-3 15
17. Shippensburg (Pa.) 215 17-3 17
18. Rollins (Fla.) 197 18-2 19
19. South Dakota State 157 16-4 18
20. West Florida 145 17-3 20
21. Fort Valley State (Ga.) 124 19-2 23
22. Delta State (Miss.) 82 16-3 25
23. Binghamton (N.Y.) 69 17-3 22
24. Wingate (N.C.) 54 16-4 21
25t. Pittsburgh-Johnstown 37 16-3 24
25t. Montana State-Billings 37 18-4 NR
WILSON (HI-DE-HO GOOD NEIGHBOR) LEADS PATRIOTS PAST NORTH FLORIDA 76-72
FLORENCE, SC - Francis Marion University senior center Allen Wilson scored 21 points, all in the second half, to lead the Patriots to their fourth straight win, a 76-72 victory over the University of North Florida, Wednesday night.
Wilson picked up two fouls in the opening 1:18 of the game and went to the bench for the remainder of the first stanza, but returned after halftime to score 21, including 10 of 11 from the charity stripe. Brothers Will and Wade Tucker added 13 and 12 points respectively for the Patriots (12-9, 5-6), who climb into third place in the Peach Belt Athletic Conference North Division.
Antoine Stokes led UNF (9-11, 6-4) with 23 points, while Angelo Salvaggio added 20 (18 in the second half). The Ospreys played without the services of George McCleod who injured his hand earlier in the week.
North Florida scored the game's first eight points, but FMU rallied to knot the score at 19-19, and took a 27-26 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Patriots led 41-31 with 14:55 left, but UNF rallied to tie the score at 48-48 on a jumper by Salvaggio with 9:12 on the clock.
The final nine minutes featured eight lead changes with FMU taking a 71-69 lead on a three-point field goal by Yaron Lahat with 54 seconds left. After Stokes missed a three-pointer from the top of the key, Wilson knocked down two free throws with 25 seconds left to give the Patriots a 73-69 advantage. Wilson's final free throw with six ticks left sealed the four-point win for the Patriots.
UNF shot 70% from the floor in the second half (16 of 23), but FMU drained 19 of 22 free throws after halftime.
#2 FMU'S BENCH NO PLACE FOR LADY OSPREYS TO PERCH
FLORENCE, SC - Freshman Leigh Ammons scored a career-high 20 points as the Francis Marion University bench erupted for 50 points enroute to an 83-50 win over the University of North Florida, Wednesday night in Peach Belt Athletic Conference women's action.
The second-ranked Patriots are off to their second-best start in team history 20-1, have won 11 in-a-row, and are 11-0 in the PBAC. The win was also the 250th career win (against 119 losses) for first-year Patriot head coach Lee Buchanan.
Freshman center Kendra Rowland followed Ammons as she scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds. Christy Wright, Chiffonia Adderson (12 rebounds), and Jennifer Brabson all scored nine for FMU.
Dali Spiers led UNF (16-4, 6-4) with 11 points.
Francis Marion scored the game's first eight points and never trailed, while the Lady Ospreys missed their first eight field goal attempts. FMU led 12-1 with 9:50 left in the half (Yeah, that's the right score!) and led 30-14 at intermission.
North Florida cut the lead to 41-32 on a layup by Tonika Bright with 13:20 remaining, but the Patriots responded with a 19-5 run to lead 60-37 with 8:59 left on the clock.
FMU will put its 14-game PBAC road winning streak on the line Saturday (2 p.m.) when the Patriots play at Columbus State University.
FMU CAGE TEAMS HOST NORTH FLORIDA, WEDNESDAY (JAN. 27)
FLORENCE, S.C. - The Francis Marion University men's and women's basketball teams will put their respective three- and ten-game winning streaks on the line when they host the University of North Florida on Wednesday (Jan. 27) in a Peach Belt Athletic Conference doubleheader.
The women's game will tip-off at 5:30 p.m. in the 3,027-seat Smith University Center, followed by the men's contest at 7:30 p.m. This will be UNF's first-ever visit to Florence.
Both the FMU men (11-9 overall record, 4-6 in the PBAC) and UNF men (9-10, 6-3) have won their last three games. The Patriots, coming off their best performance of the year - a 71-63 win over conference-leading Augusta State University on Monday, are in fourth place in the PBAC North Division, one-half game behind third-place USC Aiken. North Florida is in second place in the South Division, two games behind first-place Georgia College & State University.
The Patriots have allowed only 56.5 points per game over their last four contests and are now ranked eighth nationally in team scoring defense. Senior 6-9 center Allen Wilson, this week's PBAC "Player of the Week," continues to lead the team in scoring (12.5 ppg) and rebounding (9.1 rebounds per game). FMU won last year's meeting with UNF 77-66 in Jacksonville, Fla.
Junior 6-1 guard Antoine Stokes (19.5 ppg) and 6-6 senior forward George McCleod (15.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg) lead the Osprey attack. UNF is coached by former NBA and UNLV standout Sidney Green.
The second-ranked FMU women (19-1, 10-0) put their 14-game home-court winning streak on the line when they host the Lady Ospreys (16-3, 6-3), who are currently in third place in the South Division, and are off to their best start ever.
The trio of junior Jennifer Brabson (17.6 ppg), sophomore Christy Wright (15.3 ppg, 4.3 assists per game), and junior Chiffonia Adderson (15.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg) continue to lead the Patriots in nearly every statistical category. FMU won the first two meetings in the series last year: 62-52 in Jacksonville and 63-60 in the quarterfinal round of the PBAC Tournament in Savannah, Ga.
Senior 6-3 center Dali Spiers (14.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg) leads a balanced UNF attack that has five players scoring in double figures.
USA Today/Women's Basketball Coaches Association
Division II Basketball Poll (Jan. 26, 1999)
Pts Record Previous
1. North Dakota (22) 550 18-0 1
2. Francis Marion (S.C.) 520 18-1 4
3. St. Rose (N.Y.) 476 18-1 5
4. Northern Michigan 457 18-1 2
5. Bentley (Mass.) 449 19-2 6
6. Michigan Tech 447 18-1 8
7. Nebraska-Kearney 430 16-1 7
8. UC-Davis 376 17-1 10
9. North Dakota State 371 15-3 3
10. Kennesaw State (Ga.) 335 18-1 12
11. Emporia State (Kan.) 318 16-2 9
12. Missouri Western 307 16-2 11
13. Arkansas Tech 290 17-3 13
14. Truman State (Mo.) 213 14-2 16
15. Cal Poly Pomona 209 15-3 15
16. Northern Kentucky 208 15-2 18
17. Shippensburg (Pa.) 207 15-3 14
18. South Dakota State 190 15-3 17
19. Rollins (Fla.) 174 16-2 19
20. West Florida 113 16-3 20
21. Wingate (N.C.) 73 16-3 22
22. Binghamton (N.Y.) 65 16-2 25
23. Fort Valley State (Ga.)54 17-2 NR
24. Pittsburgh-Johnstown (Pa.)46 16-2 NR
25. Delta State (Miss.) 43 14-3 23
GSC ANNOUNCES 1998 FALL ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
Birmingham, AL---The Gulf South Conference is proud to announce its 1998 Fall Sports All- Academic Team. Seventy-one student-athletes, including seven three-time All-Academic honorees and 24 returning 1997 All-Academic members, were selected: football (24), men's cross country (7), women's cross country (9), men's soccer (11), women's soccer (11) and volleyball (9).
The Fall All-Academic Team is selected by the Gulf South Conference Sports Information Directors (SIDs) and Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs) in a joint vote. Student-athletes nominated must have met all three of the following qualifications to appear on the ballot: 1) an overall grade-point average (G.P.A.) of 3.20 or better on a 4.00 scale for their entire academic career, 2) the student-athlete must be a starter or a significant contributor to the squad, and 3) leadership, academic curriculum and community service. SIDs and FARs are not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes. Freshmen and first-semester and quarter transfers are not eligible during their first year of attendance. The number of student-athletes selected in each sport is determined by the number of positions normally involved in the playing of that sport. Ties are not broken.
FOOTBALL:
Arkansas Tech return specialist Stuart Cash heads the football team as one of four three-time All-Academic selections and one of three First Team All-GSC honorees. Teammate Mark Ellison, Central Arkansas wide receiver Chad Moran and Henderson State linebacker Lee Daily are the other three-time All-Academic selections. Moran and Daily also earned Second Team All-GSC honors this season.
Delta State offensive tackle Chris Rankin and Southern Arkansas cornerback Lucas Melott, a 1997 All-Academic selection, are the First Team All-GSC members.
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY:
The men's cross country team is seeing double with two runners making return appearances: Lincoln Memorial's Jake O'Dell and Valdosta State's Yuri Lebedev. O'Dell completed his final season with the Railsplitters by making the All-Academic and First Team All-GSC Teams. It was his second double-honor in the past three years. Lebedev is the only returning All-Academic selection from last year's team.
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY:
Three returning All-Academic selections lead the women's cross country team led by Valdosta State's Heather Smith (her third straight All-Academic honor); Alabama-Huntsville's Sharon Laurent and Central Arkansas' Lea Higgins are the other returning All-Academic members. Laurent and Central Arkansas' Karen Lenderman are 4.00 students, making the All-Academic Women's Cross Country Team the only Fall All-Academic Team with more than one 4.00 G.P.A. on its roster.
MEN'S SOCCER:
Three-time All-Academic selections Central Arkansas defender Chris Young and Lincoln Memorial forward Dave Swaney lead the men's soccer team. Alabama-Huntsville midfielder William Jaggwe, Montevallo defender Digby Watt and Lincoln Memorial midfielder Sherwin Francois also return from the 1997 All-Academic Team. Jaggwe and Watt were First Team All-GSC selections this season. Central Arkansas defender Shawn Marvin boasts the only 4.00 G.P.A. on the squad.
WOMEN'S SOCCER:
The women's soccer team returns three members of the 1997 All-Academic Team: Montevallo defender Katie Persson and goalkeeper Holly Pope, and Alabama-Huntsville defender Mandy Everson. Persson is also one of three 1998 First Team All-GSC selections (Lincoln Memorial defender Stacy Janetos and midfielder Yolanda Janiga).
VOLLEYBALL:
North Alabama's Rachel and Ronda Price headline the volleyball team. In addition to earning repeat selections to the First Team All-GSC Teams this season, the sisters are also two of three returnees from the 1997 All-Academic Team (Mississippi University for Women middle blocker Jenny Clune). Clune's teammate outside hitter Nicole Speight earned the only 4.00 G.P.A. on the squad.
HONOR ROLL:
Montevallo led the Fall Academic Honor Roll, landing 28 of the 272 members who qualified with a G.P.A. of at least 3.00. Lincoln Memorial was the next highest with 24. Qualification for this particular honor is automatic based on G.P.A. and nomination (there is not vote).
#GSC#
FMU BASKETBALL TEAMS PLAY AT AUGUSTA STATE
FLORENCE, S.C. - The Francis Marion University men's and women's basketball teams will play a key Peach Belt Athletic Conference doubleheader at Augusta State University, Monday night (Jan. 25).
The women's game will tip-off at 5:30 p.m. in the 2,216-seat ASU Athletic Complex, followed by the men's contest at 7:30 p.m.
The Patriot women (18-1, 9-0) will be trying to equal the second best start in the program's storied history at 19-1. Last year's team opened the season 19-1, while the 1980-81 squad holds the record at 23-1. The Patriots have won nine straight games and 14 consecutive PBAC road contests, not to mention their last eight games played in the state of Georgia.
ASU is 8-10 overall and in fourth place in the PBAC North Division at 3-5.
FMU downed the Lady Jaguars 83-66 on Nov. 30, behind 29 points from Jennifer Brabson, who leads the Patriots in scoring at 17.4 points per game.
The Patriots hope to move up in the next USA Today/WBCA Top 25 poll, which will be released Monday afternoon. This past week, second-ranked Northern Michigan University lost once and third-ranked North Dakota State lost twice.
The FMU men, winners of their last two PBAC games, are 10-9 overall and in fourth place in the North Division with a 3-6 mark. ASU, picked to finish 11th in the preseason coaches poll, is the lone unbeaten team left in the Peach Belt with an 8-0 conference mark and a 12-6 overall record. The Patriots trail third-place USC Aiken by a game-and-a-half.
FMU dropped a close 58-53 decision to ASU back on Dec. 5 in Florence. ASU guard Kavossy Franklin, who leads the Jaguars with a 21.7 ppg average, scored 18 points in that contest.
FMU Men Rally To Down UNCP 57-53
FLORENCE, SC - Francis Marion University outscored UNC Pembroke 6-0 over the game's final 4:50 to claim a 57-53 win in Peach Belt Athletic Conference men's action Wednesday night.
Senior center Allen Wilson led FMU (9-9 overall, 2-6 in the PBAC) with 18 points and 12 rebounds, his eighth double/double of the season. Will Tucker and Yaron Lahat each scored 10 points for the Patriots.
Trailing 53-51 with 4:50 remaining, Wilson tied the score with an 8-foot baseline jumper. Tucker put the Patriots ahead 55-53 when he took a pass from Wilson and drained a 15-foot jump shot with 1:04 left. Lahat then stole an errant UNCP pass with 47 seconds remaining and then, after FMU milked the shot clock down to :03, he scored on a driving lay up with 15 seconds left and was fouled. He missed the free throw, but facing a four-point deficit, the Braves missed two three-point attempts in the final six seconds.
Theotis Gibson led UNCP (3-14, 1-7) with 12 points, while Mike Lowery added 10.
UNCP led 28-25 at intermission as Francis Marion shot only 27.3% from the floor in the opening half. The game featured eight ties and 12 lead changes.
#4 FMU Women Hold Off Lady Braves 83-76
FLORENCE, SC - Junior center Chiffonia Adderson scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the fourth-ranked Francis Marion University women's basketball team held off a determined UNC Pembroke squad 83-76 in Peach Belt Athletic Conference action Wednesday night.
FMU improved to 17-1 overall with its eighth straight win and remains the only unbeaten team in the conference at 8-0. Sophomore forward Anna Kolbinsky scored a season-high 15 points for the Patriots, while Christy Wright added 14 and Jennifer Brabson 10.
After leading 36-30 at halftime, FMU saw an eight-point second half lead disappear as the Lady Braves grabbed a 47-46 lead on a three-pointer by Ginnell Curtis with 12:34 remaining. Curtis, Kolletta Harris, and Jennifer Lance each scored 17 points for UNCP (12-5, 4-4).
FMU countered with a 12-1 run to lead 58-48 with 8:26 left. UNC Pembroke cut the margin to one point at 62-61, 71-70, 73-72, and finally at 75-74 with 56 seconds left. Following a UNCP 20-second timeout, FMU freshman Christy Thomas nailed a three-pointer with 35 seconds remaining to put the Patriots ahead 78-74.
Lance then scored on a baseline jumper and was fouled with 20 ticks left, but missed the free throw to leave UNCP down 78-76. The Lady Braves got the offensive rebound but Jameka Dixon missed a shot and Kolbinsky rebounded with 14 seconds left. Francis Marion would then make five of six free throws to seal the win.
****MEN'S BASKETBALL HIGHLIGHTS****
TWO TEAMS STILL UNDEFEATED IN GSC PLAY
Henderson State upsets Delta State in overtime to remain undefeated. Lincoln Memorial 6-0, faces West Georgia, Saturday Alabama-Huntsville hands West Georgia first Conference loss.
GSC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
EAST DIVISION--C, Earl Ike, Montevallo, JR, 6-9, 220, Tuscaloosa, AL
WEST DIVISION--G, Jody McPherson, Southern Arkansas, SR, 6-3, 210, Edgewood, TX
***WOMEN'S BASKETBALL HIGHLIGHTS****
THREE GSC TEAMS IN TOP 25
West Florida lone unbeaten in league play.
Arkansas Tech, Delta State, Arkansas-Monticello deadlocked for West lead
GSC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
EAST DIVISION--F, Serita Gauldin, North Alabama, JR, 6-0, Dyersburg, TN)
WEST DIVISION--F/P, Angie Harris, Arkansas Tech, SO, 5-11, Flippin, AR)
TWO FMU WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS NAMED ALL-REGION; PATRIOTS TIE
FOR NINTH IN SCORING OFFENSE
FLORENCE, S.C. - Francis Marion University senior forward Kerri Williams of Chester, Va., and junior defender Rose Joyce of Roswell, Ga., were recently named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region Team, sponsored by Umbro.
Both players were named to the 11-member first team. They become the third and fourth all-region selections in the short four-year history of the Patriot women's soccer program.
Williams started all 19 matches this past season, and helped lead FMU to its most successful year ever (15-4-0). She led the team in goals scored (12), shots-on-goal (38), and points (32), while tying for the team lead in assists (8).
The Patriots set a team record for wins in a season, ended the year ranked 16th in the NSCAA Top 25, and earned their first NCAA national tournament invitation. FMU hosted a first-round regional match, losing 3-1 to Belmont Abbey College. Three of the team's four losses were to nationally-ranked opponents. The Patriots were ranked (as high as 7th) every week during the 1998 season.
Williams finished her career with a school-record 39 goals scored and 99 points. She also tallied 21 assists, while helping the fledgling program to a four-year 52-17-2 record.
She is a graduate of Lloyd C. Bird High School, where she was a two-time all-region and all-district selection.
Joyce also started all 19 matches and scored four goals on 20 shots-on-goal. She helped anchor a defense that allowed only 24 goals and recorded six shutouts. FMU outshot its opponents 323-131. Joyce has career totals of 10 goals and two assists in 54 matches.
She is a graduate of Chattahoochee High School, where she played under the direction of head coach Brenda Dowling. She was a four-time All-County selection and as a senior earned All-State honors. She was selected to play in both the Georgia Senior All-Star Match and the Georgia-Tennessee All-Star Match.
As a team, Francis Marion was listed in two categories in the final 1998 NCAA Division II national statistics. The Patriots tied for ninth in scoring offense (3.89 goals per match) and posted the 19th-best winning percentage (.789).
13 Jan
FMU Splits DH With Lander
FLORENCE, SC - Sophomore point guard Christy Wright scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead the fourth-ranked Francis Marion University women's basketball team to an 80-54 win over Lander University in Peach Belt Athletic Conference action Wednesday night.
Freshman Leigh Ammons came off the bench to score a career-high 15 points for the Patriots (15-1, 6-0), while Jennifer Brabson added 13 points (8 rebounds), and Chiffonia Adderson 10.
Christy Burrows led the Lady Senators (8-6, 3-2) with 11 points in the foul-filled contest.
FMU led 39-28 at intermission, but Lander trimmed the margin to 46-36 with 17:25 remaining. The Patriots scored the game's next nine points, and Lander would get no closer than 17 points the rest of the contest.
The two squads combined for 50 personal fouls and 64 free throw attempts. FMU made 24 of 38 from the charity stripe as all but one of the Patriots scored. FMU also outrebounded Lander 44-31.
FLORENCE, SC - Lander University placed five players in double figures and pulled away from Francis Marion University in the second half to claim a 77-63 Peach Belt Athletic Conference win Wednesday evening.
Lander led 36-32 at halftime despite getting only two points combined from its top two scorers Geoff Brower and David Loboja. After FMU cut the margin to 39-38 on an Allen Wilson basket with 17:08 left, Lander put together a 15-3 run to open a 54-41 advantage. Brower and Loboja combined for 10 points in that key run.
Lander would expand its lead to 66-46 with six minutes remaining, before Francis Marion made a 16-4 run to cut the lead to 70-62 with 1:23 left. Lander's Travis Lane would then convert five of six free throws in the final 1:12 to seal the victory.
FMU junior point guard Yaron Lahat paced four Patriots in double figures with 13 points (seven assists, eight rebounds), while Will Tucker scored 12, Wade Tucker 10, and Caslyn Adams 10. FMU falls to 8-8 overall and 1-5 in the PBAC.
Niam Fogle and Terrance Powell led Lander (11-3, 4-1) with 13 points each.
***MEN'S BASKETBALL HIGHLIGHTS***
MEN'S BASKETBALL WEST DIVISION TEAMS OPEN GSC PLAY
*Delta State, Henderson State undefeated through first weekend; West Division showdown set for Sat. at DSU.
*West Georgia, Lincoln Memorial undefeated in the East Division
*West Georgia Head Coach Ed Murphy sets coaching milestone
GSC MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
EAST DIVISION--F, Curtis Pass, West Georgia, SR, 6-5, 205, Reidsville, NC
WEST DIVISION--F, Corey Peters, Henderson State, FR, 6-3, 201, Little Rock, AR)
GAME SCHEDULING NOTE: West Georgia's Dec. 17 game at Fort Valley State has been rescheduled for
Jan. 27 at 7:00 p.m. (EST) (6:00 p.m., CST).
***********************************************************************************************
**WOMEN'S BASKETBALL HIGHLIGHTS***
ONLY TWO TEAMS REMAIN UNDEFEATED IN GSC PLAY
West Florida leads East with 4-0 mark.
Delta State undefeated in West through first week of league play.
Central Arkansas puts on defensive clinic in win over Lyon.
GSC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
EAST DIVISION--F, Serita Gauldin, North Alabama, JR, 6-0, Dyersburg, TN
WEST DIVISION--G, Felicia Thompson, Mississippi-Women, JR, 5-9, Carson City, MS
11 Jan
#4 FMU Women 77 #13 Kennesaw State 74
FLORENCE, S.C. - Sophomore Christy Wright and junior Chiffonia Adderson each scored 19 points and the fourth-ranked Francis Marion University women's basketball team survived a near miracle shot on the last play of the game to defeat 13th-ranked Kennesaw State University 77-74 in Peach Belt Athletic Conference action, Monday night.
FMU junior Jennifer Brabson added 15 points, while Adderson hauled down a team-high 12 rebounds. The Patriots equaled the third-best start in team history (14-1) and are the lone unbeaten team left in the PBAC (5-0).
Senior forward Justyna Stanioch led Kennesaw State with 22 points, despite playing only 19 minutes because of foul problems. Amy Anglin added 17 points for the Lady Owls, who suffered their first loss of the year (15-1, 5-1), while 6-3 senior Dion Thornton added 15 points and 12 rebounds. Thornton was one of three KSU players to foul out, including Mamy Ndoye, who picked up five quick fouls between the 10:02 and 6:31 marks of the first half.
Kennesaw State scored the game's first eight points, before FMU rallied to take a 10-9 lead on a driving lay-up by Wright. The first half featured four ties and five lead changes before FMU took a 40-35 advantage into the locker room.
FMU opened a 44-35 lead 46 seconds into the second stanza, but KSU rallied to tie the score at 49-49 with 11:10 left in the contest. After four more ties and four lead changes, the Lady Owls took a 67-64 lead on a jump shot by Stanioch with 4:19 remaining.
FMU responded with a 6-0 run to take the lead for good. After KSU trimmed the margin to 74-72 with 29 seconds left, Brabson drained two free throws at :09 to put FMU up 76-72. KSU's Rima Petronyte scored an uncontested lay up with two seconds left, and on the inbounds pass Wright was fouled with less than one second remaining. She made the second of the two-shot opportunity, and on the inbounds play, Anglin had her quick shot from three-quarters court hit off the front of the rim.
FMU hosts PBAC opponent Lander University, Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
FMU (Men) 73 Kennesaw State 53
FLORENCE, S.C. - Sophomore forward Wade Tucker scored a career-high 21 points as Francis Marion University ended a three-game losing streak with a 73-53 win over Kennesaw State University, Monday night in Peach Belt Athletic Conference men's basketball action.
FMU senior center Allen Wilson recorded his seventh double-double of the year with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Will Tucker and Yaron Lahat each chipped in 10 points for the Patriots (8-7, 1-4). Lahat also handed out a game-high nine assists. FMU tied the school record for fewest turnovers in a game with three, while it set a new PBAC single-game mark.
Senior forward Julius Teal led the Fighting Owls (8-8, 2-4) with 23 points and 13 rebounds.
Francis Marion rallied from an early 20-13 deficit by outscoring the Owls 22-9 over the final 11:24 of the first half to grab a 35-29 halftime lead.
The Patriots opened up a 44-32 margin on a three-point field goal by Wade Tucker with 16:45 left, but KSU tied the score at 47-47 on a three-pointer by C.T. Josey with 8:53 left on the clock. However, FMU scored the game's next seven points, and eventually outscored KSU 26-6 over that final 8:38.
GLVC Standings
(thru AM Jan. 11, 1999)
OLVC OAll
KWC (#2) 8-1 14-1
USI (#1) 7-2 11-2
NKU 6-3 9-4
Lewis 5-3 8-4
Indy 5-3 7-5
Quincy 5-3 6-5
SJC 4-4 5-7
SIUE 3-5 4-7
Bellarmine 3-6 6-8
IPFW 2-6 5-7
UMSL 2-6 4-8
UWP 0-8 1-11
Thursday Games
Quincy at KWC, 7:30 p.m.
IPFW at SIUE, 7:30 p.m.
SJC at USI, 7:30 p.m.
UWP at Indianapolis, 7:30 p.m.
Lewis at NKU, 7:30 p.m.
UMSL at Bellarmine, 8 p.m.
Saturday Games
SJC at SIUE, 3 p.m.
Quincy at Bellarmine, 3:15 p.m.
UWP at NKU, 3:15 p.m.
Quincy at KWC, 7:30 p.m.
Lewis at Indianapolis, 7:30 p.m.
IPFW at USI, 7:30 p.m.
GLVC MEN'S PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Northern Kentucky University sophomore guard Craig Conley averaged 23.3 points, hit 65.0 percent of his shots and scored a career-high 30 points in leading his team to three GLVC victories -- including two on the road -- to earn Player of the Week honors in the GLVC. Conley, a six-foot playmaker, began the week by scoring 17 points on 7-12 shooting as NKU upended Quincy, 84-65 in Highland Heights, Ky. He came back on the road Thursday night to score a career-high 30 points on 12-19 shooting as the Norse defeated St. Joseph's. He finished the week on Saturday, pouring in 23 more points on 7-9 shooting as NKU won its fifth straight game, 72-69, at IPFW. Conley 's effort has risen him to No. 5 in scoring in the conference at 17.7 ppg. His numbers for the week: 70 points (23.3 ppg), 26-40 FGs (65.0 percent), 5-11 treys (45.5 percent), 13-15 FTs (86.7 percent), 20 assists (6.67 per game) and 11 steals (3.7 per game). He is a physical education major from Cincinnati, Ohio.
MEN'S TEAMNOTES
Bellarmine -- The Knights hit a 14-19 three-point FGs against UW-Parkside on Saturday and set a GLVC record for highest 3-point FG percentage in a game (73.7 percent, min 10 FGM). The old record was 72.2 percent by IPFW, when the Mastodons hit 13-18 vs. St. Joe's on 1-9-97.
Indianapolis -- The Greyhounds are No. 2 in the GLVC in field goal percentage, hitting 47.1 percent of their attempts. Indy is also No. 2 in FG percentage defense, holding its opponents to just 42.1 percent of their shots. ... Indy's current four-game winning streak is its longest since the school-record 11-0 GLVC start by the 1996-97 Greyhounds ... The Hounds posted their first GLVC road sweep (at IPFW and SJC) since midway through the 96-97 campaign ... Senior forward Chuck Gilbert scored a career-high 28 points at SJC, hitting 9-16 from the field and 10-13 from the line.
Kentucky Wesleyan -- KWC continues to lead the GLVC in offense (88.3 ppg), scoring margin (+19.6), FG Percentage (.48.2), rebounding margin (+15.3), assists per game (18.33) and steals per game (10.8). In addition, the Panthers lead the conference in turnover margin at +4.0 per game (18.4 turnovers per game, compared to opponents 22.4 tpg.)
Lewis -- Milosh Pujo continues to move up on Lewis's career scoring list. He is now No. 5 with 1,530 points and has had eight double/doubles for the season ... Jim Whitesell's next triumph will be his 100th at Lewis ... The Flyers lead the GLVC in FT percentage, hitting 73.1 percent of their attempts ... Lewis also leads the conference in 3-point FG Percentage defense. Flyer opponents have only connected on 42-147 treys this year for a GLVC-leading 28.6 percent. That makes for an interesting matchup this Thursday when Lewis takes on Northern Kentucky, the GLVC's leading 3-point shooting team (43.2 percent). ... Lewis has reskeded is Jan. 2 home snow-out with SJC. It will be on Monday, Jan. 25th.
Missouri-St. Louis -- Greg Ross scored a team-high 18 points against USI and has led UMSL in scoring three of the last four games. He is averaging 12.6 ppg and leads the GLVC in steals with 29 in 12 games (2.42 avg.)... Despite losing three straight, the Rivermen defense showed improvement by holding their last three opponents under 70 points ... UMSL is ited for No. 2 in the GLVC in FT percentage, hitting an excellent 72.4 percent of their attempts.
Northern Kentucky -- NKU senior center Mike Vieth socred a career-high 18 points in the Norse's 84-65 triumph over Quincy last Monday. The 6-11 Veith also had four blocked shots in that game ... NKU owns a five-game winning streak for the first time since last January, when the Norse won six straight ... Norse head coach Ken Shields now owns 186 victories as head coach at NKU and is closing in on No. 200 ... NKU's 107-87 triumph at St. Joseph's on Thursday marked the first time in two years the Norse had reached the century mark ... NKU now owns a five-game win streak over SJC at Scharf Alumni Fieldhouse.
Quincy -- Consider the difference between the Hawks at home in Memorial Gym and one the road. At home, QU is 5-0, averaging 86 ppg and shooting better than 55 percent from the field and 48 percent from behind the arc. On the road, the Hawks at 1-5, averaging 69 ppg, 38 percent from the field and 30 percent from three-point land. ... Tyreese Stewart, a 6-1 junior guard, averaged just 2.5 ppg last year. This past week he solidified himself as one of the up-and-coming players in the GLVC. He scored a career-high 17 points against SIUE on Thursday and came back on Saturday to match that with 17 more in Quincy's upset of No. 1 Southern Indiana ... Freshman Joel Peterson is also coming on. The 6-6 guard/forward scored 30 in two games and has hit 52 percent (16-31) of his three-pointers this year. ... QU has a rare chance to play two straight games agsinst No. 1-ranked teams. The Hawks defeated USI on Saturday and could play another top-ranked team if No. 2 Kentucky Wesley regains the top spot on Monday. Quincy plays the Panthers Thursday night in Owensboro.
Saint Joseph's -- Freshman of the year candidate Brent Mason continues to lead SJC in scoring, averaging 13.3 points with a team-high 20 3-pointers ... Junior Greg Taylor is right behind Mason in scoring at 13.1 ppg ... The Pumas are fourth in the conference in scoring offense at 77.9 ppg, but last in defense, giving up 89.4 points a contest ... SJC is the second best rebounding team in the GLVC, averaging 41.3 grabs per game. KWC leads with 46.7 rpg.
SIU Edwardsville -- Ty Moss, last week's GLVC Player of the Week, sat out the Quincy game after twisting his ankle in practice. He's listed as probable for the UMSL game on Monday night ... Four players are averaging in double figures for SIUE: Travis Williams (13.3), Ben Wierzba (13.1), Ty Moss (13.7) and Antonio McKinzie (11.3).
Southern Indiana - Darick Loving, a junior transfer from the University of Evansville, has enrolled for the spring semester at USI and joined the Screaming for their Saturday game against Quincy. He will have a year and a half of eligibility remaining. Loving played for UE for two years (94-95 and 95-96), posting a career-high 21 points against Creighton and grabbed a career-best 10 rebounds vs. Campbell and New Hampshire. Despite being only 6-3, he possesses a quick first step and superior leaping ability. ... The Eagles will be without senior forward Joel Thomas for at least one more week and center Leighton Nash until the end of January. The duo accounts for more than 25 percent of USI's offense and rebounding ... Junior forward Habib Ademi is trying to pick up the slack, averaging 18.0 ppg and 5.5 rpg last week.
GLVC Women's Report for Week #4
Released AM Monday, January 11, 1999
GLVC Standings
(thru AM Jan. 11, 1999)
GLVC OAll
SJC 7-1 10-2
NKU 7-2 11-2
SIUE 6-2 8-3
UMSL 6-2 7-5
Bellarmine 6-3 8-5
USI 6-3 8-8
Lewis 5-3 8-4
KWC 3-6 7-6
Quincy 2-6 3-9
Indy 1-7 5-8
UWP 1-7 2-10
IPFW 0-8 0-12
Thursday Games
Quincy at KWC, 5:15 p.m.
IPFW at SIUE, 5:30 p.m.
SJC at USI, 5:30 p.m.
UWP at Indianapolis, 5:30 p.m.
Lewis at NKU, 5:30 p.m.
UMSL at Bellarmine, 5:45 p.m.
Saturday Games
SJC at SIUE, 1 p.m.
Quincy at Bellarmine, 1 p.m.
UWP at NKU, 1 p.m.
Quincy at KWC, 5:15 p.m.
Lewis at Indianapolis, 5:30 p.m.
IPFW at USI, 5:30 p.m.
GLVC WOMEN'S PLAYER OF THE WEEK
St. Joseph's junior forward Angie Hupfer averaged 31.7 points and 9.3 rebounds in three games to earn Player of the Week honors in the GLVC. A power forward, Hupfer had scoring games of 39, 30, and 26 points to help her team retain first place in the GLVC. She began the week with a 39-point, 11-rebound effort at UW-Parkside. She came back to score 30 more points and grab eight rebounds in a home loss to Northern Kentucky. The 5-11 forward came back on Saturday to pour in 26 points and grab nine rebounds as St. Joseph's defeated Indianapolis to run its GLVC league-leading record to 7-1 and 10-2 overall. Her numbers for the week: 95 points (31.7 ppg), 37-68 FGs (54.4 percent), 19-30 FTs (63.3 percent), 28 rebounds (9.3 rpg), 10 assists, three steals and one block. She is a marketing major from Pendleton, Indiana.
WOMEN'S TEAMNOTES
Bellarmine -- BC leads the conference in FG percentage defense, allowing its opponents to hit just 37.5 percent of their shots. The Kings also second in rebounding margin, with a +5.9 ratio.
Indianapolis -- The Greyhounds only won once in three tries last week, but it was not because of a great effort by Elizaberth Ramsey. The sophomore forward/center scored 88 points in three games including a school-record 39 points in Indy's lone triumph over IPFW on Thursday. Ramsey's record broke the previous mark of 38 points scored by Kate Silavs vs. SJC in 1988 ... Sophomore guard Ali Overle has had her top two scoring games in her last two outings with a career-high 27 points at IPFW and 20 points at SJC. She has scored in double figures in five straight games ... Freshman center Lauren Vybomy has missed UI's last three games because of back spasms. That left eight healthy players on the roster. ... Indy hit 7-9 treys at IPFW for a sizzling 77.8 percent.
Lewis -- Carey Jewell became the 11th player in Lewis women's basketball history to score 1,000 career points, reaching that plateau vs. IPFW. She now has 1,054 ... Jewell now has 247 career assists, good for 10th on the all-time Lewis list. The 5-4 junior guard scored a career-high 30 points vs. Bellarmine, including a career-best seven treys ... Nicole LaBuhn scored a career-high 18 points vs. KWC.
Missouri-St. Louis -- The Riverwomen, now 6-2 and in third place in the GLVC, lead the conference in 3-point FG percentage, hitting 40.6 percent of their attempts (52-128) ... Jennifer Littleton is fourth in the GLVC in FG Percentage, hitting 58.8 percent of her shots ... Amanda Wentzel is third in 3-point FG percentage, hitting 27-57 for 47.4 percent. ... Junior guard Tawanda Daniel recorded her first double/double with 19 points and 12 rebounds against USI. She was 8-19 from the floor and 3-5 from the line in 27 minutes of action ... The USI triumph extended UMSL's winning streak to three. UMSL held USI to just 34 percent shooting and outrebounded the Screaming Eagles, 51-43.
Northern Kentucky -- NKU freshman Michelle Cottrell now has five double/doubles this season after her 19-point, 10-rebound effort during the Norse's 91-75 victory at SJC on Thursday ... In addition to leading NKU in rebounding (8.9) and FG percentage (58.1%), the 5-11 forward also tops the team with 26 steals ... NKU coach Nancy Winstel is now 9-0 all time vs. SJC coach Lynn Plett after last Thursday's victory ... Senior Katie Kelsey now has 418 assists and ranks No. 3 on NKU's All Time List. She should become NKU's all-time leader later this year. ... NKU leads the league in turnover margin with a +4.15 ratio. The Norse lead the league with just 16.0 turnovers per game, while their opponents commit 20.2.
Quincy -- The Lady Hawks continue to be one of the best FT shooting teams in the GLVC, hitting 71.1 percent of their shots (tied for No. 2 in the conference) ... Quincy is No. 2 in the GLVC in 3-pointers made per game at 5.33 per contest (64 made in 12 games) ... The Indy/Quincy DH snowed out on Jan. 2 has been reskeded for Monday, February 15th.
Saint Joseph's -- Angie Hupfer continues to make her case for All American. She was named the Division II Bulletin Player of the Month for December and continues to lead the nation in scoring (31.0 ppg). She also leads the GLVC in rebounding (11.6). This week's GLVC Player of the Week honor was her third in four weeks ... Shanan Jackson had a career-high 16 rebounds and recorded her second double-double of the season last Saturday against Indianapolis. She also leads the GLVC in blocked shots, recording 21 in 11 games (1.91 per game).
SIUE -- Kim Lowe became SIUE's all-time leading rebounder during the Cougars' 70-56 victory over Quincy, breaking a record set in 1979. Lowe has 760 rebounds, passing Kathy Going's 754 (1975-79). Lowe is also No. 7 on the all- time scoring list with 1,151 points.
Southern Indiana -- Freshman guard Casey Hughes has scored in double figures in 14 of her first 16 games ... After starting the season averaging 7.2 ppg in her first 11 games, sophomore center Stosha DeShaiser is averaging 12.6 points in her last five games ... USI went over the 100-point mark for the first time this year in Saturday's 104-86 triumph over QU.
1998-99 Women's Players of the Week
Week #1 -- Angie Hupfer, Saint Joseph's
Week #2 -- Kim Lowe, SIU Edwardsville
Angie Hupfer, Saint Joseph's
Week #3 -- Kim Lowe, SIU Edwardsville
Week #4 -- Angie Hupfer, Saint Joseph's
7 Jan
NCAA Division II Men and Women's South Region Basketball Rankings:
****Men's Basketball South Region****
1. LeMoyne-Owen
2. Lynn
3. WEST GEORGIA
4. DELTA STATE
5. NORTH ALABAMA
6. Florida Southern
7. Kentucky State
8. WEST FLORIDA
9. Miles
10. Barry
****Women's Basketball South Region****
1. Rollins
2. ARKANSAS TECH
3. Fort Valley State
4. DELTA STATE
5. Florida Southern
6. MISSISSIPPI-WOMEN
7. WEST FLORIDA
8. CENTRAL ARKANSAS
9. Kentucky State
10. Barry
6 Jan
#4 FMU WOMEN RALLY TO DEFEAT AASU 76-65
SAVANNAH, GA - Junior Jennifer Brabson and sophomore Christy Wright combined for 30 second-half points to lift the fourth-ranked Francis Marion University women's basketball team to a come-from-behind 76-65 win over Armstrong Atlantic State University, Wednesday night in Peach Belt Athletic Conference action.
Brabson scored a game-high 23 points (16 in the second half), while Wright added 19 (14 in the second half), as the Patriots improved to 12-1 overall and 3-0 in the PBAC. It was the team's 11th consecutive regular-season conference road victory, a new PBAC record.
AASU senior forward Demetria McClouden, who came into the contest ranked 19th nationally with a 20.2 points per game average, led the Lady Pirates (7-7, 1-3) with 22 points.
Behind McClouden's 16 first-half points, and the fact that FMU committed 12 turnovers in the first stanza, Armstrong Atlantic took a 36-32 lead into the locker room at intermission.
Wright scored the first five points of the second half to key a 16-4 Francis Marion run that gave the Patriots a 51-40 lead with 14 minutes remaining. The Lady Pirates closed the margin to 58-55 with 9:02 left, but FMU responded with a 16-1 run over a five-and-a-half minute span to lead 74-56. Brabson and Christy Thomas each scored six points during the run.
FMU shot 60.9 percent from the floor in the second half, and 54.9 percent for the game. The Patriots entered the contest as the nation's top three-point shooting team, and upped their percentage by hitting six of 12 three-point attempts.
"We didn't play hard in the first half, and Armstrong played well," said first-year FMU coach Lee Buchanan. "We made some adjustments at halftime, and I basically told the players not to let McClouden score anymore. We played much harder in the second stanza and held her to only six points after intermission. Christy Wright came out fast with the quick five points, and that set the tone for final 20 minutes of the game."
The Patriots are a perfect 5-0 when trailing at halftime this season.
FMU will travel to Morrow, Ga., to play Clayton College & State University, Saturday at 2 p.m.
FRANCIS MARION (12-1)
Duran 1-5 0-0 2, Wright 5-11 5-6 19, Kolbinsky 3-4 0-0 6, Adderson 7-9
0-1 14, Brabson 8-12 5-7 23, McIntosh 0-0 0-0 0, Thomas 2-5 4-4 8, Pack
0-0 0-0 0, Rowland 2-4 0-0 4, Tecson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-51 14-18 76.
ARMSTRONG ATLANTIC STATE (7-7)
Dyson 1-4 0-0 2, Martin 6-12 0-0 18, Merrill 2-8 0-0 6, Germany 2-5 0-0
5, McClouden 9-11 4-6 22, Green 1-5 0-0 2, Bush 5-8 0-0 10, Harris 0-0
0-0 0, Hanners 0-2 0-0 0, Hubbard 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-55 4-6 65.
Halftime-AASU 36, Francis Marion 32. 3-Point goals-Francis Marion 6-12
(Wright 4-7, Brabson 2-3, Thomas 0-2), AASU 9-20 (Martin 6-8, Dyson 0-2,
Merrill 2-7, Germany 1-2, Hanners 0-1). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Francis
Marion 37 (Thomas 8), AASU 20 (McClouden 8). Assists-Francis Marion 14
(Duran 6), AASU 17 (Merrill 4). Total Fouls- Francis Marion 12, AASU 15.
A-150.
***
6 Jan
FMU MEN FALL TO AASU 78-68
SAVANNAH, GA - Sophomore guard Robert Campbell came off the bench to score a game-high 22 points and record six steals to help lead Armstrong Atlantic State University to a 78-68 Peach Belt Athletic Conference victory over Francis Marion University in men's basketball action Wednesday night.
Wade Tucker led Francis Marion with 16 points, while senior center Allen Wilson recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Junior point guard Yaron Lahat and sophomore swingman Will Tucker each scored 12 points for the Patriots, who drop to 7-6 overall and 0-3 in the PBAC. AASU improves to 10-4 and 3-1.
Armstrong Atlantic State held a slim 35-33 lead at halftime, but FMU could not rally as the Patriots hit on only 13 of 31 second-half field goal attempts, including two of nine from behind the three-point arch.
FMU outrebounded the Pirates 36-30, but the Patriots committed 14 turnovers.
Francis Marion was playing without guard Tony Williams, who suffered a season-ending broken foot in Saturday's loss to USC Aiken. Earlier this season, guard Que Gaither was sidelined with a season-ending shoulder injury, and has since undergone surgery.
FMU will travel to Morrow, Ga., to play Clayton College & State University, Saturday at 4 p.m.
FRANCIS MARION (7-6)
Adams 0-3 0-1 0, Spraul 3-6 0-2 6, Wa.Tucker 7-17 0-0 16, McCallum 1-3 3-4 5, Lahat 5-9 0-0 12, Wilson 6-12 2-3 15, Ruig 1-1 0-0 2, Harris 0-0 0-0 0, Wi.Tucker 3-10 5-5 12, Scott 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-61 10-15 68.
R.Williams 0-6 4-4 4, Ray 1-3 0-0 3, Brown 7-10 1-2 15, Koncul 8-10 0-0 19, McClendon 2-3 3-3 7, Jordan 1-3 0-0 2, Campbell 7-9 6-9 22, Youmans 2-5 0-0 4, K.Williams 0-3 0-0 0, Harrison 0-3 2-2 2. Totals 28-55 16-20 78.
Halftime-AASU 35, Francis Marion 33. 3-Point goals-Francis Marion 6-17 (Adams 0-1, Spraul 0-2, Wa.Tucker 2-8, Lahat 2-3, Wi.Tucker 1-2, Wilson 1-1), AASU 6-12 (R.Williams 0-2, Ray 1-2, Brown 0-2, Koncul 3-4, Campbell 2-2). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Francis Marion 36 (Wilson 13), AASU 30 (Brown 8). Assists-Francis Marion 7 (Lahat 4), AASU 13 (R.Williams 7). Total Fouls- Francis Marion 18, AASU 13.
***
6 Jan
EAST DIVISION MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAMS OPEN GSC SCHEDULE
WEST DIVISION TEAMS BEGIN CONFERENCE PLAY THIS WEEK
Birmingham, AL---Three Gulf South Conference East Division men's basketball teams are off and running after the first weekend of Conference play. Pre-season Division favorite West Georgia (11-2, 2-0) had its hands full. The Braves improved their winning streak to three (eight of the last nine) via strong second half performances to come from behind and defeat Montevallo, 79-77, and West Alabama, 84-78. In addition, the wins extended UWG's streak in Conference regular season games to eight, the seventh longest in GSC history, dating back to last season. UWG Head Coach Ed Murphy needs two more victories to become the fourth coach in Conference history to win at least 250 games. To do that this week, however, the Braves must win on the road versus state rival Valdosta State, Saturday Jan. 9, and West Florida, Monday, Jan. 11.
Alabama-Huntsville (7-5, 2-0) and Lincoln Memorial (6-6, 2-0) also started their GSC seasons with consecutive victories. The Chargers captured their fourth and fifth victories in their last seven games, upsetting West Florida, 68-52, and topping Valdosta State, 62-52. LMU opened the Conference season with home court wins over West Alabama, 76-71, and Montevallo, 89-80. West Florida (9-4, 1-1) and North Alabama (8-4, 1-1) split their first two Conference games. The Argonauts rebounded from their GSC season-opening loss at UAH to defeat North Alabama, 74-66. The Lions edged Valdosta State, 80-78, in their Conference opener.
In non-conference action, Montevallo (6-7, 0-2) closed out the 1998 portion of its schedule on a high note, breaking the GSC record for steals in a game with 25 in a 124-60 win over Beulah Heights in the Birmingham Southern Black Tie Invitational. West Florida held the old record at 24 (vs. Selma in 1996-97).
In the West, two-time defending Conference champion Delta State (8-3, 0-0) enters its GSC season this weekend boasting the Division's best record in non-conference action. The Statesmen have won three of their last four, including an 83-76 win over Wayland Baptist at the Tarleton State Tournament. Arkansas Tech (4-9, 0-0) will be the first to take a shot at DSU when it heads to the Mississippi Delta, Saturday. The Wonder Boys have won two straight, knocking off Lyon College, 79-57, and Northeastern State, 60-55. Central Arkansas (5-6, 0-0) is also licking its chops at the opportunity to knock off Delta State when it hosts the Statesmen, Monday. The Bears' seek to avenge an 84-65 loss at DSU in last season's GSC Tournament Championship Game. The last time these teams met in Conway, AR, however, it was UCA who dominated, winning 71-51. Henderson State (7-5, 0-0) and Southern Arkansas (5-8, 0-0) open against each other. Both fine-tuned their games with the Reddies winning at Arkansas Baptist, 79-60, and the Muleriders shocking Texas A&M-Commerce, 96-89, to snap three-game losing streak.
UWG'S PASS, HSU'S LEWIS NAMED
GSC MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
West Georgia forward Curtis Pass (SR, 6-5, 205, Reidsville, NC) and Henderson State forward David Lewis (SR, 6-6, 181, Los Angeles, CA) are the Gulf South Conference Men's Basketball East and West Division Players of the Week, respectively, for the period ending January 5. Pass led the Braves to a 3-0 record, averaging 25.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 3.3 assists. He also shot an impressive .947 (18-of-19) from the charity stripe and .435 (10-of-23) from three-point range. In UWG's 84-78 win over West Alabama, Pass picked up his fourth double-double of the season with 28 points and 10 rebounds. He also had four assists and three steals. Lewis made his first week in an HSU uniform a memorable one, averaging 16.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.0 assists as the Reddies went 1-1. In HSU's 75-71 loss versus Texas A&M-Commerce, Lewis debuted with 22 points, 12 rebounds and three steals.
Pass ranks second in the GSC in scoring (23.2), fourth in free throw percentage (.830-44-53), sixth in steals (2.31) and tenth in three-point field goal percentage (.379-44-116).