Quick start helps FAMU coast past Winston-Salem State

Photo: FAMU Lady Rattlers head coach Debra Clark.

The Florida A&M Lady Rattlers picked up a rare breather, easily taking care of the Winston-State Lady Rams 59-32 on Saturday afternoon at Gaither Gymnasium. FAMU (12-15) took a 40-11 lead into halftime and never looked back.

"I'm glad to get the win," said FAMU women's basketball coach Debra Clark. "They came out and played a great first half."

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FAMU signs a diamond in ASHLEY HAMPTON

FAMU Coach Debra Clark has Lady Rattlers 3-0 on the 2007-08 season.

Florida A&M University Lady Rattlers basketball coach Debra Clark had successful surgery to remove her thyroid on Wednesday morning. Clark, in the final year of her contract did not let that stop her from moving the program forward and her assistants were able to keep the Lady Rattlers undefeated at 3-0 with a victory over Albany State on Wednesday evening.

On Thursday, Coach Clark signed to a national letter-of-intent Ashley Hampton, senior forward with St. John Lutheran, who is a top basketball and volleyball player in the Ocala, Florida region. Basketball was the sport that many took notice of the 5-foot-9 senior, as she also drew interest from Harvard and Princeton, thanks to a grade-point average of 4.42.

Seven relatives of Hampton has graduated from FAMU. She joins her uncle Whitfield Jenkins, as members of the family who have signed athletic scholarships with the Rattlers.

"They stayed in contact with me from there and also contacted my coach," Hampton said. "They kept up with me and then we had a home visit and then I went on my official visit and I was sold (on the school)."

As a volleyball player, Hampton started each of the past three seasons on the varsity, after moving up at the end of the freshman season. She played in three consecutive Class 1A Final Fours, including the state title game in 2006.

In basketball, Hampton plays the guard position and entered her senior season with a school record 1239 points. Last season, she received second team All-State honors, averaging 16.2 points and 10 rebounds per game, in leading the Saints to their third consecutive district championship and advancement to the regional semifinals. Hampton was also selected as the FACA's District 7 MVP for Class 1A.

Photo: All-Stater Ashley Hampton is expected to become a star in both the classroom and on the basketball court at FAMU, in 2008-09.

Her mother, Kimberly Pompey-Bell is the second year head coach of St. John Lutheran School Varsity & J.V Girls Basketball programs. She is pleased in her daughter's selection of FAMU. "She wanted to go where she could major in pharmacy, and she's real excited about this chance."

Ashley's mother is no stranger to Division I women basketball, having been a star player at Ocala Vanguard and the University of South Alabama, where she still holds the school record for most 3-pointers.

"A lot of people helped play a part in this," Ashley said. "I really enjoyed my time at St. John and I feel very prepared for what lies ahead."

FAMU currently has 15 players on its roster and Hampton will play the three-guard in college.

Two of the Rattlers' three players at that spot will graduate this season, so she will have a chance to get into the mix right away.

"They are a running team and their coach (Debra Clark) liked the way that I run the floor and finished on the fast break," Hampton said. "My main focus throughout school was academics and I also love sports. Why not use sports to help with my academics? It has really worked out well."

Due to Coach Clark's recovery period, she will miss the Lady Rattlers game with Savannah State University on November 20. However, with Ashley Hampton signed for next season, her recovery should be a little less painful and peaceful.

Congratulations to Ashley Hampton and her family for continuing the Rattlers tradition of excellence. Get well soon, Coach Clark! Go Rattlers!

Florida A&M University men and women basketball schedules released

Compiled by BeepBeep

Florida A&M University men's basketball coach Eugene Harris will have little time to get acclimated to his new team as the Rattlers are scheduled to tip off the season on November 12, 2007, in Tallahassee with Carver College. Coach Harris, formerly an assistant coach at Georgia State University was hired by the Rattlers on September 19, 2007, after a fast paced hiring process to replace Mike Gillespie, Sr.

Coach Harris comes to FAMU with an extensive resume as an assistant coach on the collegiate level, having worked stints at schools in the Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference and the Sun Belt Conference.

The Rattlers finished the 2006-07 season with a record of 21-13 under Gillespie and lost in the first round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament to Niagara University. "My goal and my job is to take it to the next level," Harris said. "To win games in the NCAA tournament and go on to the Sweet 16."

The Rattlers will get tested early at the American Youth Classic in Madison, Wisconsin with Colorado State, University of Wisconsin and Savannah State University. Expect an exciting season for the Rattlers as they fight to win the MEAC and return to the NCAA Tournament.


Photo: FAMU #4 Darius Glover shoots the lights out of the NCA&T Aggies on the road to the 2006/07 MEAC Tournament Championship. Expect more of the same from the FAMU team in 07/08, but with a tougher defense and quick adjustments from Coach Harris and staff.

2007-2008 MEN BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

Date Opponent / Event Location Time / Result
11/12/07 Carver College Tallahassee, FL. 7:30 p.m. ET
American Youth Classic
11/15/07 vs. Colorado State Madison, WI 4:30 p.m. ET
11/16/07 at Wisconsin Madison, WI 6:30 p.m. ET
11/17/07 vs. Savannah State Madison, WI 4:30 p.m. ET
11/24/07 at Kennesaw State Kennesaw, GA 6:30 p.m. ET
11/26/07 at Connecticut Hartford, CT 7:00 p.m. ET
12/01/07 at Bethune Cookman @ Daytona Beach, FL 4:00 p.m. ET
12/05/07 at Florida Gainesville, FL TBA
12/15/07 vs. North Florida Tallahassee, FL 4:00 p.m. ET
12/17/07 at Kansas State Kansas City, MO TBA
12/29/07 at Texas A&M College Station, TX 2:00 p.m. ET
12/31/07 at Baylor Waco, TX 6:00 p.m. ET
01/05/08 vs. Warner Southern Tallahassee, FL 4:00 p.m. ET
01/12/08 at Howard @ Washington, D.C. 4:00 p.m. ET
01/14/08 at Hampton University @ Hampton, VA 8:00 p.m. ET
01/19/08 at Morgan State @ Baltimore, Md 4:00 p.m. ET
01/21/08 at Coppin State @ Baltimore, Md. 7:30 p.m. ET
01/26/08 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore @ Tallahassee, FL 4:00 p.m. ET
01/28/08 vs. Delaware State @ Tallahassee, FL 7:30 p.m. ET
02/02/08 at Winston-Salem State @ Winston-Salem, N.C. 7:30 p.m.
02/04/08 at South Carolina State @ Orangeburg, S.C. 7:30 p.m. ET
02/09/08 vs. North Carolina A&T @ Tallahassee, FL 4:00 p.m. ET
02/11/08 vs. Norfolk State @ Tallahassee, FL 7:30 p.m. ET
02/16/08 vs. Morgan State @ Tallahassee, FL 4:00 p.m. ET
02/18/08 vs. Coppin State @ Tallahassee, FL 7:30 p.m. ET
02/23/08 at Maryland Eastern Shore @ Prince Anne, MD 4:00 p.m.
02/25/08 at Delaware State @ Prince Anne, MD 7:30 p.m. ET
03/01/08 vs. Winston-Salem State @ Tallahassee, FL 4:00 p.m. ET
03/03/08 vs. South Carolina State @ Tallahassee, FL 7:30 p.m. ET
03/06/08 vs. Bethune Cookman @ Tallahassee, FL. 7:30 p.m. ET
TBD MEAC Tournament
TBD NCAA Tournament


Photo: 2007/08 Seniors #20 Q'Vaunda Curry and #21 Joslyne Jackson battle DSU at 2007 MEAC Tournament. Curry is a 5-6 guard from East Gadsden H.S., Quincy, FL and Jackson is a 5-7 guard from McEachern H.S., Marietta, GA

Florida A&M University Head Women's Basketball Coach Debra Clark announced on August 14, 2007, that 2007 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference All-Rookie Performers Secrett Anderson and Marke Freeman will not return to the team for the 2007-08 season. In other words--the Rattlers lost their two best young players.

It will be interesting to see how the veteran MEAC coach fills the void left by Anderson and Freeman. But don't expect the Lady Rattlers to rollover for anyone as they have experienced players returning who play well within the structure of Coach Clark system and should finished in the upper echelons of the MEAC. Expect this to be FAMU's Lady Rattler's breakout season with a slate of out-of conference games that are within their capabilities of winning. The University of Florida and Delaware State University are the only giant killers on the FAMU 2007/08 schedule that can physically dominate with a strong inside the paint game.

Photo: FAMU Lady Rattler Head Coach Debra Clark, 6th Season (71-74 record). Hampton U '84; Penn State '86. B.S., M.S.

2007-2008 FAMU Women Schedule

Date Opponent / Event Location Time / Result
11/01/07 at Valdosta State ! Valdosta, GA 5:00 p.m. ET
11/09/07 at Georgia State Atlanta, GA 6:00 p.m. ET
11/13/07 vs. Mercer Tallahassee, FL 5:30 p.m. ET
11/20/07 at Savannah State Savannah, GA TBA
12/01/07 at Bethune Cookman @ Daytona Beach, FL 2:00 p.m. ET
12/03/07 vs. Stetson Tallahassee, FL 5:30 p.m. ET
12/06/07 vs. Jacksonville @ Tallahassee, FL 5:30 p.m. ET
12/09/07 at USF Tampa, FL TBA
12/15/07 vs. North Carolina Central Tallahassee, FL 2:00 p.m. ET
12/17/07 vs. Florida Gulf Coast Tallahassee, FL TBA
01/02/08 at Florida Gainesville, FL 2:00 p.m. ET
01/04/08 vs. Savannah State Tallahassee, FL 7:00 p.m. ET
01/12/08 at Howard @ Washington, D.C. 2:00 p.m. ET
01/14/08 at Hampton University @ Hampton, VA 6:00 p.m. ET
01/19/08 at Morgan State @ Baltimore, MD 2:00 p.m. ET
01/21/08 at Coppin State @ Baltimore, MD 5:30 p.m. ET
01/26/08 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore @ Tallahassee, FL 2:00 p.m. ET
01/28/08 vs. Delaware State @ Tallahassee, FL 5:30 p.m. ET
02/02/08 at Winston-Salem State @ Winston-Salem, N.C. 2:00 p.m.
02/04/08 at South Carolina State @ Oraneburg, S.C. 5:30 p.m. ET
02/09/08 vs. North Carolina A&T @ Tallahassee, FL 2:00 p.m. ET
02/11/08 vs. Norfolk State @ Tallahassee, FL 5:30 p.m. ET
02/16/08 vs. Morgan State Tallahassee, FL 2:00 p.m. ET
02/18/08 vs. Coppin State @ Tallahassee, FL 5:30 p.m. ET
02/23/08 at Maryland Eastern Shore @ Princess Anne, MD 2:00 p.m.
02/25/08 at Delaware State @ Dover, MD 5:30 p.m. ET
03/01/08 vs. Winston-Salem State @ Tallahassee, FL 2:00 p.m. ET
03/03/08 vs. South Carolina State @ Tallahassee, FL 5:30 p.m. ET
03/06/08 vs. Bethune Cookman @ Tallahassee, FL 5:30 p.m. ET
TBD MEAC Tournament
TBD NCAA Tournament

Photo: #40 Denise Tate, 6-1 F Jr., Glenville H.S., Cleveland, OH takes the rock to the hole over Morgan State in 2006 MEAC Tournament.