UMBC's historic NCAA tournament win more than two decades in the making

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- For a little over two hours Friday night, Fang Mitchell went back in time. The former Coppin State men’s basketball coach was watching No. 16 seed UMBC’s historic NCAA tournament win over top seed Virginia in Charlotte, N.C.

Though he was sitting at home in the Atlanta suburbs, Mitchell was suddenly transported back more than two decades to another huge upset in the NCAA tournament.

Suddenly, Mitchell was reliving his former team’s victory as a 15th seed over No. 2 seed South Carolina in Pittsburgh in the opening round in 1997.

“I knew that you have to stay close at halftime, and when I saw it was 21-21 at half, I knew they had a shot,” Mitchell said Saturday. “The longer you stay in it, the better your chances become.

“When you get into that second half and things aren’t going right [for the higher seed], things get a little tight for the team that's supposed to win it. UMBC was as loose as they could be.”

In Coppin State's 78-65 win over the 30-point favorite Gamecocks, the Eagles fell behind by “seven or eight points” early in the second half and came back behind guards Antoine Brockington and Danny Singletary, who combined for 42 points in the game and forward Reggie Welch, who had 15 rebounds.

In UMBC’s 74-54 win over the Cavaliers, who came in as 20½-point favorites, the Retrievers built a seven-point lead before the first media timeout in the second half and saw the lead quickly climb behind senior guard Jairus Lyles, who scored 23 of his 28 points after halftime, as well as 5-foot-8 senior guard K.J. Maura, who dictated the pace at both ends, and sophomore forward Arkel Lamar, who had 12 points and 10 rebounds. It marked the first time since the tournament was expanded to 64 teams in 1985 — and eventually to 68 — that a No. 16 seed had beaten a No. 1 seed.



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Dillards' Comeback Effort Falls Short Against Montana Western In NAIA Tournament

Lady Bleu Devils Fall To Bulldogs 66-54 In First Round; Finishes Season 23-6

BILLINGS, Montana -- The four-seed Montana Western used a strong third quarter to beat five-seed Dillard (La.) 66-54 in the final opening round game of the Duer bracket in the 2018 NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship presented by Wells Fargo.

Dillard (23-6) held the lead after the game's first 20 minutes, though it was only by a point. That was quickly erased by Western who scored eight straight points to start the third quarter. With the Bulldog's offense not turning it over, a problem earlier in the game, and making shots, the Bleu Devil's struggled to score on the other.

By the time the buzzer sounded to end the quarter, Western had outscored Dillard 21-6 in the 10-minute stretch and held a double-digit lead for the rest of the game.

Just like at the start of the second half, Western started the game on fire. The Bulldogs went on a 12-4 run in the first in the first three minutes of play. After that, the team cooled off and got sloppy with the ball, allowing Dillard to climb back in it.

The Bleu Devil's defense forced 15 turnovers with 11 steals in the first half, which allowed their defense to get out in transition and avoid UMW's suffocating half-court defense. Dillard scored 14 points off turnovers in the first half and late in the third quarter took the team's first lead and carried it into the half.

What doomed Dillard was Western keeping a clean sheet in the second half, forcing DU to try and score against a set defense. That didn't happen very often, as the Bleu Devils shot just 26.9 percent in the game.

Western was led by point guard Brianna King, who led all scorers with 18 points on 7-12 shooting. She was balanced in the paint by forward Britt Cooper who finished with a double-double of 12 points and 13 boards.

BOX SCORE

Dillard's two starting post players, Alexia McDonald and Asia Partlow where the team's most effective scorers, combining for 23 points and 14 rebounds.

The Bulldogs advance beyond the first round for the second straight year. In 2017, they lost to eventual National Champion, Oklahoma City University on a buzzer beater in the second round. This time they will face another one-seed, Campbellsville (Ky.) on Friday, March 16 at 10:15 a.m.

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Dillard Falls On Late 3-Pointer Against LSU Shreveport In NAIA Championship Second Round

KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- Dillard senior guard Quinton Jackson tied the game with 11 seconds remaining, however LSU Shreveport's Stevie Clark last-second 3-pointer lifted the Pilots to a 70-67 win Friday in the second round of the NAIA Championship.

With 1.2 seconds remaining, the Bleu Devils were unable to get off a final shot.

Dillard finishes the season 21-10, while LSU Shreveport moves to 29-4 and advance to the quarterfinal round to play the winner of Life (Ga.) and Wayland Baptist (Texas), Saturday at 2 p.m. CT.

NOTES

• LSU Shreveport (La.) improves to 29-4 on the season, and moves into the quarterfinal round for the first time since the 2013 national championship and third time overall.
• Dillard (La.) drops to 21-10 to end its season, and falls in the second round for the third-straight year and fourth-consecutive appearance overall.
• So far this year, 16 of the first 18 games have been decided by 10 points or less, including nine by six points or less and six by three points or less.
• Higher seeds are 9-9 thus far in the tournament, but two No. 1 seeds, three No. 2 seeds and the defending national champion are already out.
• The game featured 11 lead changes and seven ties

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES

• LSU Shreveport Guard Stevie Clark led all scorers with 27 points, including the game-winning three-pointer with 1.2 seconds to play. He also added eight rebounds and seven assists.
• LSU Shreveport Guard D.J. Clayton finished 8 of 11 from the floor, scoring 17 points.
• Dillard Forward Joshua Simmons recorded double-double No. 14 on the season with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
• Dillard Guard Jorori Coleman scored 15 points, and topped the 500-point mark on his season, scoring 508 points.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Dillard took an early lead, using four points from Quinton Jackson to hold a 6-2 advantage with three minutes played.
• LSU Shreveport followed with a run over the next three minutes, outscoring Dillard by a 14-2 margin, using five points from D.J. Clayton, to build up a 16-8 advantage.
• LSU Shreveport maintained at least a four-point lead through much of the remaining time in the first half, but Dillard finished the half on a 9-3 run in the final four minutes, and used a three-point field goal from Joshua Simmons to trim the LSU Shreveport lead to 33-31 at halftime.
• Dillard took its first lead of the game since early in the first half when Jorori Coleman sank a three-pointer to make the score 36-35 with 18:34 remaining in the game.
• The two teams traded the lead a total of seven times over the next nine minutes, with a D.J. Clayton field goal putting LSU Shreveport in front, 55-54, with 8:33 to play.
• Dillard held its final lead of the contest at the 5:17 mark when a fast-break field goal from Kristopher Allmon gave the Bleu Devils a 60-59 advantage.
• Dillard tied the game at 67-67 with 17-seconds left on the clock, but Stevie Clark hit a three-point field goal with 1.2 seconds remaining to give LSU Shreveport a 70-67 win.
• 
  

HOW THEY SAW IT

Dillard Head Coach Mike Newell: "It was a very well-played game.This is what March madness is all about. The transfer from Oklahoma State had 27 points and Quinton (Jackson) was right on him. He was as close as he could get. The kid just made a tough shot, but we had our opportunities. The difference in the game was free throws."

LSU Shreveport Head Coach Kyle Blankenship: "What a game! We've been on the wrong end of a last second shot out here before, but it sure felt good to see the game winner go down for us this afternoon. Dillard is as talented and well coached as anyone in this tournament. We expected a war and that's what it was today. I'm so proud of our guys for the toughness they showed for 40 minutes, and we are excited for our season to continue tomorrow."

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• LSU Shreveport was 1 of 18 from three-point range before Stevie Clark sank the game-winning three-pointer.
• LSU Shreveport Guard Josh Robinson finished with a season-high 13 rebounds.
• Dillard had four players play all 40 minutes, while Jorori Coleman and Kristopher Allmon played all 80 minutes in the team's two games at the national championship.
• Quinton Jackson entered the game ranked fifth in the NAIA in assists per game (5.6) and finished with seven assists.

GAME NOTES

LSU Shreveport
The Pilots are making its 14th appearance overall in the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship, and 14th straight...LSU Shreveport lost in the first round of the 2017 national tournament to Montana Western, 99-94…The Pilots now advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament for the first time since 2013, when they defeated Evangel, 77-70… Overall, the Pilots are 1-1 all-time in the Quarterfinal round… The Pilots are now 9-13 all-time in national tournament games… LSU Shreveport is now 3-3 all-time in the second round of the national tournament…The Pilots are one of four teams from the Red River Athletic conference to qualify for this year's tournament… Prior to Stevie Clark's three to take the lead with 1.2 seconds remaining in regulation, the Pilots were 1-of-18 from behind the arc… Clark scored 27 points on 10-of-24 from the field… Collectively the Pilots shot 10-of 12 from the free-throw line…Forced 10 turnovers on seven steals…Eleven lead changes and seven ties…

Dillard

The Bleu Devils are making their ninth appearance in the NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship, including the last three-straight years...Dillard has never gotten to the quarterfinals, though the Bleu Devils have advanced to the second round in each of their last four national tournament appearances...The Bleu Devils are now 5-8 all-time in the national tournament...The Bleu Devils are 0-5 all-time in the second round of the tournament...Dillard is one of two Gulf Coast Athletic Conference teams in this year's tournament...The Bleu Devils are now 7-4 against national tournament teams this season... Coming into the game against LSU Shreveport, Dillard had won five straight games and 12 of its past 13 contests...The Gulf Coast Athletic Conference is now 1-2 in the national tournament...



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Tuskegee Adds Missouri S&T To 2018 Football Schedule

TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- The Tuskegee University football team has announced the addition of a home game against Missouri University S&T to its 2018 schedule.

The game will be played at Cleve Abbott Memorial Alumni Stadium on Saturday, September 22 at 1 p.m. Missouri S&T is located in Rolla, Mo. The Miners, a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), and like Tuskegee, competes in the NCAA Division II level. The Miners posted a record of (4-7, 3-4) last season. This will be the first ever meeting between the two schools.

The Golden Tigers will open the 2018 campaign in Montgomery (Ala.) against rival Alabama State. Last season, a sellout crowd of 25,442 witnessed TU improved to 2-0 over the Hornets in its fairly new stadium that opened in 2012. Tuskegee currently leads the overall series 62-34-4.

The Golden Tigers will remain on the road for week 2, participating the fifth annual Whitewater Classic against Albany State University (September 8) at Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City (Ala.), a game in which the Golden Tigers will be the home team this season. Tuskegee has won three out of the four Whitewater Classics played against Albany State. In week three, TU faces Clark Atlanta University (September 15) to close out the trio of opening road games. The Golden Tigers lead the series 61-16-2, including winning the last nine contests against the Panthers.

Lane College will be the team's SIAC West Division home opener September 29. The Golden Tigers have won all 23 matchups against the Dragons. Weeks 6 features a trip to Columbus (Ga.) and a battle with Morehouse College in the 83nd annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic held at A.J. McClung Stadium. Tuskegee will be the away team in the contest against the Maroon Tigers and leads the series 72-28-7, including last season's 23-17 win in overtime.

A rematch of the 2017 SIAC Football Championship takes place on the road during week 7 (October 13) when TU squares off with Fort Valley State in Fort Valley (Ga.). The Golden Tigers claimed the league title over the Golden Wildcats, 13-6 last November.

The final three games include the Golden Tigers hosting Kentucky State University (October 20) for its annual Homecoming game, before finishing the regular season off at Central State (October 27) and ending on the road at Miles College (November 3) in the regular season finale. Last season's win over the Golden Bears clinched the West Division crown. Just like 2017, TU does not have a bye week, competing against 10 consecutive opponents.

Tuskegee University 2018 Football Schedule

SEP 1 (SAT) / TBA AT ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY MONTGOMERY, AL

SEP 8 (SAT) / TBA AT ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY ALBANY, GA / GARRETT-HARRISON STADIUM. WHITEWATER CLASSIC

SEP 15 (SAT) / TBA AT CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY ATLANTA, GA

SEP 22 (SAT) / 1:00 P.M. VS MISSOURI S&T TUSKEGEE, AL / ABBOTT MEMORIAL ALUMNI STADIUM

SEP 29 (SAT) / 1:00 PM VS LANE COLLEGE TUSKEGEE / ABBOTT MEMORIAL ALUMNI STADIUM

OCT 6 (SAT) / TBA VS MOREHOUSE COLLEGE COLUMBUS, GA. / A.J. MCCLUNG STADIUM. 83RD ANNUAL TUSKEGEE-MOREHOUSE CLASSIC

OCT 13 (SAT) / TBD AT FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY FORT VALLEY, GA

OCT 20 (SAT) / 1:00 PM VS KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY TUSKEGEE, ALA. / ABBOTT MEMORIAL ALUMNI STADIUM. 94TH ANNUAL HOMECOMING

OCT 27 (SAT) / TBA AT CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY WILBERFORCE, OH

NOV 3 (SAT) / TBA AT MILES COLLEGE FAIRFIELD, AL

2018 SIAC FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
NOV 10 (SAT) / VS TBD SIAC WEST DIVISION CHAMPION

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Nuggets' Borodii makes unprecedented ratings splash

NEW ORLEANS — Mariia Borodii's first appearance in the Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association NAIA Women's National Rankings is a doozy.
    
The Xavier University of Louisiana freshman on Thursday became the first Gold Nugget to earn simultaneous top-3 rankings in singles and doubles. The resident of Zapozizhzhia, Ukraine, is No. 2 in singles, and Borodii and Yi Chen Pao are No. 3 in doubles.
     
Borodii fueled her ascent with five victories against ranked opponents — three in doubles — during the Nuggets' Arizona trip March 8-11. A highlight was a 9-7 victory for Borodii and Pao against San Diego Christian's then-sixth-ranked Sarah Urbanek and Nadine Geschke.
    
Another important victory for Borodii was 6-2, 6-2 Feb. 16 on the road against Georgia Gwinnett's then-third-ranked Emerald Able.
    
Also ranked nationally for the Nuggets are Charlene Goreau at No. 11 — she climbed from No. 23 in November — and freshman Angela Charles-Alfred, making her ratings debut at 35th.
     
XULA has four ranked singles players in the South Region. Borodii is second, Goreau is seventh, Charles-Alfred is 14th, and Manon Bonada is tied for 20th. Borodii and Pao are No. 3 in the South in doubles.
     
The Gold Nuggets will play SCAD Atlanta — which features a No. 13 national doubles team, Katrina de Guzman and Simran Kejriwal — at noon Sunday at XULA Tennis Center.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
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XULA Williams places third in NABC-NAIA dunk contest

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Xavier University of Louisiana's Joseph Williams tied for third place Saturday in the dunk contest of the NABC-NAIA Shoot & Slam presented by U.S. Bank.

Williams — a 6-foot-6 senior forward from Memphis, Tenn. and a graduate of Lausanne Collegiate School — was one of four contestants. Williams scored 87 of a possible 100 points on two first-round dunks. Arsenio Arrington of Aquinas also scored 87.

Two dunkers advanced to the final round: Brandon Moss of LSU-Alexandria with 98 points and Titus Rice of Ottawa (Kan.) with 91. Moss scored 95 points in the finals to win the event.

Williams in February qualified for the event by receiving nearly 80 percent of approximately 3,000 fan votes cast online. Williams was the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2017-18, and his 49 blocked shots were the most in a season by a Gold Rush player since Frank Joshua's 53 in 1983-84.

Williams was the first from XULA to compete in the NAIA dunk contest.


Brandon Moss of LSU Alexandria (La.)  impressed the judges to claim the Slam Dunk trophy.

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Gold Nuggets reach top 5 for first time since 2015

NEW ORLEANS — For the first time in nearly three years, Xavier University of Louisiana women's tennis is among the NAIA's top five.

The Gold Nuggets vaulted from 10th to fifth Tuesday in the coaches poll after winning four dual matches in Arizona to stretch their winning streak to six.

XULA's 5-1 victory Sunday against San Diego Christian was its sixth of the season against a ranked NAIA opponent and third against a top-10 member. All the victories occurred on the road.

"We took some lumps early in the season, but now we're playing much better," coach Alan Green said. "Getting to the top five is nice and rewarding because we are playing a tough schedule and earning it. But we still have more work to do."

Before Tuesday, the last time the Gold Nuggets were in the top five was on May 20, 2015 — No. 4 in the postseason poll.

The Gold Nuggets will play 14th-ranked SCAD Atlanta at noon Sunday at XULA Tennis Center.
Here are all the Gold Nuggets' active poll streaks:

• 52 consecutive appearances in the top 25 . . . streak began May 1, 2012.
• 52 consecutive appearances in the top 20 . . . streak began May 1, 2012.
• 11 consecutive appearances in the top 15 . . . streak began Feb. 28, 2017.

NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through March 11)
Rank Previous School Record Points
1 1 Georgia Gwinnett (14) 9-1 374
2 2 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 2-1 357
3 3 Keiser (Fla.) 13-1 355
4 4 SCAD Savannah (Ga.) 6-1 338
5 10 Xavier (La.) 9-7 320
6 6 William Carey (Miss.) 6-1 313
7 7 Northwestern Ohio 4-2 302
8 9 William Woods (Mo.) 6-3 280
9 5 Indiana Wesleyan 23-1 276
10 12 Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) 1-1 270
11 11 LSU-Alexandria (La.) 4-1 260
12 8 San Diego Christian (Calif.) 4-4 252
13 14 Middle Georgia State 6-4 222
14 15 SCAD Atlanta (Ga.) 3-3 211
15 RV Westmont (Calif.) 4-5 210
16 18 Brenau (Ga.) 3-5 186
17 16 Campbellsville (Ky.) 8-0 182
18 13 Arizona Christian 7-4 172
19 17 Martin Methodist (Tenn.) 3-5 158
20 19 Cumberland (Tenn.) 5-6 131
21 20 Mobile (Ala.) 5-4 127
22 RV Union (Ky.) 5-2 123
23 21 St. Thomas (Fla.) 4-6 118
24 RV Reinhardt (Ga.) 6-1 109
25 23 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 1-3 75
Others receiving votes: Georgetown (Ky.) 54; Tennessee Wesleyan 49; Coastal Georgia 48; Huntington (Ind.) 39; Southwestern (Kan.) 23; Marian (Ind.) 16; Loyola (La.) 13; Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 12; Cumberlands (Ky.) 4; Point (Ga.) 3; Asbury (Ky.) 3.

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Four Transfer to Tennessee State Tigers Football

QB Demry Croft

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State head football coach Rod Reed has announced the arrival of four transfers to campus. Christion Abercrombie, Mekhi Brown, Demry Croft and John Robinson IV are officially enrolled and are attending classes at TSU.

The foursome will be eligible to practice during the upcoming spring.

Abercrombie comes to the Tigers after spending two seasons at the University of Illinois, while Brown was a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide for the past three seasons. Brown was a member of two national championship squads (2015 and 2017).

Croft transfers in from the University of Minnesota where he served as the starting quarterback for the final six games of the 2017 season.

Robinson comes to TSU after three seasons at the University of Connecticut.

The new Tigers will join fellow transfers Henry Covington (Georgia Military College), Te’Kendrick Roberson (Ellsworth CC) and Kalen Whitlow (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC), who signed with TSU during the early signing period in December.

Christion Abercrombie

Linebacker - University of Illinois
6-1, 230, R-Fr.
Atlanta, Ga. (Westlake HS)

At Illinois:

• Made 11 tackles, six solo, while playing in 11 games
• Made his Illinois debut in the opener against Ball State
• Redshirted the 2016 season

Westlake HS:

• Three-star recruit by ESPN.com and Scout
• Ranked the No. 89 outside linebacker in the nation by ESPN.com
• Ranked the No. 71 inside linebacker in the nation by Scout
• Totaled 106 tackles (55 solo), 4.0 sacks and four interceptions as a senior
• Led Westlake to a 10-3 record in 2015
• Georgia Sports Writers Association AAAAAA All-State first team as a senior
• All-Metro and Class AAAAAA All-State Honorable Mention by the Atlanta Journal Constitution as a senior
• Georgia Region 3-AAAAAA Defensive Player of the Year
• Led Westlake to 2014 and 2015 Region 3-AAAAAA championships
• Also played basketball as a freshman

Mekhi Brown
Linebacker - University of Alabama
6-5, 246, R-So.
Columbus, Ga. (Carver HS)

At Alabama:

• Played in 12 games during the 2017 season
• Recorded seven tackles, three solo
• Played on special teams in 2016
• First action came against Mississippi State, also earned playing time against Chattanooga and Florida
• Redshirted in 2015

Carver HS:

• A unanimous four-star prospect
• Selected to participate in the 2015 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
• Ranked No. 88 in the Top247, the No. 5 weakside defensive end and No. 10 player in Georgia by 247Sports.com
• Ranked No. 114 in the 247 Composite and the No. 6 weakside end
• Ranked No. 88 in the ESPN300, the site’s No. 10 outside linebacker and No. 12 player in Georgia
• Was No. 58 on the Prepstar Top 100 Dream Team
• Ranked 210th in the Rivals250 and the No. 9 weakside defensive end
• Collected 56 tackles with 14 tackles for loss and 11 sacks as a junior in 2013; along with four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries
• Was a three-time All-State selection for head coach Joseph Kegler at CHS in Columbus, Ga.
• Garnered first-team honors in 2013 and 2014 with honorable mention accolades in 2012
• Was recruited by Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Stanford, Auburn and Louisville

Demry Croft
Quarterback - University of Minnesota
6-5, 205, R-So.
Rockford, Ill. (Boylan HS)

At Minnesota:

• Played in nine games, starting the final six of the 2017 season
• Completed 41.5 percent of his passes for 674 yards and four touchdowns
• Rushed 79 times for 311 yards and four touchdowns
• Earned first career rushing touchdown with a 64-yard scamper at Oregon State
• Threw for three touchdowns versus Michigan State
• Redshirted in 2016
• Played in three games as a true freshman in 2015
• Completed 7-of-17 passes for 34 yards, while rushing nine times for 38 yards

Boylan HS:

• Passed for 2,011 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior
• Rushed for 845 yards and 10 scores during his final prep season
• Named All-State Honorable Mention All-State
• Competed in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, completing 12-of-15 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns
• Played in 12 games as a junior, passing for 1,879 yards and 16 touchdowns, while rushing for 685 yards and 12 scores
• Prepped for head coach John Cacciatore
• Ranked as a three-star prospect by ESPN, Rivals, 247Sports and Scout
• 247Sports tagged him as the No. 7 prospect in Illinois, while Rivals had him at No. 18 and ESPN listed him at No. 41
• 247Sports ranked him as the No. 18 dual-threat quarterback in his class, while Rivals slotted him at No. 29 in their quarterback rankings and ESPN had him at No. 48
• Scout listed him as a the No. 1 quarterback in Illinois, the No. 4 quarterback in the Midwest and the No. 26 quarterback in the nation
• Also lettered in basketball, track and bowling

John Robinson IV
Defensive Back - University of Connecticut
6-2, 195, R-So.
Englewood, N.J. (Dwight Morrow HS)

At UConn:

• Played in five games, recording two tackles in 2017
• As a redshirt-freshman, registered seven tackles while playing in all 12 games
• Career-high two tackles at Boston College (Nov. 19)
• Redshirted in 2015

Dwight Morrow HS:

• Cornerback, safety and wide receiver at DMHS
• Ranked a top-50 prospect in New Jersey by 247Sports and ESPN
• Participated in the 2014 National Underclassmen Combine Five-Star East Showcase
• As a receiver, posted 24 catches for 372 yards and five touchdowns as a senior
• Totaled 22 tackles on the year
• Ranked No. 34 in New Jersey by Schulman's National Underclassmen Combine

2017-18 Transfers:
Christion Abercrombie: LB - Illinois
Mekhi Brown: LB - Alabama
Henry Covington: OL - Georgia Military College
Demry Croft: QB - Minnesota
Te’Kendrick Roberson: RB - Ellsworth CC
John Robinson IV: DB - UConn
Kalen Whitlow: QB - Mississippi Gulf Coast CC

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TSU goes home after 102-83 loss vs. No. 1 Xavier in NCAA Tournament

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (KTRK) -- Before the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, no team seeded 16th has beaten a No. 1 seed in the event's history.

To soften the blow, Tigers fans, Texas Southern did not make history Friday night.

The scrappy SWAC tournament champions were outmatched against No. 1 Xavier, which held the Tigers to minutes and minutes of scoring droughts in a 102-83 win.

For their part, the Tigers had five players scoring in double digits, led by Demontrae Jefferson's 20 points.

Derrick Bruce added 18 points and Robert Lewis scored 14.

A bright spot for the Tigers came at the 12:22 mark of the first half when TSU was up by 7 points. The elation was short lived when Xavier went on a 36-17 run into halftime.

TSU was the only team in the tournament with a losing record, but added a feather in the cap, winning its first NCAA Tournament game in school history.



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NCAA stunner: No. 16 seed UMBC makes history by knocking out No. 1 Virginia

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Virginia was on the wrong end of the most improbable upset in men’s college basketball history Friday night, falling to Maryland Baltimore County, 74-54, to become the first No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16 in the NCAA tournament.

The stunning result unfolded at Spectrum Center in the round of 64 with the Cavaliers, the top overall seed in the NCAA tournament, offering little resistance in the second half against a mid-major program making just its second NCAA tournament appearance.

By the time Arkel Lamar made a three-pointer with 3:35 remaining, UMBC led, 61-44, and had the crowd cheering wildly in anticipation of the Retrievers completing a remarkable feat.

UMBC (25-10) followed through, making 12 of 24 three-pointers and handling the Cavaliers’ vaunted pack line defense with 50 percent shooting overall. Virginia, meanwhile, went 4 for 22 from three-point range and had just four assists, a shockingly low number for a club that prides itself on sharing the basketball.

No. 16 seeds are now 1-135 in the history of the NCAA tournament.

Graduate guard Jairus Lyles, a former DeMatha standout, led the Retrievers with a game-high 28 points, 23 of those coming in the second half in which UMBC never trailed. Junior guard Joe Sherburne added 12 points and six rebounds for the school with an enrollment roughly half the size of Virginia and with an athletic budget that’s a fraction of its ACC opponent.

Thus abruptly ends a season for Virginia (31-3) that included ACC regular season and tournament titles and realistic expectations of the school’s first NCAA championship.

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Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Release 2018 Football Schedule

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- In a joint effort between Lynn W. Thompson (Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics) and Terry Sims (Head Football Coach), Bethune-Cookman University announced its 2018 football schedule on Thursday afternoon. In all, Bethune-Cookman will play four home games at Municipal Stadium, as well as taking part in three "classic" contests on the road.

"In conjunction with Head Coach Terry Sims, we wanted to put together a challenging and exciting schedule for our student-athletes, coaches and fans," said Thompson. "We know the schedule is being released a little later than usual, but we wanted to make sure everything was in place with dates and locations before we announced anything."

A familiar foe returns to the 2018 schedule as Bethune-Cookman opens the slate Labor Day weekend at Tennessee State for the Tigers' annual John Merritt Classic taking place inside Nissan Stadium. The two teams last met in the John Merritt Classic back in 2013, when the visitors from Daytona Beach were victorious, 12-9.

BCU opens its home schedule taking on Lynchburg (Va.) College on September 8 at Municipal Stadium. The game will also serve as Hall of Fame weekend, as BCU will be set to induct a new class into its Athletics Hall of Fame.

"It's always special to honor an Athletics Hall of Fame Class and enjoy good, quality football with a packed stadium," said Sims. "It was special a few years ago when we had so many wonderful former coaches and student-athletes join the BCU Athletics Hall of Fame family not just as an alum, but as a name that will forever be enshrined in the BCU Department of Athletics history books. We look forward to doing the same thing this year."

BCU returns to Boca Raton, Florida for a game against Florida Atlantic (Sept. 15) in the second of a two-year agreement between the two schools, before traveling to take on Howard (Sept. 22) in the Circle City Classic housed at Lucas Oil Stadium – home of the Indianapolis Colts.

The month of September ends with a trip to Savannah, Georgia in what will be the final meeting between BCU and Savannah State as Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opponents on September 29.

The Maroon and Gold open the October push with Mississippi Valley State visiting Daytona Beach for a BCU Homecoming 2K18 weekend on October 6. The following weekend, the Wildcats visit South Carolina State (Oct. 13), before returning home to face defending MEAC and Celebration Bowl Champion North Carolina A&T (Oct. 20).

November sees BCU open on the road at Morgan State (Nov. 3) before celebrating Senior Appreciation Day against North Carolina Central (Nov. 10). And, of course, the regular season slate concludes with the annual Florida Blue Florida Classic contest against Florida A&M (Nov. 17) at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Season tickets will go on sale at the BCU Box Office and all Ticket Master locations beginning March 26.

Follow Bethune-Cookman Football on Twitter (@BCUGridIron) for all of the latest news and updates. For all Bethune-Cookman Athletics news, follow us on Twitter (@BCUathletics), Instagram (@BCUathletics), Snapchat (@BCUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/BCUathletics).

2018 BCU Wildcats Football Schedule

SEP 1 (SAT) / TBA AT TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY NASHVILLE, TN  JOHN MERRITT CLASSIC
SEP 8 (SAT) / 4:00 P.M. VS LYNCHBURG COLLEGE DAYTONA BEACH, FL
SEP 15 (SAT) / TBA AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY BOCA RATON, FL
SEP 22 (SAT) / 4:30 P.M. MEAC * VS HOWARD UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS, IN

• CIRCLE CITY CLASSIC

SEP 29 (SAT) / TBA MEAC *AT SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY SAVANNAH, GA
OCT 6 (SAT) / 4:00 P.M. VS MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE DAYTONA BEACH, FL

• HOMECOMING

OCT 13 (SAT) / 2:00 P.M. MEAC *AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY ORANGEBURG, SC
OCT 20 (SAT) / 4:00 P.M. MEAC *VS NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY
DAYTONA BEACH, FL
NOV 3 (SAT) / TBA MEAC * AT MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY BALTIMORE, MD
NOV 10 (SAT) / 4:00 P.M. MEAC *VS NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY
DAYTONA BEACH, FL
NOV 17 (SAT) / 2:00 P.M. MEAC * VS FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY ORLANDO, FL

All HOME GAMES are played at Larry Kelly Field at Municipal Stadium.
 All times Eastern.

No. 7 South Carolina Open NCAA Tournament with 63-52 Win Over North Carolina A&T

COLUMBIA, South Carolina -- South Carolina's A'ja Wilson had not felt this bad about a victory in a long, long time. And she's promised not to let it happen again, especially not in her final home appearance in her stellar college career.

Wilson had 19 points and 16 rebounds as second-seeded South Carolina struggled to put away 15th-seeded North Carolina A&T 63-52 in the women's NCAA Tournament's Albany Regional on Friday night.

The Gamecocks (27-6) held a 19-point lead at the half, yet were scrambling by the end to hold off the hard-charging Aggies (23-9) in the final quarter.



''I felt like I disappointed coach this game and I don't like that feeling,'' said Wilson, the three-time Southeastern Conference player of the year and the program's all-time leading scorer. ''When we watch film, I'm going to see how I can change my ways.''

Something will have to change if defending champion South Carolina hopes to make another run at a national title.

South Carolina was up 39-21 at the half and seemed ready to cruise to their seventh straight NCAA win and ninth consecutive opening-round game. Instead, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament champ outhustled and outplayed the Southeastern Conference tourney winners much of the final 20 minutes.

The Gamecocks were still ahead 53-37 after Doniyah Cliney's layup with 8:44 to go. Then the Aggies took off on a 14-5 run that cut the margin to 58-51 on Kala Green's third 3-pointer of the period with 3:22 remaining. That was as close as North Carolina A&T (23-9) got as South Carolina avoided a huge stunner in the tournament.

''I think the way we played basketball was unacceptable for us, especially this time of year,'' Wilson said. ''And especially after what we did'' in defeating previously unbeaten Mississippi State two weeks back to win a fourth-straight SEC Tournament.

The Gamecocks moved on to a Sunday night second-round game with Virginia, the program that South Carolina coach put on the map with three Final Four appearances more than a quarter-century ago.

Virginia, the 10th seed, topped No. 7 seed Cal 68-62 earlier Friday.

South Carolina, seeded second, will need a stronger effort than this if they hope to push ahead to the tournament's second week.

No one was immune to the struggles. While Wilson put up her 22nd double-double this season and 52nd of her career, she was just 6 of 15 from the field and bottled up much of the game by North Carolina A&T's defense. Alexis Jennings, expected to replace Alaina Coates as a second low-post option, had 10 boards but just seven points - all on foul shots.

Point guard Tyasha Harris, the SEC's leader in assists, was just 1 of 5 from the field with one assist.

Freshman Bianca Jackson was South Carolina's only other double-figure scorer with 16 points.

Green led the Aggies with 21 points off five 3-pointers. North Carolina A&T fell to 0-4 in the NCAA Tournament, although this was closest margin of defeat in those games.

Aggies coach Tarrell Robinson was proud of his team's fight. He said his team sped up South Carolina's play and got them off its usual game. He had his fingers crossed his team could pull off the upset before the Gamecocks put things away in the last minute.

Robinson was asked his thoughts when his team cut the lead to seven points.

''Was it seven? I thought it was eight,'' he replied. ''You've got me even madder now.''



QUOTABLE DAWN STALEY

On the play of freshman guard Bianca Jackson in her NCAA Tournament debut
"It was great to see her knock down shots. You had people giving up good shots to get her the best shot on the floor. And she was able to deliver -- that's what you want. She looked comfortable out there, and she looked like she had been there before."

NOTABLE

The Gamecocks have advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in each of their seven appearances under head coach Dawn Staley. Carolina improved to 12-2 in the NCAA Tournament in games played in Columbia.

Carolina moved to 3-0 all-time against North Carolina A&T with Friday's win. All three victories have come by double digits.

Gamecock senior forward A'ja Wilson notched 19 points and 16 rebounds to record her sixth career double-double in NCAA Tournament play.
\
Carolina guard Bianca Jackson's 16 points against the North Carolina A&T marked the freshman's highest scoring output since she netted 20 against No. 1 UConn on Feb. 1.

GAME CHANGER

After a North Carolina A&T 3-pointer cut the Carolina lead to 58-51 with 3:22 to play, Gamecock senior A'ja Wilson delivered two crucial baskets down low to secure the victory. Her final field goal resulted in an and-1 that stretched the lead to 63-52 with 42 seconds remaining.

KEY STAT

Carolina made the most of its time at the line, shooting 86.4 (19-of-22) from the charity stripe. The Gamecocks have shot 80.0 percent or better in each of their last three games.

UP NEXT

Second-seeded Carolina will face 10th-seeded Virginia Sunday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Tipoff at Colonial Life Arena is set for 9 p.m. ET.

BOX SCORE

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

BCU Season Ends In WNIT At Georgia Tech

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Bethune-Cookman's 2017-18 season ended Thursday with an 85-32 loss to Georgia Tech in the opening round of the WNIT at McCamish Pavilion.

Angel Golden scored eight points as the Lady Wildcats concluded their season 24-7.

Francesca Pan scored 19 points and Lorela Cubaj 17 as Georgia Tech (19-13) advanced to the second round either UAB or Chattanooga.

Chasimmie Brown added six points for the Lady Wildcats. Ashanti Hunt had five rebounds, three assists and three steals in addition to her traditional three-point play that ended the first quarter. Kanesha Battle added five points

This was the final appearance for senior Emily Williams and Lyndsey Edwards, who became the first Lady Wildcats to enjoy three winning season since 1989.

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BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Grambling's run ends in Waco

WACO, Texas -- The Grambling State University women’s basketball team saw its magical season come to an end on Friday night as the Lady Tigers went the first six-plus minutes without a field goal in the opening quarter as No. 2 Baylor picked up a 96-46 victory to advance to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship at the Ferrell Center.

Baylor, the No. 2 seed in the Lexington (Ky.) Region advances to the Round of 32 and will meet Michigan on Sunday. Michigan, the No. 7 seed, defeated Northern Colorado, the No. 10 seed, 75-61.

Baylor raced out to a 10-1 advantage within the first four minutes, which forced Murray to call a timeout. The Lady Bears (32-1) continued to roll in the opening quarter and took advantage of just two Lady Tiger field goals and 13.3 percent shooting (2-of-15) to grab a 27-6 advantage.

The Lady Tigers (19-14) settled down in the second quarter as the Lady Bears took a 45-19 advantage into the break. However, Baylor outscored Grambling State, 31-16, in the third to take a commanding 76-35 lead into the final period.

Jazmin Boyd, who sits just five points shy of 1,000 for her collegiate career, paced Grambling State with a team-high 20 points, long with three board, two steals and one assist. Shakyla Hill finished with 10 points, six rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals.

CONTINUE READING

Rush hold No. 2 in 90th straight top-25 appearance

NEW ORLEANS — The order of the first 12 teams in the NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll is the same as it was two weeks ago. That means Xavier University of Louisiana is still near the top of the mountain.

The Gold Rush are No. 2 for the 14th consecutive poll. It's also XULA's 90th consecutive appearance in the top 25 — the longest active streak in NAIA men's tennis. The streak began April 4, 2007.

The NAIA announced the team rankings Tuesday. Next rankings will be revealed March 27.

XULA's only dual between polls was a 5-4 victory March 2 at No. 12 William Carey. It was XULA's fifth consecutive victory and second in a row against a ranked team.

The Gold Rush will return to the court Sunday at noon against SCAD Atlanta at XULA Tennis Center. SCAD Atlanta was 25th two weeks ago but dropped out this week.

Here are all the Gold Rush active poll streaks:
• 90 consecutive appearances in the top 25 . . . streak began April 4, 2007.
• 81 consecutive appearances in the top 20 . . . streak began April 30, 2008.
• 66 consecutive appearances in the top 15 . . . streak began Feb. 1, 2011.
• 60 consecutive appearances in the top 10 . . . streak began May 3, 2011.
• 22 consecutive appearances in the top 5 . . . streak began Jan. 26, 2016.
• 20 consecutive appearances in the top 3 . . . streak began March 1, 2016.
• 14 consecutive appearances in the top 2 . . . streak began May 25, 2016.

NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through March 11)
Rank Previous School Record Points
1 1 Georgia Gwinnett (14) 18-0 374
2 2 Xavier (La.) 6-6 361
3 3 Keiser (Fla.) 11-2 351
4 4 Campbellsville (Ky.) 8-0 336
5 5 Northwestern Ohio 4-3 327
6 6 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 2-0 315
7 7 William Woods (Mo.) 5-4 297
8 8 Mobile (Ala.) 10-1 287
9 9 Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) 1-1 279
10 10 Arizona Christian 9-3 266
11 11 Middle Georgia State 6-2 257
12 12 William Carey (Miss.) 5-2 242
13 12 San Diego Christian (Calif.) 4-3 233
14 14 Westmont (Calif.) 2-5 208
15 16 Reinhardt (Ga.) 5-1 202
16 19 Cumberland (Tenn.) 9-1 193
17 17 Asbury (Ky.) 2-1 179
17 15 Coastal Georgia 7-6 179
19 18 Tennessee Wesleyan 4-2 160
20 20 Lawrence Tech (Mich.) 10-3 136
21 20 McPherson (Kan.) 2-2 127
22 NR Union (Ky.) 5-2 110
23 25 Indiana Wesleyan 22-3 108
24 22 St. Thomas (Fla.) 5-5 101
25 23 Point (Ga.) 10-4 82
Dropped from the Top 25: SCAD Atlanta (Ga.)

Others Receiving Votes: Aquinas (Mich.) 80; Texas A&M-Texarkana 35; Loyola (La.) 32; SCAD Atlanta (Ga.) 28; Bethany (Kan.) 25; Cumberlands (Ky.) 21; Missouri Valley 12; Hastings (Neb.) 10; Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 9; Ave Maria (Fla.) 9; Marian (Ind.) 6; Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 5

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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XULA Abdullah earns national rankings in singles, doubles

NEW ORLEANS — Shaikh Abdullah is the most recent addition to the Xavier University of Louisiana men's tennis roster, but he quickly has made a positive impact.
     
Less than a month after playing his first matches for the Gold Rush, the freshman from Hyderabad, India, earned a pair of spots Thursday in the Oracle/ITA NAIA National Rankings. Abdullah is tied for 50th in singles, and he and Samir Chikhaoui are 17th in doubles.
    
 Catalin Fifea climbed from 42nd to 20th nationally in singles.
     
Fifea is seventh, Abdullah 17th and Chikhaoui 19th in the South Region singles rankings. The Abdullah-Chikhaoui doubles team is sixth in the region.
     
XULA will play SCAD Atlanta at noon Sunday at XULA Tennis Center.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Rush's missed connections result in another quick exit

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Xavier University of Louisiana limited high-octane Oklahoma City to a season-low point total, but the Gold Rush's offensive struggles enabled the Stars to escape with a 62-50 victory Wednesday in the opening round of the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship at Municipal Auditorium.

Not only did the 25th-ranked Gold Rush (24-9) shoot a season-low 29.2 percent from the floor, but it also was a program-low in 22 games at nationals.

Still XULA was within striking distance late, trailing 45-41 when Jeff Dixon made a pair of free throws with 5:21 remaining. But the eighth-ranked Stars (24-8) scored on 10 of their final 12 possessions in a closing 17-9 run.

"We got the shots we wanted. We got to the line. We got to the paint. We just missed a lot of chip-ins," second-year XULA coach Alfred Williams said. "Small things definitely hurt us. Lack of execution, defensive breakdowns, missed layups that we normally dunk . . . wide-open shots that we normally make. Some of those small things added up to a big thing, and we were down 12."

XULA spent just 14 seconds with the lead — after Jalen David's basket at 9:32 of the first half made it 12-10 — but the Stars took the lead for good on the next possession on Lou Dunbar's 3-pointer. Oklahoma City led 29-21 at halftime, and the final score was the Stars' largest of the game.



"Oklahoma City had momentum pretty much the whole game," Williams said. "It was hard to get back in it. It hurts losing like that."

BOX SCORE

David had 16 points, a game high, and eight rebounds. Dixon scored 13 points.

Samuel Williams scored 14 points, Dunbar 13 and Ridell Camidge 11 for Oklahoma City. Ivan Saicic grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, but XULA won the boards 44-39, including 18 offensive rebounds, its second most this season.

Oklahoma City entered averaging 89 points per game.

"We played hard but came up short," David said. "We left some things on the table — close shots, missed free throws. Frustrated might not be the right word, but I'm a little disappointed that we couldn't maximize our opportunities."

XULA lost in the first round at nationals for the eighth consecutive time.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Earnest Wilson out as ECSU head football coach

ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina -- Elizabeth City State University has ousted head football coach Earnest J. Wilson following a 4-6 record last season, according to a press release from the university.

“We thank Coach Wilson for his service to our team, and to the ECSU family and we wish him the best,” Chancellor Thomas Conway said in the release. “ECSU is heading in a new direction and we are excited about what’s ahead.”

In addition to its season record, ECSU’s football team finished with a 2-4 record in its conference, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

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Indiana (Pa.) Tops Bowie State’s Bulldogs 75-60 to Claim NCAA Atlantic Region Championship

RICHMOND, Virginia – Bowie State women's basketball saw its season end on Monday (3/12) evening, falling short to #2 Indiana (Pa.) by a final score of 75-60 in the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship game. The Bulldogs entered the regional play seeded #8 and finish the season with an overall record of 22-10. This marked the second time in school history Bowie State reached the Sweet 16.

The Bulldogs and Crimson Hawks are not strangers as the teams have met twice this season. Indiana (Pa.) defeated Bowie State 53-37 (11/22) on the Bulldogs home court and again at IUP (12/7) with the Crimson Hawks edging the Bulldogs 61-65.

BOX SCORE



Senior Kyah Proctor (Capital Heights, Md.) led the Bowie State Bulldogs in scoring in final game with a game-high 23 points. Senior Lisa Jing (Laurel, Md.) added 11 points. Graduate student Sade Chatman (Minneapolis, Minn.) and sophomores Dynaisha Christian (Pocomoke, Md.) and Kyaja Williams (Baltimore, Md.) finished the game with six points each. Christian was the teams leading rebounder with six. Proctor along with senior Kiara Colston (Burtonsville, Md.)

Bowie State got out to an early 4-0 lead and carried an 11-4 advantage into the first media timeout at the 4:08 mark.

With Bowie State leading 13-7, Indiana (Pa.) went on a 6-0 run to pull even at 13-all by the end of the first quarter.

The Crimson Hawks (29-3) kept the momentum going to start the second quarter, using a 5-0 to take the lead at 18-13. Bowie State's Proctor stopped the run with a triple from the top of the key and followed that with a step-back jumper to even things up at 18-all at the 7:33 mark.

Bowie State went a little cold over the next three minutes and trailed 27-26 with 2:14 to go in the first half.

IUP closed the first half with four unanswered points and went into halftime with a 33-26 lead.

Offensive rebounds and the sharp shooting of Carolyn Appleby made the difference in the first half for IUP's Crimson Hawks. As a team, the Crimson Hawks pulled down nine boards on the offensive end while Appleby scored 11 points over the first 20 minutes.

Bowie State opened the third quarter with a 4-0 run to narrow the gap to 33-31 but Indiana (Pa.) answered with four straight of their own for a 38-31 lead. The Bulldogs used a 7-4 run to close the deficit to 42-38 at the 4:51 mark.

Indiana (Pa.) extended its lead to double-digits (48-38) after a pair of Brittany Robinson free throws.

Bowie State trimmed the Indiana (Pa.) lead in half (50-45) by the end of the third quarter. IUP pushed the lead back ten (57-47) and to a game-high 13 points (60-47). A pair of Jing free throws pulled the Bulldogs within eight (60-52) but would get no closer.

IUP's Lauren Wolosik led four Crimson Hawks in scoring with 20 points to go along with a game-high eight assists. Brittany Robinson and Megan Smith accounted for a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds and 11 points and 10 rebounds respectively. Appleby finished the contest with 16 points.

BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS