Langston University Tabs Elaine Powell as Women's Basketball Head Coach

LANGSTON, Oklahoma -- Dr. Kent J. Smith, Jr., President of Langston University (LU), announced today the appointment of former WNBA player, Elaine Powell as the new head coach for the women's basketball team.

"We are excited about Coach Powell joining the Langston University Athletics Department as she brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team. She has inherited a program with a longstanding history of excellence and we know from her track record, she will ensure that our legacy is preserved," said Dr. Smith.

Coach Powell joins LU Athletics having previously served as an assistant coach for women's basketball programs at Alabama A&M, Ohio University and Grambling State University. She spent nearly a decade playing in the WNBA, where she earned numerous awards and honors. Under former coach and Detroit Pistons player, Bill Laimbeer, she was a three time WNBA champion with
the Detroit Shock. Prior to her professional basketball career, she was a student athlete at Louisiana State University (LSU), where she was a Kodak All American and finished her career as LSU's 11th all-time leading scorer with 1,163 points. She was the first player in LSU history to be drafted into the WNBA.

"Elaine Powell is a proven leader whose dedication and commitment to excellence has shown in her work while coaching at the NCAA DI level for more than 8 years. Prior to her collegiate coaching career, she was a student athlete at LSU, so she comes from a championship pedigree, which is what we strive for here at Langston University. She has served those institutions admirably, investing a great deal in the student athletes. We look forward to her bringing that same enthusiasm, devotion and student centric approach to our program," said Donnita Drain Rogers, Athletic Director for Langston University.

Coach Powell succeeds Cheryl Miller, who had a record of 49-12 and two NAIA Tournament appearances during her two-year stint.

The Lady Lions finished the 2014-15 season with a 29-4 record, and won the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament Championship over Our Lady of the Lake. The Lady Lions finished the 2015-16 season with a final record of 20-8 and received a third straight bid to the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship tournament in Independence, Missouri. Langston received three selections to the Red River All-Conference team; and two students were named to the NAIA Women's Basketball All-America honorable mention team for their efforts.

"Cheryl Miller has been a tremendous asset to the University's sports program and we appreciate all of her efforts to strengthen our women's basketball team. She was a role model both on and off of the court to the players and entire University community. We wish her well in her future endeavors," said Dr. Smith.

COURTESY LANGSTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

FAMU Rally Falls Short in 6-4 NCAA Loss To USF

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- The FAMU Women’s Softball team battled back valiantly from a 5-0 deficit in the late innings, but came up two runs short Saturday afternoon in a season-ending 6-4 setback to South Florida in the Tallahassee Regional at JoAnne Graf Field.
FAMU (27-30) fell behind 1-0 after the first inning, and USF (45-15) added three runs in the second and one more in the fourth to build a 5-0 advantage.

The Lady Rattlers began their comeback bid in the bottom of the fifth, when Whitney Farris’ single to left center scored Miesha McBride for the first FAMU run. Raven Moseley, who walked, then advanced to second and third on two passed balls, scored from third on a USF wild pitch for a 5-2 score.

The Bulls plated their final run in the top of the sixth to extend their lead to 6-2, but FAMU had one last gasp in the bottom of the seventh, aided by two USF errors, scoring two runs to pull to 6-4.

Moseley scored on an error on Tashayla Irvis’ ground ball, then Alexis Day’s sacrifice fly to right scored Farris for a 6-4 score.

FAMU managed to load the bases with two outs, but Kieifi Myrick grounded back to the pitcher to end the game.

The Lady Rattlers finished with six hits, as Farris, Day, Taylor Rosier, Toni Anderson, McBride and Moseley each had singles. Day, Farris and Irvis each had a run driven in.

Veronica Burse (8-12) took the loss for FAMU, lasting into the second before being lifted for Kenya Pereira. Burse allowed four runs on three hits with two walks in one-and-one-third innings, while Pereira allowed two runs on five hits with one strikeout and one walk in five-and-two-third innings.

COACH WIGGINS POSTGAME: After the game, FAMU head coach Veronica Wiggins addressed the media saying: “I’m very proud of my team and the effort they gave at the end. If we had come out with a little more intensity at the start things might have ended differently. But our players set a goal before the season that they wanted to get to the regionals and compete and I think we accomplished that…. I have six juniors who set a goal to win championships, and I look forward to them providing leadership for us next season.

JUNIOR OUTFIELDER WHITNEY FARRIS: “I think what we can take away from this tournament is that we can play with the best teams, that we are definitely one of the best 64 teams in the country.”

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Texas Southern and Alabama State To Meet in SWAC Championship on ESPNU

First pitch is set for 10:30 a.m. and will air live on ESPNU

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana -- Texas Southern and Alabama State both swept through the 2016 Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament and will meet in the Championship finale on Sunday, May 22 at Wesley Barrow Stadium. First pitch is set for 10:30 a.m. and will air live on ESPNU.

TSU, the defending SWAC Tournament Champions are now 24-25 on the year and enter the title game after defeating Jackson State twice as well as Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the ‘A’ Bracket. In the tournament, Kamren Dukes is pacing the Tigers’ offense, hitting .667 (8-for-12) with a double and three stolen bases. Ryan Lazo is 4-for-11 (.455) with a double, seven RBI, and two stolen bases. Richard Alamo has drawn four walks, tallied four hits, and nabbed five stolen bases in five attempts.

On the hill for the Tigers, Larry Romero, who led the Tigers with a 9-3 record this season, collected the opening round 10-2 win over Jackson State after going eight innings. Romero scattered two runs on eight hits, struck out five and walked two batters.

The Michael Robertson led squad went 13-10 in SWAC West play, coming into the tournament as the three seed out of the division. The Tigers swept all six games against Southern, while splitting with Prairie View A&M, and took two from Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Grambling, who both finished ahead of TSU.

On the season, TSU leads the league and is second in NCAA in stolen bases with 162, while leading the nation averaging 3.38 stolen bases per game. Ryan Lazo has stolen 39 bases for the Tigers this season.

The Hornets head into the title contest with a 37-15 record, defeated Southern and Alcorn State in seven inning contests prior to collecting a second victory from Southern to extend their season playing in the ‘B’ bracket. During the tournament, ASU has been led offensively by Dillon Cooper who has posted .667 average (6-for-9) with two home runs, four doubles and 10 RBI, while drawing four walks and getting hit three times to reach base. SWAC Freshman of the Year Eriq White has reached base all 13 plate appearances in three tournament games, collecting eight hits with two doubles and a home run.

On the hill for the Hornets, three-time SWAC Starting Pitcher of the Year Joseph Camacho and All-SWAC First Team honoree Tyler Howe both picked up their tenth victory of the year. Camacho (10-0) went 4.1, scattering six runs on eight hits, struck out two and walked four in the team’s 27-9 opening round victory over Southern. Howe (10-2) collected the 16-3 victory over the Braves after tossing six of the seven innings. Howe allowed three runs on six hits, struck out eight and walked two.

During the regular season, 2016 SWAC Coach of the Year Mervyl Melendez guided the Hornets to a 24-0 conference record, becoming the first team to post a perfect record in SWAC play since moving to divisional play in 2006. 2016 also marks the third-straight season ASU has captured the regular season title and the Hornets' fourth-straight 30-plus win season. The Hornets lead the SWAC in scoring, averaging 8.8 runs per game with the second-most runs scored this season (447).

The last time the squads faced off was during the 2013 season resulting in a 3-1 decision in favor of the Hornets in the MLB Urban Youth Invitational at Minute Maid Park in Houston on Feb. 24. TSU is looking for the program’s fourth SWAC title while ASU is on the hunt for the squad’s first championship in the program’s history.

Tournament Central

COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

The SWAC tops FCS in 2015 football attendance

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The Southwestern Athletic Conference was once again best attended football league in the NCAA Div. I- Football Championship Series (FCS). An improvement by an average of 42 fans, the SWAC averaged 12,823 in attendance at each of its 51 home football contests.

The SWAC outnumbered the Missouri Valley Conference by 1,907 in attendance, despite playing 10 less total games in its league. The Big Sky Conference finished third with an average of 9,977.

In 37 of the last 38 years, the SWAC has been the FCS leader in attendance. This average includes neutral site games such as the Magic City Classic (63,874), the highest single-game attendance figure in 2015, the Bayou Classic (62,507), and the State Fair Classic (51,328). These contests were three of the highest attended games in the country among the FCS level.

Five programs out of the SWAC finished in the top 30 with Southern placing eighth with an average of 18,310. Jackson State was next with a 15th place finish at 13,252, followed by Alcorn State holding down the 18th spot at (12,343). Alabama State finished in 24th (10,290) while Grambling State averaged an attendance of 10,035 at its home contests for the 28th best average among FCS leaders.

The SWAC and the MVC were once again the only two conferences with an average of over 10,000 fans per game with a total attendance average 653,962 and 654,948 respectively.

Alcorn State and Grambling State played in front of the third most attended SWAC Football Championship crowd in league history with 40,352 on hand. That total marked the most since the league moved the game to Houston’s NRG Stadium and the largest audience since 2007.

2015 National Football Collge Attendance

2015 NCAA DIVISION I FCS HOME ATTENDANCE TEAM LEADERS
Rank School G Attendance Average

1. Montana 7 168,975 24,139
2. Jacksonville St. 8 164,781 20,598
3. Yale 4 82,189 20,547
4. James Madison 7 136,483 19,498
5. Montana St. 6 115,032 19,172
6. Liberty 5 94,950 18,990
7. North Dakota St. 9 166,472 18,497
8. Southern U. 4 73,239 18,310 
9. Delaware 6 94,954 15,826
10. South Carolina State 5 78,147 15,629 
11. Florida A&M 4 60,240 15,060 
12. North Carolina A&T 5 74,940 14,988 
13. Youngstown St. 6 89,125 14,854
14. Tennessee State 4 58,481 14,620 
15. Jackson State 5 66,258 13,252

Rank School G Attendance Average 
16. South Dakota St. 6 77,394 12,899
17. Harvard 5 63,994 12,799
18. Alcorn State 5 61,716 12,343 
19. McNeese St. 6 70,150 11,692
20. UNI 6 69,293 11,549
21. Mercer 6 64,150 10692
22. The Citadel 6 64,070 10,678
23. Eastern Ky. 4 41,400 10,350
24. Alabama State 5 51,449 10,290 
25. Chattanooga 6 60,910 10,152
26. Western Caro. 5 50,593 10,119
27. Missouri St. 5 50,182 10,036
28. Grambling 3 30,105 10,035 
29. Eastern Wash. 5 47,886 9,577
30. Lamar 5 46,818 9,364

COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Florida A&M athletics secures deal with Nike

MILTON OVERTON JR.
FAMU ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M’s athletic department recently secured a three-year deal with Nike, Athletic Director Milton Overton Jr. told the Tallahassee Democrat on Saturday.

Overton said the deal would run concurrent with the MEAC’s current shoe deal with Nike, and that Nike would provide both new uniforms and apparel for the school.

FAMU’s previous apparel deal was with Russell Athletic. That deal was negotiated through the MEAC.

“Most of the conference moved to Nike,” Overton said. “Some of the conference members when to a different apparel company. I won’t necessarily say numbers. What I’ll say it was a 50-percent increase in value from Russell to Nike.”

Overton said at the end of the three-year deal, there will be an option for FAMU to renew. He added new uniforms and fan apparel will be released within the next “two to three weeks.”

CONTINUE READING

Claflin Eliminated from the 2016 NCAA DII Baseball South Regional by West Georgia

TAMPA, Florida -- The Claflin University baseball team had a much better showing in its second game of the 2016 NCAA Division II Baseball South Regional but fell short, dropping a 7-1 decision to West Georgia in the elimination game. The Panthers, who were competing in it's first-ever NCAA Post-Season tournament, finish 2016 with a 24-29 overall record.

West Georgia (40-15) advanced to play the loser of the Tampa/Delta State matchup on Saturday.

Emanuel Mitchell, who closed out his career at Claflin, was credited with the loss. Turner Edwards picked up the win for West Georgia.

"It was a good experience for us and I'm really proud of my guys," said head coach James Randall. "We played much better today, we [managed] to get back into a rhythm but we just didn't like we are capable. In addition, we had two injuries in the outfield which definitely hurt us today," said Randall.

"I think it would be really helpful if our conference can find a way to have our conference tournament closer to the Regionals. Having 18 days off then coming to the Regionals to face this type of competition is really not giving us too much of a chance," said Randall.

The Panthers came out of the gate much looser with the first half of the game panning out to be a pitcher's duel. After four complete innings, the team had played to a 0-0.

The game entered a one-hour 27 minute rain delay with West Georgia at bat with two outs in the bottom of the fourth.

The Panthers managed to get the third out after the delay but went three-up-three-down in the top of the fifth.

With two on and one out in the bottom of the fifth, West Georgia's Caleb Lopez hit a three-run homer to left field to snap the scoring drought and give the Wolverines a 3-0 advantage heading into the sixth.

Jalen Thompson and Johnny Stevenson had back-to-back singles to left field to lead off the Panthers seventh. Claflin placed three runners on base in the inning but could not manage to score, leaving two stranded to end the inning.

With two outs and one on the bottom of the seventh, a dropped fly ball by the Panthers right fielder allowed West Georgia's fourth run to cross the plate.

After holding Claflin scoreless in the top of the eighth, the Wolverines loaded the bases to start its half of the inning. A pinch hit two RBI single by Tyler Hutch with two outs gave West Georgia the 6-0 advantage. The Wolverines tacked on one additional run in the bottom of the eighth.

Claflin continued to battle in the final inning of the game. After a leadoff strikeout, the Panthers placed its next three batters on base, via a walk, single and hit-by-pitch, to keep their chances alive. Senior Jabari Brown, who stepped into the box with bases loaded and two outs, hit a chipper up the middle for an RBI single to score Stevenson for the Panthers only run of the game.



BOX SCORE

COURTESY CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Claflin Falls to #10 West Florida in the Opening Round of the 2016 NCAA DII South Regional

TAMPA, Florida —The Claflin University Baseball team fell to #10 West Florida, 17-1, in its opening game of the 2016 NCAA Division II South Regional.  The Panthers, (24-28), will face the loser of the Nova Southeastern/West Georgia matchup on Friday at 11 a.m.
 
The Regional, which runs through Monday, May 23, is being contested at the University of Tampa Baseball Field in Tampa, Fla.
 
Elliott Melton led off the game with a single to centerfield for Claflin.  A bunt by Jabari Brown and subsequent pass-ball moved Melton to third with one out but the Panthers could not capitalize.
 
After being held scoreless in the bottom of the first, West Florida (35-15) scored runs in the next eight innings. The Argonauts scored one run in the second, two in each of the third and fourth, one in the fifth, six in the sixth, one in the seventh, and four in the eighth en route to its 17 runs.
 
Elliott Melton scored the Panthers only run of the game off a two-out RBI single to right field by Brown in the top of the sixth.
 
Wendell Ferguson, who allowed five runs in 3.2 innings, was credited with the loss and Gray Dorsey picked up his second win of the season for West Florida.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS