Circle City Classic to feature MEAC opponents

iNDIANAPOLIS, Indiana - The North Carolina Central-South Carolina State football game has been rescheduled as the Circle City Classic on Oct. 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Previously, the game between Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference members was scheduled to be played at North Carolina Central. This will be South Carolina State's third appearance in the Circle City Classic.

The 63,000-seat Lucas Oil Stadium is the home of the Indianapolis Colts and site of Super Bowl XLVI earlier this month.

It will be one of two games in an NFL venue for South Carolina State. The Bulldogs open their season with a Thursday game in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, facing Georgia State on Aug. 30.

After a home game against Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 8, the Bulldogs visit Arizona on Sept. 15 and Texas A&M on Sept. 22.

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Tennessee runner is XU Gold Nuggets' first signee for 2012

BRIANA SIMMS

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana — Briana Simms of Hendersonville, Tenn., and Station Camp High School has signed a women's cross country scholarship with Xavier University of Louisiana.

Simms is XU's first runner signed for 2012.

photo from the signing ceremony (via Facebook)

"Xavier had what I wanted, academically and athletically," said Simms, who has a 3.87 grade-point average and will major in biochemistry. "When I visited, it felt like a family there. I knew that Xavier was where I needed to be."

Simms competed four consecutive years in the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association state meet and placed among the top 32 three times. She was 20th in Class A-AA as a freshman in 2008, 28th in Class AAA in 2010 and 32nd in AAA this past season to help the Bison finish third in the team standings. Four times in 2011 she ran 5,000 meters in less than 19 minutes, 45 seconds, with a personal best of 19:22.86 — the second fastest time in school history — in the Jesse Owens Classic at Oakville, Ala., on Oct. 1.

Simms was All-Sumner County and All-Mid-State four times each.

In outdoor track Simms was the co-outstanding runner in the Sumner County Championships in 2010 and the outstanding runner in 2011. She won the 800- and 1,600-meter runs both years at that meet. Her best outdoor times include 5:33.59 in the 1,600 and 12:02 in the 3,200.

Hendersonville is a suburb northeast of Nashville.

Xavier's Gold Nuggets won the past six Gulf Coast Athletic Conference team championships and qualified for three of the past four NAIA National Championships.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

MVSU rebounds from 1-11 start to dominate SWAC

ITTA BENA, Mississippi - When the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve, Mississippi Valley State was 1-11 and had lost seven games in a row. The Delta Devils had not played a home game all season, center Jason Holmes had missed the entire season with a knee injury, and things weren’t looking great as the non-conference campaign came to a close.

Head coach Sean Woods wasn’t overly concerned, though. “We’re a mature team, we have an upload of seniors,” Woods said over the phone Tuesday.  "It was just the mentality.”

It turns out his confidence was spot on. The Delta Devils have won their last 15 games, clinching the outright SWAC regular-season title by beating Texas Southern on a last-second 3 by Paul Crosby on Monday night. Not many teams trust their 6-foot-8, 250-pound center to knock down a game-winning 3, but that was designed.

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The clash at the DAP

DURHAM, North Carolina — The ballpark that was good enough for the making of the film “Bull Durham” is the home of N.C. Central University baseball. There are worse places to play. “Being able to say we play and practice at the Durham Athletic Park is absolutely huge,” first-year NCCU coach Jim Koerner said.

The DAP’s playing surface is better than some professional facilities, Koerner said. “It’s probably the best facility in the conference,” said Koerner of the Eagles' Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. “It’s incredibly maintained.”

view slideshow (5 images)

NCCU will host Duke today at 4 p.m. in the historic ballpark where the minor league Durham Bulls once played. Admission is free to this match-up that some say will further foster the relationship between Duke and NCCU, strengthening Durham.

“It bodes well for both universities,” Durham mayor Bill Bell said. “I think the more they can do things in a joint effort – even if it’s competing in sports– it’s a coming together of the community.”

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Facility Upgrade Pays Dividends for TSU Football

On Feb. 21, The Tennessean highlighted Tennessee State's new upgrades for football and the school's top HBCU recruiting class. Below is the article as published by Mike Organ.

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State football Coach Rod Reed has rerouted the map he follows when a recruit visits, thanks to some new construction and upgrades.

Instead of starting with a trip to LP Field, where TSU has played its home games for the past 13 years, Reed brings prospects straight to campus, where he shows off the team's new locker room, indoor practice facility and renovated weight room.

Reed said that helped the Tigers sign a class two weeks ago that achieved the top ranking for historically black colleges and universities.

"We used to just go to LP Field and show off the locker room and other facilities there when we'd bring a recruit in," Reed said. "When a kid would ask about the locker room or practice field on campus, we would just kind of shy away from it."



The new locker room in Gentry Center was opened late in the summer, and the $3.7 million indoor practice facility and weight room renovations were completed last fall.

"It's really, really nice," said receiver Lavatiae Kelly of Hollywood, Florida, who is considered one of TSU's top signees. "I might not have known what to expect, but I didn't expect anything as nice as what they have."

TSU is one of just six Football Championship Subdivision schools that has an indoor practice facility.

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VISIT: TSUTIGERS.COM
VISIT: TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

Gold Rush Tennis still ninth in NAIA poll; Nuggets gain support

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana maintained its No. 9 ranking in the NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll released Tuesday.

The Gold Rush are in the top 10 for the fourth consecutive poll dating to May 2011 and the seventh time in the past eight polls. Beginning with the poll of April 4, 2007, Xavier has been in every men's top 25.

Xavier still is tied for 36th place in the women's rankings, but the Gold Nuggets' point total increased from one to three.

The polls are the second of nine this season. Fresno Pacific's men and Auburn Montgomery's women held on to their No. 1 rankings. The next polls will be announced March 6.

The Gold Nuggets will travel to NCAA Division I Southeastern Louisiana for a 6 p.m. Friday dual match, then both Xavier teams will play William Carey in dual matches starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center. William Carey's men are ranked 13th, and the women are 12th.

The XU men already have a victory this season against a ranked opponent — 7-2 on Feb. 11 against Bethany (Kan.), which climbed from 16th to 15th in the poll — and are scheduled for at least eight more regular-season matches against this week's top 25.

NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, Feb. 19)

Rank Team Record Points Last

1 Fresno Pacific (11) 5-0 281 1

2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 4-1 272 2
3 Oklahoma Christian 4-0 261 3

4 Azusa Pacific 2-0 255 tie-4

5 Auburn Montgomery 1-2 243 tie-4

6 Westmont 1-2 239 6

7 Point Loma Nazarene 0-2 227 7

8 Vanguard 2-3 217 8

9 Xavier 3-1 210 9

10 Shorter 2-2 196 10

11 Concordia (Calif.) 2-1 194 11

12 Lindsey Wilson 2-3 181 13

13 William Carey 0-1 176 12

14 Aquinas 2-1 161 14

15 Bethany (Kan.) 2-2 154 16

16 St. Thomas (Fla.) 0-3 149 15

17 Lee (Tenn.) 2-1 128 17

18 Warner 1-1 124 RV

19 Lewis-Clark State 4-1 122 19

20 Webber International 4-1 103 18
21 Tennessee Wesleyan 0-0 94 21
22 Olivet Nazarene 2-0 91 NR
23 Campbellsville 0-0 82 23
24 Belhaven 2-0 65 22
25 Martin Methodist 0-0 60 24

Others receiving votes: Spring Arbor 59, SCAD Savannah 51, Missouri Valley 29, Northwestern Ohio 24, Oklahoma Baptist 18, Biola 18, Cumberland 12, Northwood (Fla.) 7, McPherson 4, Pikeville 3, Brescia 1.


NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, Feb. 19)
Rank Team Record Points Last
1 Auburn Montgomery (11) 4-0 312 1
2 Fresno Pacific (1) 5-0 302 2
3 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 5-1 292 3

4 Oklahoma Christian 1-0 282 4

5 Concordia (Calif.) 3-0 272 5

6 Brenau 2-0 260 6

7 Azusa Pacific 3-0 254 7

8 SCAD Savannah 2-2 238 8

9 Point Loma Nazarene 1-1 235 11

10 Southern Nazarene 0-0 219 10

11 Vanguard 1-2 215 9
12 William Carey 0-3 204 12
13 Lee (Tenn.) 3-0 191 13

14 Lindsey Wilson 1-2 179 14

15 Shorter 4-1 175 15
16 Lewis-Clark State 1-7 160 16

17 Indiana Wesleyan 14-0 152 17

18 SCAD Atlanta 0-0 145 18

19 Martin Methodist 0-0 131 20
20 St. Thomas (Fla.) 0-2 120 21
21 Belhaven 2-0 104 23
22 Campbellsville 0-0 101 22

23 Webber International 2-1 95 24

24 Marian (Ind.) 12-3 73 25

25 Davenport 8-2 57 RV

Others receiving votes: Olivet Nazarene 49, Indiana Southeast 46, Westmont 29, Northwood (Fla.) 23, Northwestern Ohio 15, Missouri Valley 15, Taylor 14, Milligan 9, Robert Morris (Chicago) 7, Bethel (Kan.) 7, Cumberlands 3, Xavier 3, Nebraska Wesleyan 1.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS
VISIT: GCACSPORTS

Southern to open spring practice Wednesday

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana – Despite recent reports regarding his future at Southern University, head football coach Stump Mitchell opens 2012 spring football practice on Wednesday, the university announced.

The Jaguars begin the first of 15 scheduled practices at 4:15 p.m.Wednesday afternoon in shells before moving to full pads for the first time on Feb. 24. Southern's spring game is scheduled for March 17.  Mitchell, who is 6-16 in two seasons at Southern, embarks on his third season as head football coach on the Baton Rouge campus and has one year remaining on a three-year contract signed in Jan. 2010.

Interim Director of Athletics Sandy Pugh said Tuesday that while it has been reported that Mitchell has been interviewed for a position with the NFL’s St. Louis Rams, the university is going forward with Mitchell leading players during their first day of practice.

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Kyle O'Quinn sees pro future after Norfolk State

NORFOLK, Virginia - If you had asked Kyle O’Quinn back in high school if he thought he would have a future in professional basketball, he would have laughed at you.

After all, O’Quinn was just 5-foot-11 as a high school freshman in New York, and only played one year of high school basketball. He had just one scholarship offer coming out of high school, from the MEAC’s Norfolk State. Others were sniffing around, but no one else was willing to take a chance on the raw big man. His family didn’t want him to go to prep school, so he jumped on the opportunity to head to Virginia and play for Norfolk State.


#10 Kyle O'Quinn in the Spartans win over NAVY.

Now, as a 6-foot-10 senior, O’Quinn is dominating on the inside. Over the last two seasons, the big man is averaging 16.2 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game. Because of his potential, he could have a future in the sport.

“I’m getting a lot of good feedback,” O’Quinn said. “I didn’t think I would play college basketball, of course not. You couldn’t have told me that.”

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SU Mitchell stumps for job with St. Louis Rams

COACH LYVONIA 'STUMP' MITCHELL

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI - Stump Mitchell, a former Cardinals running back and currently head football coach at Southern University-Baton Rouge, interviewed for the Rams' running backs coach position Monday.  Mitchell, 52, met at Rams Park with coach Jeff Fisher and visited with members of the coaching staff. The visit went well, though it was uncertain Monday night if Mitchell has been offered the job.

League sources said Fisher could be interviewing another candidate or two for the position, which is one of the last remaining berths on Fisher's staff. A Georgia native, Mitchell played with the St. Louis and Phoenix Cardinals from 1981-89. He ended his career with Kansas City in 1991, but didn't post any stats with the Chiefs because of knee problems.

A ninth-round pick by the Big Red out of The Citadel in 1981, Mitchell was a popular and productive player in St. Louis.

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Report: Rams talk to Mitchell

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Stump Mitchell came to Southern University with big dreams and big goals, vowing to bring the Jaguars football program back to the top of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.  Now, after six wins in two years, he might be on his way out.

According to a report from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Mitchell interviewed Monday with the St. Louis Rams and is a candidate to become their running backs coach.  The newspaper, citing anonymous sources, said Mitchell met with new head coach Jeff Fisher and members of the staff, and that the interview went well.  What’s unclear at the moment, however, is whether the Rams actually offered Mitchell a job.

Attempts to reach Mitchell were unsuccessful Monday night.  Asked last week if he were considering other jobs, Mitchell said he was happy to be at Southern and believes his team can win this season.

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Coppin State has more than a triple threat from beyond the arc

With a team full of long-range shooters, Eagles are the No. 2 team in the country in 3-pointers per game

BALTIMORE, Maryland - Before every Coppin State practice this season, a band of shooters from one of the most prolific 3-point shooting teams in Division I gathers around a rim inside the Physical Education Complex for a little friendly competition.

The goal is simple, guard Tony Gallo explains, and the battles typically taut. Knock down 10 shots from beyond the arc before anyone else does, and you win. Lately, Gallo's won a lot. Or has he? "He said he was in the lead?" forward Logan Wiens exclaimed in mock disbelief Monday. "I don't know about that one."


Mute the background rap music/noise for better enjoyment.

On a team that has 3-pointers account for more than 40 percent of its scoring, perhaps these kinds of grudges are only natural. The Eagles' 9.9 3-pointers per game trail only Florida (10.2 per game) nationally, and three players shoot 40 percent or better from beyond the arc.

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Sammeika Thomas makes it work at Miles College

SAMMEIKA THOMAS
6-2 FORWARD, SENIOR
HOMETOWN: BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
TRANSFER: RUTGERS UNIVERSITY

Senior forward juggles parenting, school, work and basketball

FAIRFIELD, Alabama - When she's not rubbing off a screen, she's screening passengers. When not picking up her teammates with a solid season, she's picking up her kids and making sure they are taken care of. Such is the life of Sammeika Thomas, Miles College's 6-foot-2 senior forward.

Thomas, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's reigning Player of the Year, is doing it all. She's a fulltime student, a TSA passenger screener at the Birmingham Airport and a basketball standout – all while raising two small children on her own.

"It's not really hard for me because I'm a very motivated person," Thomas said. "I know that I have to work in order for my kids to survive. I also understand I have to finish school to earn the money that I want to make, or have the career that I want to have. So it's really not hard balancing it. My job helps me a lot. My coaches help me a lot, and my teammates. So it's not very hard as people would think. But it's very tiring."

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Shaw University ranked 6th in NABC Division II Poll

RALEIGH, North Carolina — Shaw moved up three spots in this week's National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II poll, coming in at sixth. This is the highest ranking in the history of the men's basketball program at Shaw. Last week the Bears were ninth in the poll.

The program's previous high ranking was in 2002-2003 when they were tenth in the first poll of the season.

Last week, the Bears handily defeated Fayetteville State and Winston-Salem State to raise their record to 23-2 and continue what is now a 19-game winning streak. Shaw is 15-0 in the CIAA and 9-0 in the Southern Division. The Bears have already clinched the division title.



After last week’s number one team, Bellarmine, suffered a loss, West Liberty takes over the top spot in the poll. Last season, West Liberty knocked Shaw out of the NCAA tournament in the second round.

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Virginia State wins fifth straight, blowing out Lincoln (Pa.)

ETTRICK, Virginia - There is no team in the CIAA that has improved more than Virginia State, and now they're playing good enough basketball that they're a dangerous team headed into the conference tournament.

The Trojans dominated Lincoln (PA) Monday night, 75-51 at Daniel Gymnasium, avenging an earlier season 20 point loss to the Lions.



VSU stormed ahead to a nine point halftime lead, but outscored Lincoln 45-30 after halftime to make it a rout. Mike Bynum led all scorers with 18 points. There were three other players in double figures, Daniel Awosanya had 13, Kenny Mitchell put in 12 points, and Ibn Rassoull scored 12. Denzel Mooney had a team-high 17 points for Lincoln. VSU shot 51 percent from the floor, while Lincoln managed just 28 percent.

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VUU juggernaut derailed by Bowie State, 101-82

RICHMOND, Virginia - On Jan. 15, Virginia Union scratched its way to a two-point victory over Virginia State. That gave Union a record of 8-10, a mediocre start to the season. Thereafter, the Panthers reeled off wins in seven of their next eight games. One more victory and Union would take the CIAA’s Northern Division title.

But Union’s winning streak hit a speed bump Monday night. The Panthers were beaten 101-82 to Bowie State (20-5, 12-4) at Barco-Stevens Hall. It was Bowie State’s largest margin of victory ever over Union.

GALLERY: Virginia Union vs. Bowie State

“It’s a bitter taste right now,” senior Jamaal Blalock said. Bowie State, ranked 19th in the country, secured the No. 1 seed in the CIAA tournament. Union (15-12, 10-5) still gets the Northern Division’s second seed and a bye in the first round.

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Players treasure memories from '56 Knoxville College team

KNOWVILLE, Tennessee -- Fifty-six years ago, the powerhouse Knoxville College basketball team tore through the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with aplomb. Undersized but fearless and athletic, the Bulldogs averaged a nation-best 101 points a game on their way to a spectacular 32-3 record. Their average margin of victory was 30 points.

Knoxville College was not only the first team from Tennessee to win the SIAC tournament and conference championships, the Bulldogs also placed an unprecedented four players on the all-conference and all-tournament teams. They featured a lineup of mostly northern transplants who were thrust into often tumultuous circumstances at a small black college in the South at the vanguard of the Civil Rights movement.

Despite their successes on the court, the garnet and blue-clad Bulldogs toiled in virtual anonymity in the segregated South of the 1950s. Off the court, they were often subjected to the all-too-familiar racial injustices of the time.

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Shaw cruises past WSSU in home finale

RALEIGH, North Carolina -- Ninth-ranked Shaw continued its impressive run through the CIAA. The Bears rolled to an 80-59 victory over defenseless Winston-Salem State on Monday night at Spaulding Gym. Showing balance that has brought them a 23-2 record and a 19-game win streak, the Bears sent their seniors out on a good note in their final home game.

"They are a talented team," said coach Bobby Collins of the Rams. "One through five, any of them can go off and get points. I know what they were all capable of, and I thought if we could get back and set our defense we would have a chance, but we couldn't do that."



The Rams (18-7, 4-5 Southern Division) had a six-point lead early but it didn't last long. The Bears went on a 22-0 run over six minutes, and the Rams failed to score on their next 12 possessions.

It didn't get much better the rest of the way, thanks to a steady diet of guards Malik Alvin (20 points) and Tony Smith (14 points, seven rebounds and four assists). Every time the Rams tried to make a run, it was Smith or Alvin who made the big shots to preserve the Bears' lead.

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With 17 new additions to roster, WSSU baseball looks to repeat

COACH KEVIN RITSCHE

WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina - The reigning CIAA Champion Winston-Salem State baseball team may have added new players, but the team's goals remain the same: another conference title and a College World Series run.

The 2011 Rams baseball season ended with a record of 30-25 overall, and 19-7 in the conference. They won the CIAA Championship and earned a trip to the regionals with a fifth seed. At the NCAA tournament at Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster, Pa. the Rams came up short with two losses, 7-2 to Mercyhurst and 11-3 to Concord.

Rams second-year Head Coach Kevin Ritsche added 17 new players to his 13 man-roster of returning players. The new recruits include seven freshman and 10 transfers from junior colleges and universities.

"Bringing in these new guys equals starting from scratch with my system, but we also have increased the talent level," Ritsche said.

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XU Nuggets beat Fisk, clinch tie for GCAC regular-season title

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Jasmine Grant scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half Monday to help NAIA No. 19 Xavier University of Louisiana earn an 81-50 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's basketball victory against Fisk.

The Gold Nuggets (21-8 overall, 11-2 GCAC) won their third straight and clinched a tie for the GCAC regular-season championship. They began the day tied for first place with Talladega, but the Lady Tornadoes lost 60-47 at Tougaloo. Xavier can win the title with a victory Saturday at Dillard in the regular-season finale.

Keldra Hall scored 11 points, and Paige Gauthier had a season-high-tying 10 points and a career-best nine assists for Xavier. All 15 Gold Nuggets scored.

De'Erin Rogan scored 15 points for Fisk (4-22, 0-12), and Simona Newman and Tiffany Wynn scored 10 apiece.

Xavier led 40-25 at halftime and took its biggest lead, 76-38, when Gauthier passed to Paige Rochelle for a fast-break basket with 6:08 remaining.

Gauthier is the third XU player this season to reach nine assists in a game. Her previous high was five. Gauthier had seven assists in the second half.

Xavier shot a season-high 57.4 percent from the floor — 65.4 in the second half — and limited the Lady Bulldogs to 30.4 percent. The Gold Nuggets had a 38-24 rebound advantage, and they recorded their largest winning margin on an opponent's floor since a 74-40 victory at William Carey on Feb. 27, 2003.

It was the first time since November 2010 that the Nuggets reached 80 points, and it was the first time they did it on the road since December 2008.

The XU-Dillard game will tip off at 5 p.m. Saturday at Dillard's Dent Hall.

BOX SCORE

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

TSU women's golf finishes 16th at Ann Rhoads Invitational

JAMIE PIERCE
Senior
Harriman, TN

 Birmingham, Alabama - The Tennessee State University women's golf team wrapped up action at the Ann Rhoads Spring Invitational Monday afternoon.

The spring season-opener saw TSU finish in 16th place with an overall score of 792 after two rounds. After shooting a 416 as a team in the opening round the Tigers improved 40 strokes with a 376 in the second frame.  



BRIA NORRIS
Sophomore
Franklin, TN

Jamie Pierce led Tennessee State with a score of 174 behind rounds of 93 and 81. She finished in a tie for 35th to pace the Tigers. Sara Shoufler carded a 186 (97-89) for 70th place followed by Bria Norris (79th) with a 209 mark. Norris recorded a 112 if the first round before registering a score of 97 in the second stanza.



SARA SHOUFLER
SOPHOMORE
BEDFORD, INDIANA

Mya Billingsley rounded out the scorers for TSU with 223 (114-109). The University of Indianapolis claimed the tournament title with a score of 644 (336-308) while OVC foe Tennessee Tech finished fourteen strokes behind with 658. Methodist University placed third after carding a 662 (343-319).

Women's golf will return to action at the Murray State New Wave Communications Racer Classic on Sunday, March 4.



COURTESY: TENNNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION



Xavier Gold Rush defeat Fisk to give Jackson his 200th victory

HEAD COACH DANNTON JACKSON

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Chris Iles scored a career-high 21 points Monday to lead NAIA No. 25 Xavier University of Louisiana to a 74-50 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball victory against Fisk.

The Gold Rush (21-7 overall, 10-3 GCAC) won for the seventh time in eight games and gave Dannton Jackson his 200th career victory as head coach.

Denzell Erves had 16 points and 10 rebounds — his team-leading sixth double-double of the season and his second in a row — and Wanto Joseph scored 12 points.

Jackson is 200-88 in nine seasons at Xavier and has reached 20 victories seven times. He is the third consecutive Gold Rush coach to reach 200 victories — Denny Alexander (1978-90) and Dale Valdery (1990-2002) did it too. Valdery won a Gold Rush-record 234 games, and Alexander won 212.

"I couldn't get to 200 wins on my own," Jackson said. "Reaching 200 is a tribute to all the guys who wore the Xavier uniform. We've had some unbelievable guys in the program. They're responsible for this. I'm really proud to represent Xavier, my alma mater."

Jewaun Wynn scored 16 points, including four 3-pointers, for Fisk (6-20, 2-10).

Xavier overcame a 7-0 Fisk start to lead 28-25 at halftime, then pulled away with a 30-7 burst in the first 13 minutes of the second half. Iles scored 11 points during the run, and Cordell Hadnot's basket with 7:40 remaining gave Xavier its largest lead, 58-32.

"Fisk hit some early shots and played well," Jackson said. "They were attacking the paint and creating shots. Once we were able to control that, we got it going. We depended on our defense again to pull away."

The Gold Rush outshot the Bulldogs 45.5 to 31 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 47-31. Xavier had advantages of 42-18 in points in the paint and 32-14 in bench scoring. Xavier dominated at the line, making 20-of-27 free throws to Fisk's 9-of-20.

"I like the way we're playing. I like the way we're defending," Jackson said. "When we're settled down and defending, we're really a hard team to beat."

Xavier remained one game behind 17th-ranked Tougaloo, an 84-64 winner at home against Talladega, in the GCAC. Xavier and Tougaloo will close the regular season Saturday with conference road games — Xavier will visit city rival Dillard at 7 p.m., and Tougaloo will visit SUNO at 5 p.m.

BOX SCORE

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS 

Hampton women cruise past Delaware State on Senior Night

MELANIE WARNER
 FORWARD, SENIOR
HOMETOWN: TALLAHASSEE, FL
NORTH FLORIDA CHRISTIAN H.S.

HAMPTON, Virginia - Melanie Warner's smile was bright, but it masked myriad emotions.

Warner, Hampton's senior guard/forward, caught the opening tip of Monday night's game against Delaware State with her left hand, then immediately headed to the bench. She spent the rest of the night cheering her teammates, playing their final home game of the season, with the broken finger on her right hand heavily wrapped.

Warner, averaging 10.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 32.7 minutes per game for the Lady Pirates, jammed the finger catching a pass in Sunday's practice. She will have surgery Tuesday and is likely out for the rest of her final season.

"It's bittersweet," said Warner, a 42 percent 3-point shooter who shoots 83 percent from the free-throw line. "Everybody wants to play on senior night, but my teammates held it down, so I'm OK with it. All I can do is be positive and just cheer on my teammates. I know that they have my back."

They certainly did on Monday, dispatching Delaware State 71-44 after a ragged 0-for-9 start from the field. But even as the Lady Pirates (20-4, 12-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) cruised to victory, trailing by no fewer than 23 points in the second half, their missing teammate wasn't far from their thoughts.

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Scores That Matters!

February 20, 2012

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

GCAC
Tougaloo 60, Talladega 47
Dillard 61, Philander Smith 47
Xavier 81, Fisk 50

SIAC
Kentucky State 52, Miles 44
Paine 89, LeMoyne-Owen 86 (2OT)

CIAA
Virginia State 75, Lincoln Pa. 50
Virginia Union 66, Bowie State 39
Shaw 83, Winston Salem State 57
Johnson C. Smith 81, Saint Augustine's 78
Fayetteville State 78 , Livingstone 71

MEAC
Hampton 71, Delaware State 44
Howard 62, Maryland Eastern Shore 49
Florida A&M 75, South Carolina State 69
Bethune-Cookman 47, Savannah State 43

SWAC
Alabama State 52, Southern 39
Alabama A&M 61, Alcorn State 50
Mississippi Valley 82, Texas Southern 48
Praire View A&M 72, Arkansas Pine Bluff 52

NAIA
Texas College 70, SAGU Tx 59
Langston OK 102, Huston-Tillotson 56
Jarvis Christian Tx 62, LSU Shreveport 56
Wiley Tx 2, Paul Quinn Tx 0 (Forfeit)



MEN'S BASKETBALL

GCAC
Tougaloo 84, Talladega 64
Southern-New Orleans 70, William Carey 59
Xavier 74, Fisk 50
Philander Smith 101, Dillard 90

SIAC
Kentucky State 68, Miles 60
Paine 86, LeMoyne-Owen 71
Benedict 73, Morehouse 55

CIAA
Shaw 80, Winston Salem State 59
Bowie State 101, Virginia Union 82
Virginia State 75, Lincoln Pa. 51
Johnson C. Smith 89, Saint Augustine's 79
Livingstone 74, Fayetteville State 65

MEAC
Norfolk State 66, Longwood 52
Savannah State 67, Bethune-Cookman 44
Delaware State 74, Hampton 68 (2OT)
Florida A&M 83, South Carolina State 82
Howard 53, Maryland Eastern Shore 51

SWAC
Mississippi Valley State 56, Texas Southern 53
Alabama A&M 81, Alcorn State 71
Arkansas Pine Bluff 61, Prairie View A&M 58
Southern 55, Alabama State 53

NAIA
Texas College 74, SAGU Tx 73 (2OT)
Langston OK 93, Huston-Tillotson Tx 68
Wiley 80, Paul Quinn 71
LSU Shreveport 75, Jarvis Christian Tx 54
Webber International 76, Florida Memorial 68

XU Nuggets climb to 19th; Rush 25th for fourth straight week

NEW ORLEANS — The Xavier University of Louisiana women's basketball team climbed two places to 19th in the NAIA Division I coaches poll. Xavier is 25th in the men's poll for the fourth consecutive week.

The polls, the 10th of the season, were announced Monday afternoon before Xavier's Gulf Coast Athletic Conference doubleheader at Fisk.

The Gold Nuggets are in the top 25 for the 28th consecutive time. The Gold Rush appear in the top 25 for the 21st time in 22 polls.

Both XU teams were 2-0 this past week. The Gold Nuggets (20-8) won 52-46 at home against Tougaloo and 60-53 at Edward Waters. The Gold Rush (20-7) rallied from 16 down to beat Tougaloo 67-61, then won 68-57 at Edward Waters.

he Tougaloo doubleheader was the final night of XU basketball at The Barn. A 4,500-seat arena, which is still under construction, will replace XU's 75-year-old gymnasium next season.

The Rush failed to climb despite a victory against Tougaloo, which entered the game 18th. Yet Tougaloo climbed one place to 17th.

Oklahoma City's women and Oklahoma Baptist's men are the top-ranked teams. Oklahoma City was a unanimous No. 1 for the fourth straight week, and Oklahoma Baptist replaced Shorter at the top.

Receiving votes for the second straight week was GCAC newcomer Talladega, whose women collected 10 points, five more than a week ago, and are 33rd.

Xavier is one of 10 schools with women's and men's teams in the top 25. The other schools are Azusa Pacific, Campbellsville, Columbia (Mo.), Georgetown (Ky.), Lee (Tenn.), Rogers State, Shorter, Southern Nazarene and Westmont. A week ago there were 11 such schools.

Both XU teams will close the regular season Saturday at longtime city and GCAC rival Dillard, then travel to Jacksonville, Fla., for the GCAC Tournament on March 1-3.

NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, Feb. 19)
Rank Team Record Points Last
1 Oklahoma City (12) 25-1 312 1
2 Union (Tenn.) 27-2 302 2
3 Freed-Hardeman 24-4 292 3
4 Lee (Tenn.) 28-1 282 4
5 Westmont 25-2 272 6
6 Lubbock Christian 22-4 261 7
7 Shawnee State 23-4 246 9
8 Cumberlands 23-3 242 5
9 Langston 25-2 229 10
10 Olivet Nazarene 25-3 225 11
11 Vanguard 20-5 211 12
12 Azusa Pacific 20-6 199 13
13 Lewis-Clark State 23-4 193 8
14 Saint Xavier 20-7 183 14
15 Southern Nazarene 21-7 167 15
16 Westminster (Utah) 18-7 164 18
17 Georgetown (Ky.) 19-8 157 17
18 Belhaven 22-6 151 16
19 Xavier 20-8 125 21
20 Shorter 23-5 119 22
21 Campbellsville 18-10 103 20
22 MidAmerica Nazarene 20-8 100 24
23 Loyola 21-4 99 19
24 Columbia (Mo.) 20-8 88 25
25 Rogers State 18-10 56 RV

Others receiving votes: Avila 50, LSU-Shreveport 48, St. Catharine 26, Biola 23, Lyon 19, William Woods 16, Lindsey Wilson 12, Talladega 10, Robert Morris (Chicago) 1, Montana State Northern 1, Our Lady of the Lake 1, San Diego Christian 1, St. Gregory's 1.

NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, Feb. 19)
Rank Team Record Points Last
1 Oklahoma Baptist (9) 24-3 310 2
2 Shorter (3) 26-2 302 1
3 Robert Morris (Chicago) 24-3 294 3
4 Concordia (Calif.) 22-5 273 11
5 Southern Poly 22-5 268 4
6 Martin Methodist 22-6 261 6
7 Our Lady of the Lake 21-6 248 7
8 Lindsey Wilson 18-8 231 16
9 Mountain State 21-7 230 9
10 Rogers State 21-6 228 5
11 Texas Wesleyan 21-5 193 12
12 Point Loma Nazarene 18-7 188 RV
13-tie Georgetown (Ky.) 20-7 185 10
13-tie Montana Western 21-7 185 15
15 John Brown 22-6 182 13
16 Lee (Tenn.) 19-7 177 14
17 Tougaloo 22-6 142 18
18 Columbia (Mo.) 22-6 138 20
19 LSU-Shreveport 19-7 117 19
20 Campbellsville 20-8 112 RV
21 Westmont 18-7 101 8
22 Montana State Northern 22-6 99 22
23 Southern Nazarene 20-8 87 23
24 Azusa Pacific 21-7 85 17
25 Xavier 20-7 82 25

Others receiving votes: Cumberland 75, MidAmerica Nazarene 67, Evangel 26, Cal State San Marcos 21, Saint Xavier 16, Freed-Hardeman 14, Southwestern Assemblies of God 9, Olivet Nazarene 8, Westminster (Utah) 5, Cumberlands 5, Union (Tenn.) 1, Biola 1, Baker 1, Pikeville 1, Harris-Stowe 1, Voorhees 1, St. Catharine 1, Oklahoma Christian 1.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

8 Straight for Howard With 62-49 Win Over UMES On Senior Night

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Howard University women's basketball team won its eighth straight, 62-49, over the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore (9-16, 6-7 MEAC) at Burr Gym on senior night. The Lady Bison, now 21-7 on the season, will finish the 2011-12 campaign with a 10-1 home record.

Three players reached double-figures en route to their 13th conference victory. Tamoria Holmes had a solid night with 22 points, five assists, three steals, and a career-best three blocks in 39 minutes of action. Saadia Doyle finished one board shy of a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds. Zykia Brown tallied 10 points – just one shy of her 1,500th point – and pulled down six off the glass.

As a team, the Lady Bison finished with a 31.3 shooting clip (15-for-28). HU scored 20 points off 23 UMES miscues, while committing 18 of its own.

In the first period, HU got off to a fast start with a quick triple from Holmes – the first of five by the Lady Bison in the first three-plus minutes of regulation. UMES responded with a layup by Shanyce Stewart, but India Bradford hit a three-pointer on the next possession to give the Lady Bison a four-point edge, 6-2. A layup by Nicole Deterville gave HU a 13-4 lead by the 16:02 mark.

Sparked by a Chelsea Sanders jumper, the Lady Hawks notched a 16-2 run over a seven minute span to take a 20-15 slim cushion over HU midway through the period. From there, the advantage changed hands three times, with Howard ending the first 20 with a 9-2 run to take a 32-26 lead into the lockerroom.

In the second stint, Holmes scored five-straight unanswered points to push the advantage to 37-28 by the 16:14 mark. UMES cut it to six on two different occasions, but would get no closer than that for the remainder of the game. Howard achieved its widest margin at 14 (50-26) off a four-point play by Brown and a shot from behind the arc by Doyle at the 9:07 mark – her first made three-pointer of the season.

For the Lady Hawks, Kwinnyata Mercer notched 12 points, while Sanders tallied 10. Amber Cook chipped in with eight points in 29 minutes of action.

The Lady Bison are back in action on Sat. Feb. 25 for their final regular season match against Delaware State beginning at 5 p.m.

Follow Coach G's fan page on facebook to get a behind the scenes look at the team as they make their push toward the Big Dance: www.facebook.com/NikiGeckeler.

BOX SCORE

Jamilah Corbitt, Assistant Director of Sports Information
VISIT: HOWARD-BISON
VISIT: HOWARD UNIVERSITY 

A Tale of Two Stadiums

MONTGOMERY, Alabama - You can't miss it. A huge new football stadium is rising above the campus of Alabama State University. It's the latest in a string of construction projects at the school. But this one is different. Some say it puts ASU in direct competition with the city of Montgomery and the newly renovated Cramton Bowl.

The New Hornet Stadium

ASU's new stadium will be the largest in the SWAC conference. In fact, it will hold more than three times the number of fans that normally attends Hornet football games. But university officials say that doesn't concern them. They say they're building for the future. The stadium is one of more than a dozen new construction projects on campus in the last five years. There are new dorms, new classroom buildings, and a new library.

Here's a complete list of recent projects.

"The economy is conducive to construction, so we've taken advantage of economic times," said Kippy Tate, Vice President of Buildings and Grounds. Together, the recent projects cost ASU more than a quarter of a billion dollars. The football stadium's price tag is $62 million. It is designed to hold nearly 30,000 fans, but can be expanded in the future to accommodate 55,000.

Learn more about the stadium and how to buy tickets.

READ MORE