With Coach Jenkins ejected, B-CU rallies to defeat Morgan State, 24-13

BALTIMORE, Maryland  --  With its head coach ejected from the game and its starting quarterback hobbling on the sideline, a resilient Bethune-Cookman football team overcame adversity Saturday to remain undefeated in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Isidore Jackson scored the game-clinching touchdown with 1:40 left on a 24-yard run to give the Wildcats a 24-13 victory over Morgan State at Hughes Stadium in Baltimore.

B-CU (7-2, 6-0) can clinch at least a tie for the MEAC title with a win next week at Savannah State. Morgan State fell to 3-6, 2-4.

The Wildcats were penalized 14 times for 164 yards with 60 of those yards coming on consecutive plays early in the second quarter with B-CU leading 10-7. On a Morgan State third-and-13 from the Bears' 25, cornerback Dion Hanks was called for a personal foul and ejected for throwing a punch.

Jenkins argued the decision with the officials and was handed two consecutive unsportsmanlike penalties and was also ejected from the game.

“The ref threw a flag and I questioned it,'' Jenkins said after the game. “I guess he didn't like the way I questioned it and he threw a second flag.

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Morgan State falls, 24-13, to Bethune-Cookman; Wildcats coach, player ejected

BALTIMORE, Maryland  --  Morgan State watched Bethune-Cookman start to unravel early in the second quarter of Saturday's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference matchup even though the Wildcats had a three-point lead at the time.

After defensive back Dion Hanks was ejected for striking a Morgan State player, Wildcats coach Brian Jenkins was also kicked out of the game seconds later for berating the officials. The NCAA does not officially track ejections, but at least three NCAA representatives said Jenkins could be the first head football coach ever ejected from a game.

The Bears, however, missed three field-goal attempts, had two others blocked, and eventually fell to first-place Bethune-Cookman, 24-13, in front of an announced 2,187 at Hughes Stadium. Morgan State lost its fourth consecutive game and fell to 2-3 in the MEAC and 3-6 overall. Bethune-Cookman improved to 6-0 in the league and 7-2 overall.

"We just didn't take advantage of our opportunities," Morgan State coach Donald Hill-Eley said. "The way to close teams out is to minimize mistakes. Our defense came out against a team that has been at the top of the nation with yardage and scoring and we were able to shut them down. Our defense played well."

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Stillman defeats Clark-Atlanta 37-12 at home

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama  --  Stillman College scored 17 unanswered in the first half on its way to a 37-12 victory against Clark-Atlanta Saturday afternoon.

Tigers' kicker Alejandro Huerta wedged a 30-yard field goal between a pair of touchdown passes from quarterback Josh Straughan to standout wide receiver Damian Ford to build a double-digit lead, heading into halftime against the Panthers.

Straughan hit Ford on a 24-yarder for a score with 12:12 to play in the first. Then, the freshman found his favorite target again on a 13-yarder with 6:25 to play before the half.

Clark got on the board with a 48-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tyree Williams to David Grace with 6:47 to play in the third but the point after attempt failed.

 

Stillman would respond with another touchdown pass, this one a 20-yarder to Dondre Purnell to take a 24-6 lead into the third.

Straughan added a fourth touchdown pass, finding Travis Robinson on a 10-yarder with 10:03 to play and Robinson would score on a run from 1-yard out to give the Tigers their last score.

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WSSU wins but it was no walk in the park

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina – I was starting to wonder who kidnapped the second-ranked Winston-Salem State Rams on Saturday afternoon.

The Rams played one of their worst halves of football in Coach Connell Maynor’s three seasons and wound up being tied at 6-6 at halftime. It was unfamiliar territory for the usually dominant Rams who had not been in a close game since early September.

In the second half the Rams finally got their you-know-what together and dominated the Broncos, who also came back down to earth. The Broncos played their best half of defense this season in forcing quarterback Kam Smith, the likely player of the year in the CIAA, into two interceptions and one fumble.

Smith, who will likely be named offensive player of the year in the CIAA on Tuesday, was visible frustrated and said as much after the game.

“The offense came out in the first half and just thought they were going to score 50 points right away,” said linebacker Carlos Fields. “But it didn’t work out that way.”

 

VIDEO: Athletics director Bill Hayes of WSSU talks about the Rams 10-0 season

VIDEO: Wide receiver Jameze Massey of WSSU talks about the Rams going to 10-0

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AAMU Bulldogs take a 24-23 overtime win over Southern University

NORMAL, Alabama – The Bulldogs kept their championship hopes alive with a 24-23 overtime win over Southern University on senior day.

Seniors Terrell Badie, Jared Bing, Cedric Clayborn, Denzel Cotton, Joaquenssi Eugene, Bobby Goldsby, Chris Hall, Kenneth Harris, David Isabelle, Jamaal Johnson-Webb, Kaderius Lacey, Dee Lett, Vernon Marshall, Deaunte Mason, Preston Nelson, Melvin Payne, Bryant Ross, Montay Rover, Torey Smith, Tim Tillman, Joshua Udeh, Julius Williams and Chance Wilson were honored before the start of the contest.

Running back Kaderius Lacey rushed for 81 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Deaunte Mason rushed for 14 yards for a score and threw another touchdown on 11 of 22 passing for 96 yards.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 10-0 lead on a Chance Wilson 33 yard field goal and a three yard rush by Lacey. They would go into half-time with that lead looking for their first victory on senior day since 2009.

The Jaguars came out and scored 17 straight points in the second half with a 20 yard pass and catch from Dray Joseph to Lee Doss. On SU’s second drive of the third quarter kicker Matthew Hill connected on a 45 yarder to even the score at 10 all.

Southern then scored seven more with a one yard rush by fullback Brian McCain to give the Blue & Gold a 17-10 lead early in the fourth quarter.
With 10,208 fans in attendance Alabama A&M was not about to go down without a fight. After six first downs, a personal foul penalty by SU and 12 plays, Mason found Montaurius Smith open for a seven yard touchdown to put the game in overtime which is a Louis Crews first since November 3, 2007 when Jackson State defeated AAMU 43-40.

In the extra time A&M won the toss and chose to play defense first. After four plays Joseph found Rashaun Allen in the right corner of the end zone to give the Jags a 23-17 lead. But Hill then missed the extra point which opened the door for AAMU if they scored.

With the win only 25 yards away the Bulldogs needed help and prayer as they came face to face with a fourth and 11 situation. Mason lined up in the shotgun and found Terrance Pride who then dove for the first down giving the Bulldogs new life. After a two yard Lacey run Mason punched the ball in tying the score at 23-all. Senior Chance Wilson then hit his biggest kick of his career, the extra point, to give A&M their first win since October 6.

“I was really excited and nervous but I’m glad it went through the uprights,” said Wilson. “I was joking before the game saying I was going to kick the winning score.”

Box Score


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Duhart Leads Alabama State Hornets Past Prairie View

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Daniel Duhart completed 22 of 31 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns to rally Alabama State to a 35-21 in a weather-delayed win at Blackshear Field.

Duhart entered the game late in the first quarter in place of an injured Greg Jenkins and led Alabama State from a 14-point first quarter deficit with 20 second-quarter points. Duhart threw touchdown passes to T.C. McWilliams (13 yards) and Justin Robinson (12 yards) as Alabama State took at 20-14 halftime lead.

“We got off to a slow start,” head coach Reggie Barlow said. “We talked about it all week that it would be a different game for us. It's hard to travel out here, it's a different atmosphere, and for whatever reason you have to keep fighting. (Prairie View) came out and threw the first punch, and did some good things, and our guys stayed in the moment and stayed focused and we came back and fought back and were able to get the win.”

Alabama State (6-3, 6-2) forced three turnovers in the final 2:36 of the first half to take its first lead. A fumble recovery by Marcus Berg at the PV 19-yard line led to the Duhart-to-Robinson scoring pass with 1:36 to play in the half to tie the game at 14-all.

On the next Panthers' drive, Maurice Tate's interception at the PV 20 led to Bobby Wenzig's 42-yard field goal to give the Hornets their first lead at 17-14 with 42 seconds to play in the half.

Kejuan Riley's interception and 58-yard return to the Panthers' seven-yard line with three seconds to play left enough time for Wenzig's 24-yard field goal on the final play of the second quarter for the halftime lead.

The game was delayed for one hour and 50 minutes due to lighting and storms in the area of the Prairie View campus. The game was at halftime with both teams in the locker room when the delay began, as fans were evacuated to the William Nicks Building.

After Prairie View regained the lead 21-20 late in the third quarter, the fourth quarter was all Hornets. After Alabama State thwarted the second of two Prairie View fake punt attempts, the Hornets drove 45 yards in four plays. Malcolm Cyrus' 12-yard touchdown run and the two-point conversion pass from Duhart to Robinson gave Alabama State the lead for good, 28-21 with 9:05 remaining.

On the ensuing possession, a fumbled PV punt attempt was recovered by Deontrelle Simon at the Panthers' five-yard line, setting up Rodney Cross' scoring run on the next play for the final margin.

“We were proud of him and the way he played,” Barlow said of Duhart's play in his most extensive action of the season. “We knew he could do that. His teammates call him 'Kobe'. When your guys call you Kobe, that tells you what type of character and what type of person this kid is and the type of commitment he has to the team. He did a good job for us.”

Duhart led the Hornets to scores on six of his first 10 possessions in the game.

Cyrus had a career-high 82 yards rushing on 11 carries, and T.C. McWilliams caught six passes for 65 yards.
Riley made a season-high nine tackles and his third interception of the season, extending his school record to 20 career picks. It was one of six turnovers forced by the Hornets (four fumbles, two INTs).

Alabama State remains tied for first in the SWAC East Standings and plays at Southern next Saturday at 6 p.m.

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Nuggets sweep at Dillard for 2nd straight 10-0 run through GCAC

Taylor Reuther

NEW ORLEANS -- Taylor Reuther had 18 kills, two aces and eight digs Satuday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 25-18, 25-19, 25-19 women's volleyball victory against Dillard which completed the Gold Nuggets' second consecutive unbeaten run through the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular season.

The Gold Nuggets (18-7, 10-0) will be top seeded in the GCAC Tournament, which will begin Thursday in Little Rock, Ark.

Chinedu Echebelem had nine kills, three aces and 13 digs, Moira Kirk had eight kills, and Jodi Chatters had 11 digs for Xavier, which swept the Lady Bleu Devils (5-12, 4-6) for the first time at Dillard's Dent Hall.

Xavier scored eight consecutive points to erase Dillard's 17-13 first-set lead. Reuther, who hit .500 in 30 attacks, ended the match with a kill. Reuther recorded seven kills in each of the final two sets.

More on this game will be posted online at http://www.xula.edu/athletics/news/2012/1103c.html 


By Ed Cassiere, SID
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

Gold Nuggets win by 54 in Convocation Center debut

NEW ORLEANS -- Andraquay Quinnine scored 12 points Saturday, all on 3-pointers, to lead NAIA No. 11 Xavier University of Louisiana to an 88-34 victory against Johnson & Wales (Fla.) in the first women's basketball game at XU's Convocation Center.

The game followed the XU men's 80-66 victory against Morehouse. A blessing and ribbon-cutting of the 3,937-seat facility preceded the doubleheader. The Convocation Center replaces The Barn, a gymnasium which opened in 1937 and seats 1,300. Attendance for the women's game was approximately 1,000.

Quinnine made a pair of 3-pointers during a 19-0 run which gave Xavier a 21-2 lead in the eighth minute. Quinnine was one of five newcomers to score during the run.

The Gold Nuggets (1-0) led 45-15 at halftime and took their largest lead, 82-25, after Etheral Lesene's basket with 6:40 remaining.

Chelsea Broussard scored 10 points, and Paige Gauthier and Paige Rochelle scored nine apiece for Xavier. Newcomer Talor Hixon led the Gold Nuggets with six rebounds and six assists.

Myia Russell had 14 points and eight rebounds for Johnson & Wales (0-4), and Shikina McMillan scored 11. The Lady Wildcats lost by 50 or more points for the second consecutive day.

More on this game will be posted online at http://www.xula.edu/athletics/news/2012/1103a.html

By Ed Cassiere, SID
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
XULAATHLETICS

WEEK 10, HBCU SCORECARD

OVC
Murray State 49, Tennessee State 28

MEAC
North Carolina Central 23, Delaware State 20 (OT)
North Carolina A&T 16, Florida A&M 3
Bethune-Cookman 24, Morgan State 13
Norfolk State 33, Savannah State 21
Howard 20, Hampton 10

SIAC
Tuskegee 27, Miles 17
Fort Valley State 38, Albany State (Ga.) 20
Lane 38, Benedict 21
Morehouse 55, Kentucky State 7
Stillman 37, Clark-Atlanta U. 12

SWAC
Jackson State 53, Grambling State 17
Mississippi Valley State 33, Alcorn State 9
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 49, Texas Southern 3
Alabama A&M 24, Southern 23 (OT)
Alabama State 35, Prairie View A&M 21

OTHER
Edward Waters 48, Ava Maria 14
Fairmont State 48, West Virginia State 28
Shippensburg 61, Cheyney 9
McMurry 53, Texas College 0
Concordia-Selma  , New Orleans
McKendree 34, Central State 13
Langston 21, SW Assemblies of God 7
NE Oklahoma 45, Lincoln (Mo.) 21

CIAA
Elizabeth City State 14, Bowie State 13
Chowan 35, Lincoln (Pa.) 19
Winston-Salem State 41, Fayetteville State 8
Saint Augustine's U. 43, Shaw 42
Johnson C. Smith U. 57, Livingstone 6
Virginia Union 19, Virgina State 14

FAMU's Taylor Announces Retirement At Pre-Game Breakfast

GREENSBORO,  North Carolina (Nov.3) – FAMU head coach Joe Taylor announced his retirement from coaching this morning in the team's pre-game breakfast. Taylor said that after 40 years on the sideline, "You know, when you know. From 1972 to now is 40 years. It's been a blessed career. We've touched a lot of lives. I'm officially announcing today that this is the year I retire, humbly.  Full of gratitude," he said.

As players prepared for the MEAC game against the North Carolina A&T State University, they had no idea that Taylor was about to make such a startling announcement. Players coaches and support staff embraced Taylor and vowed to give their all in winning the last three games.

Taylor has amassed a record of 233 wins against 95 losses. He accumulated a 35-18 record thus far in his tenure at FAMU. With the 233 wins, Taylor sits tied with longtime Southern University coach A.W. "Ace" Mumford for third place all-time in wins. He is two wins away from tying John "Big John" Merritt, at 235 to move into second place behind the untouchable record of Grambling's Eddie Robinson.

FAMU Director of Athletics, Derek Horne, said "We are proud of what coach Taylor has brought to this program. As an administrator, I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to work with a coaching legend, who will go down as one of the best ever in HBCU athletics. We understand his desire to move into the next phase of his life and we support him wholeheartedly."

FAMU interim president, Dr. Larry Robinson praised Taylor for his successes on and off the field. "We reached some great milestones during Coach Taylor's career, including FAMU's debut in November 2008 on ESPN College Game Day in which FAMU became the first historically black college or university to host the program. Coach Taylor has had a storied career as one of the winningest coaches in black college football. In addition, he has built character and promoted academic progression of students athletes, always reminding them that their best contributions will often occur off the field of athletic competition. We certainly appreciate everything he has done to advance the football program at FAMU and we wish Coach Taylor all the best in his retirement," Robinson said.

Taylor is the 15th head coach in the history of Florida A&M University. In 2007, the season before his arrival, the Rattlers finished 3-8 overall. In his inaugural campaign in 2008, he crafted the best one-year turnaround in the country with the football team finishing 9-3. In doing so, he tied legendary coach A.S. Jake Gaither for the most wins by a first-year coach.

 

He followed that season with a 8-3 record in 2009, vaulting the Rattlers into the NCAA FCS polls for the first time since 2001. In 2010, which was Taylor's best at FAMU, his team won a share of the MEAC football championship, going 8-3. That team capped the season with six straight wins.

Taylor is a native of Washington, D.C. and graduated from Western Illinois University. He has been a part of several coaches associations and organizations. He is on the American Football Coaches Association board, the Board of Directors of the Black Coaches Association, the advisory board of Wilson Sporting Goods Company and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is also a member of the CIAA Hall of Fame.

Horne said the department will move swiftly in preparing for Taylor's successor. "We will make deliberate efforts to find the ideal person to continue the legacy of head coach of Rattler Football here at Florida A&M."


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VISIT: FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY
VISIT: FAMUATHLETICS.COM  

WSSU Rams need one more win for 2nd straight undefeated regular season

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina  --  Coach Kenny Phillips of Fayetteville State has found one weakness in Winston-Salem State.

“I don’t think their buses are that strong,” Phillips joked about the transportation that No. 2-ranked WSSU used to travel to Fayetteville for today’s 1:30 game at Luther Nick Jeralds Stadium.

Phillips, the dean of CIAA coaches and a three-time CIAA championship coach, turned more serious when trying to sum up just how good the Rams (9-0) have been.

“I sit there and watch film, and Coach (Connell) Maynor has quite an arsenal, and he’s got an experienced team to boot,” Phillips said.

The Rams have won 14 straight against CIAA opponents and are 15-1 on the road in Maynor’s three seasons. They’ll try for a second straight undefeated regular season today, then they will play for their second straight CIAA title next weekend.

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DWIGHT FLOYD WEEKLY COMMENTARY: It’s A Mad Scramble

DWIGHT FLOYD
"The Editor"
 

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- There is a new number one at the top of each of the FCS polls as teams scramble to win and stay on top. Perhaps this is no more understated than Tennessee State’s win last week with no time left on the clock. Their last minute drive showed what they are capable of when they put their minds to it. Should they make the playoffs they will be the team that no one else wants to play. Meanwhile, Bethune Cookman should continue to win and become the darkhorse in the playoffs. Clearly, in the Sports Network and Coaches Polls they get no respect. Cal Poly and North Carolina Central had an opportunity to prove themselves, but instead showed that while they are good, they are not worthy just yet of the rankings given last week in the SportsEdit.Org Fan Poll. There is still time in the season for both of them.

In the SWAC, Alabama A&M got off to a fast start and has begun to slow the winning pace last week losing to the Alabama State Hornets in a big game. Arkansas Pine Bluff is on their way to meeting whoever wants it bad enough in the East Division to make it to the SWAC Championship, their equivalent of a playoff game. I would love to see the SWAC champion take on one of the so called “Super Conference” teams.

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ECSU Vikings looking for strong finish

ELIZABTH  CITY, North Carolina  -- A second straight Northern Division title is great, but the Elizabeth City State football team is not done yet.

“We’ve got one horse in the barn, now we need to get the other two,” Vikings coach Waverly Tillar said.

Stalls are reserved in the ECSU barn for the CIAA championship and a berth in the NCAA Division II tournament.

Whether the Vikings can corral those two horses will be decided next week when they meet unbeaten, defending champion Winston-Salem State (9-0) in the CIAA title game in Durham.

Spring an upset over the Rams, who are ranked No. 2 in Division II, and ECSU, which lost last year’s championship game to Winston-Salem State 38-18, might get a return trip to the national tournament.

That’s assuming the Vikngs, whose 6-3 record is not the resume of a playoff team, win at Bowie State in today’s regular-season finale.

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Week 10 - HBCU Football

SIAC
Albany State vs. Fort Valley State, 2pm, Fountain City Classic, Columbus, GA
Kentucky State @ Morehouse, 2pm
Benedict @ Lane, 3pm
Tuskegee @ Miles, 5pm
Clark-Atlanta U. @ Stillman, 6pm

OVC
Tennessee State @ Murray State, Noon

MEAC
Bethune- Cookman @ Morgan State, 1pm
Hampton U. @ Howard U., 1pm
Florida A&M @ North Carolina A&T, 1:30pm
Savannah State @ Norfolk State, 2pm
Delaware State @ North Carolina Central



OTHERS 
Cheyney @ Shippenburg, 1pm
West Virginia State @ Fairmont State, 1pm
Huntingdon @ Point U., 1pm
Central State (Ohio) @ McKendree, 2:30pm
Texas College @ McMurry, 3pm
Lincoln (Mo.) @ Northeastern State, 3pm
Alderson Broaddus @ Virginia University of Lynchburg, 12pm, (Tri-City Classic)
Ava Maria vs. Edward Waters @ Kingsland, GA
Langston @ SW Assemblies of God
New Orleans @ Concordia-Selma, 2pm, Homecoming

SWAC
Alabama State @ Prairie View A&M, 2pm
Alcorn State @ Mississippi Valley State, 2pm
Southern U. @ Alabama A&M, 2 pm, SWAC-TV 
Jackson State @ Grambling State, 3pm
Arkansas Pine-Bluff @ Texas Southern, 3 pm

CIAA
Vrginia State @ Virginia Union, 1pm
Livingstone @ Johnson C. Smith, 1 pm
Elizabeth City State @ Bowie State, 1pm
Shaw U. @ Saint Augustine's U., 1:30pm
Elizabeth City State @ Bowie State, 1 pm

Alabama A&M linebacker Denzel Cotton's had good ride into his home finale with Bulldogs

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- The bright yellow rag-top 2001 Mustang rests impatiently in a parking lot next to Louis Crews Stadium, an eye-catcher for anyone passing by.

It would seem a collector's item, or maybe some mid-life crisis vehicle for a man needing a diversion from a suit-and-tie world.

 Instead, the front license plate reveals the owner: "#48" it reads.

That matches the jersey number for Denzel Cotton, the Alabama A&M senior linebacker from Birmingham.

"My mom actually got it for me. I wanted something different and she went and got a yellow Mustang," Cotton said. "I don't consider myself a car guy. I just wanted something that was gonna stand out."

  Cotton loves to pull the top down on good days.

However, "We've got to win in order to drop the top," he said.

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Bazemore stands out, but WSSU can’t stay with Duke

DURHAM, North Carolina  --  Winston-Salem State found out in a hurry what it’s like to play Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

The Rams were scrappy enough in their preseason game last night, but they couldn’t overcome the talented and bigger Blue Devils, who opened a big first-half lead on the way to a 69-45 victory.

With the Blue Devils starting 6-11 Ryan Kelly and 6-10 Mason Plumlee, the Rams never found a flow on offense.

“We know what we have to work on,” Coach Bobby Collins of WSSU said. “When teams are stronger, faster and bigger, we have to do a better job of being disciplined offensively. I don’t think we stayed with our offensive sets long enough.”

Although the Blue Devils struggled with their shooting (39 percent), Plumlee was solid, going 7 for 7 from the field and finishing with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Amile Jefferson added 13 points for Duke, and Rasheed Sulaimon scored 12.




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TSU Lady Tigers win exhibition vs. North Alabama

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  The Tennessee State Lady Tigers defeated North Alabama 69-58 in exhibition action at the Gentry Center on Thursday night.

Senior Destiney Gaston led TSU with 13 points in 22 minutes off the bench, while the Tigers shot 13-for-34 from the field in each half.

With the game tied at 10 with 13:06 left in the first half, TSU went on a 13-4 run over the next six minutes and didn't look back. It was triggered on the defensive end by a Gaston steal, one of eight that TSU had in the first half and 12 in the game. Over the next three possessions, Gaston or Alana Morris would either score or assist. Morris led all players with seven assists.

The Tigers held a 36-24 halftime lead and would maintain the double digit advantage for much of the second half leading by as much as 16.

The Lions would cut the TSU lead to nine with 7:34 remaining, but Kesi Hess answered with a three to put the Tigers back up by 12.

North Alabama would not go away as a 7-2 run closed the gap to 62-56 with just over two minutes left.

The Tigers would finish strong after going five straight possessions without scoring, TSU ended the game with points on its final four possession to win by the final 69-58 margin.

Simone Hopes had a team best eight rebounds for TSU, while Mekena Randle of UNA also had eight boards.

Avery Jones and Jasmin Shuler joined Gaston as Tigers with double digit points as Jones had 12 and Shuler added 10.

Sarah Bailey was the top scorer for the Lions with 13 points followed by Abby Andrews and Corinne White with 10 apiece.
 

The Lady Tigers begin the regular season on Friday, Nov. 9 when they face Cumberland at the Genry Center. Tip-off is slated for is 7 p.m.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

LSU Lady Tigers again rout Xavier Gold Nuggets in exhibition

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana --  Adrienne Webb scored 18 points to lead five LSU scorers in double figures Thursday in a 75-34 women's basketball exhibition victory against Xavier University of Louisiana.

Theresa Plaisance had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Lady Tigers, who reached the second round of last season's NCAA Tournament. Shanece McKinney scored 12 points, and Bianca Lutley and Jeanne Kenney had 11 points apiece. Kenney had 11 assists and five steals.

Andraquay Quinnine scored nine points for the Gold Nuggets, ranked 11th in NAIA Division I, and made 3-of-7 3-pointers. SiMon Franklin, playing in her hometown, had seven points.

Xavier never led and trailed 37-12 at halftime. LSU outshot Xavier 41.3 to 24.1 percent from the floor and had advantages of 47-40 in rebounds and 21-1 in made free throws. LSU committed 14 turnovers and gained 31.

It was the second consecutive season that the Lady Tigers beat the Gold Nuggets in an exhibition. LSU won 102-42 a year ago.

Xavier will begin its 35th regular season of the Title IX era with a 3 p.m. game Saturday against Johnson & Wales (Fla.) at XU's new Convocation Center. The facility, which seats 3,937 for athletic contests and 4,500 for other events, will open to the public for the first time that day. The Gold Nuggets' game will follow a 1 p.m. men's game between Xavier and Morehouse.

Read more later about this exhibition online at http://www.xula.edu/athletics/news/2012/1101b.html


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

Round 2: Sight & Sounds of Homecoming 2012

Spelman College chooses Campus-wide fitness over NCAA athletics

ATLANTA, Georgia -- A Wellness Letter from Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum ...

Dear Campus Community,

Many in the African-American community believe that the health status of African-American women is a primary indication of the health status of Blacks living in America. If that is the case, the news is not good.

Based on an analysis of the health status of students at Spelman College, many already have hypertension, Type II diabetes, or some other chronic disease usually associated with a population of much older people.

While surprising, this reality is merely a reflection of the status of Black women’s health across the country. According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 44% of Black women over 20 have high blood pressure. Type II diabetes has become a public health epidemic, and African-American women are among the most vulnerable -- more than twice as likely to develop diabetes as white women.

In addition, heart disease is the leading cause of death for African Americans in the United States as reported by the CDC. About four out of five African-American women are overweight or obese and among all children, Black girls are most likely to report they got no physical activity in the past week. A National Institutes of Health study found that by the age of 17 more than half of Black girls were reporting no leisure time physical activity at all, increasing their risk for serious illness.

Whether it is diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, breast cancer or stroke, Black women are more likely to suffer from these ailments and die from them – early. All of these illnesses are linked to obesity and lack of physical activity. As a community, we are illiterate – illiterate about what it takes to maintain our health and wellness.

Spelman, which serves a population of women, almost all of whom are of African descent, is known for educating the best and the brightest of their generation. We invest a tremendous amount of time and talent into our students’ development, an investment which will transform their lives and the communities they will impact.

However, given the current state of Black women’s health, we have to question whether these students will live long enough to make that impact. Will they have the healthy quality of life needed to truly deliver on the promise of their potential?

Committed to educating the whole person -- mind, body and spirit – Spelman has an opportunity to change the health trajectory of our students and, through their influence, the communities from which they come. We are taking that opportunity seriously by launching our own Wellness Revolution, an initiative designed to empower and educate Spelman women and the world on the value and components of lifelong wellness.

Click Here to learn more about the College's comprehensive program that will both transform the physical education curriculum, and infuse its infrastructure and co-curricular activities with innovative programs and a state-of-the-art facility to promote wellness as a lifestyle.

The Wellness Revolution@Spelman Slideshow: Spelman’s trip to Atlanta was created with TripAdvisor TripWow!

COURTESY SPELMAN COLLEGE MEDIA RELATIONS

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Spelman College looks to return to old model of fitness for all, instead of sports ...

SSU Men's Basketball Picked To Win MEAC; Hassan Named MEAC Preseason Player of the Year

NORFOLK, Virginia  -- Savannah State University senior Rashad Hassan was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year. The SSU men's basketball team were also picked to win the 2012-13 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular season title. The Tigers, who won last season's regular season championship, return everyone from last year’s squad.

The Tigers received 24 first place votes and totaled 616 points to take hold of the conference's top spot. SSU finished among the top five in the MEAC in several categories including scoring margin (2^nd), scoring defense (1^st), rebounding margin (1^st), assists (3^rd), steals (5^th), and assist-to-turnover ratio (5^th) a year ago. The Tigers finished the season with a 14-2 mark in MEAC play and 21-12 overall. SSU's season concluded with a 65-51 loss to the University of Tennessee in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament (NIT).

Hassan, a 6-7 Riverdale, Georgia native, led the Tigers in scoring with 13 points per game and started in 32 of 33 games a year ago. He ranked in the top 20 in the nation with a 57.0 field goal percentage. The 2011-12 season was highlighted by three double-double performances including 20 points and 14 rebounds against Tennessee in the NIT.

Senior guard Deric Rudolph was named to the MEAC preseason second team. Rudolph averaged 10 points per game last season.

Accompanying Hassan on the Preseason All-MEAC First Team are Tahj Tate (Delaware State), Pendarvis Williams (Norfolk State), DeWayne Jackson (Morgan State), and Ray Willis (North Carolina Central).

The 2012-13 MEAC men's basketball season tips off on Friday, November 9 with ten MEAC teams in play.

The 2013 MEAC Basketball Tournament is slated for March 11-16 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.

2012-13 Men's Basketball Preseason Predicted Order of Finish and All-MEAC First and Second Teams

As voted on by the Conference's Head Men's Basketball Coaches and

Sports Information Directors

(First-Place Votes in Parenthesis)

School...................................... Points

1. Savannah State (24)....................... 616

2. Delaware State (1).......................... 525

3. Morgan State.................................. 504

4. Norfolk State (1)............................ 489

5. Hampton........................................ 396

6. Bethune-Cookman......................... 392

7. North Carolina Central.................. 386

8. Howard.......................................... 254

9. North Carolina A&T...................... 228

10. Coppin State................................ 220

11. Florida A&M............................... 184

12. Maryland Eastern Shore............... 110

13. South Carolina State.................... 62

Preseason Player of the Year: Rashad Hassan, Savannah State University

First Team

Name	School	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown
Tahj Tate	Delaware State	G	6-4	190	So.	Easley, S.C
Dewayne Jackson	Morgan State	F	6-8	210	Sr.	Bowie, Md.
Pendarvis Williams	Norfolk State	G	6-6	195	Jr.	Philadelphia, Pa.
Ray Willis	N. C. Central	G	6-6	164	Sr.	Atlanta, Ga.
Rashad Hassan	Savannah State	F	6-7	215	Sr.	Riverdale, Ga.

 

Second Team

 

Name	School	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown
Kevin Dukes	Bethune-Cookman	G	5-9	155	Sr.	Lithonia, Ga.
Marques Oliver	Delaware State	F	6-7	220	Sr.	Durham, N.C.
Casey Walker	Delaware State	G	6-5	175	Jr.	Brodnax, Va.
Ian Chiles	Morgan State	C	7-2	270	r-Jr.	Cliffside Park, N.J.
Deric Rudolph	Savannah State	G	5-11	175	Sr.	Gadsen, Ala.

All awards are voted on by the conference's head men's basketball coaches and sports information directors.

 COURTESY SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION AND MEACSPORTS.COM

Howard predicted to win the regular season women's basketball MEAC title

Saadia Doyle

NORFOLK, Virginia  --  Howard University senior Saadia Doyle was named the MEAC women's basketball Preseason Player of the Year for the second consecutive year the conference announced today. The Lady Bison of Howard were predicted to win the regular season title as voted on by the conference's head women's basketball coaches and sports information directors.

Doyle, the 2010-11 MEAC Player of the Year, averaged 17.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game last year. The guard guided her team to the MEAC Tournament championship finale for the second straight year, earning All-MEAC and All-Tournament honors.

Howard totaled 637 points and received 15 out of 26 first place votes. Last year the Lady Bison finished with a 24-9 overall record and 14-2 mark in MEAC play. Howard welcomes back all of its starters from last year's team.

The three-time defending MEAC champion Hampton Lady Pirates were picked to finish second with 597points and seven (7) first-place votes. The Lady Pirates, who will open up their season on November 9^th against Southern Mississippi, concluded the 2011-12 campaign with a 15-1 conference record and 26-5 mark overall. Hampton was one of four MEAC teams to post 20-plus wins last season.

Coppin State was predicted to finish third while Florida A&M and North Carolina A&T round out the top five preseason predictions.

Maryland Eastern Shore was chosen to finish sixth, followed by South Carolina State (7^th), Bethune-Cookman (8^th), Norfolk State (9^th), Savannah State (10^th), Delaware State (11^th), Morgan State (12^th) and North Carolina Central (13^th).

Joining Doyle on the Preseason All-MEAC First Team is teammate Tamoria Holmes. Delaware State's Tierra Hawkins, Ezinne Kalu of Savannah State and Jaquayla Berry of North Carolina A&T round out the first team selections.

The 2012-13 MEAC women's basketball season tips off on Friday, Nov. 11 with eight MEAC teams in action.

The 2013 MEAC Basketball Tournament is slated for March 11-16 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va.

 

Preseason Honors

 

 

COURTESY MEAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Tuskegee at Miles College Buzz

Tuskegee at Miles College

WHAT: Tuskegee (7-1, 6-0) at Miles College (8-1, 6-0)

WHEN: Saturday, 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Albert J. Sloan-Alumni Stadium, Fairfield, Alabama

TV: None but Birmingham folks can catch the Golden Bears radio broadcast on 88.7 FM.

LINE: None

THIS GAME WILL DETERMINE: Everything. The meeting between Miles, the defending Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champs currently ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division II Super Region 2 standings, and Tuskegee, the winningest school in black college football history, will determine the conference's western division champion. Both are undefeated against conference foes and both haven't lost since dropping one-point games in their season opener at Legion Field. Tuskegee lost 7-6 to Alabama A&M and Miles fell 31-30 at the hands of North Alabama. The winner of this contest advances to next weekend's SIAC championship game in Atlanta and will be a virtual lock to play in, and possibly, the first round of the Division II playoffs. The loser will likely have to settle for a spot in the Pioneer Bowl which pits the SIAC against the Continental Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

Tuskegee downed Miles 27-25 at home last year and leads the overall series 45-12-1.


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Saint Augustine's University To Host 2014 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Campus

GEORGE WILLIAMS
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR/
 Head Men's and Women's Track
and Field/Cross Country Coach
Saint Augustine's University

RALEIGH, North Carolina  -- Saint Augustine's University has been selected to host the 2014 NCAA Division II Outdoor Men's and Women's Track & Field Championships, the NCAA announced Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. The event will take place May 22-24 at the Saint Augustine's University Stadium in the George Williams Athletic Complex.

“The University's track and field program has always been a source of great pride and accomplishment,” said Dr. Dianne Boardley Suber, President of Saint Augustine's University. “The selection to be the host institution for the 2014 NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships is a perfect fit for the direction in which the athletic program is headed. We look forward to hosting the nation's finest track and field athletes and providing them with a truly memorable experience.”

The national championships will allow Saint Augustine's University to showcase one of the top NCAA Division II track and field facilities in the nation. Saint Augustine's University hosted the national championships two other times but it was at Paul Derr Track on the campus of North Carolina State University in 1994 and 2000.

The University's selection as the 2014 host site holds a special place in the heart of long-time Head Coach George Williams of Saint Augustine's University. Williams, whom the complex is named after, has guided the men's and women's track and field program to 31 NCAA Division II championships and approximately 150 CIAA titles in his 36 year tenure.

“We are thrilled to be selected as the host for the 2014 NCAA outdoor track and field championships at the new SAU stadium,” said Williams, the University's athletic director. “Even though this is our third time hosting, this will be the first time the event is held on the campus itself. We have received tremendous support from our president, Dr. Dianne Boardley Suber. It is her vision which will allow us to host an event of this magnitude. I can promise you that we will do everything we can to make this a great experience for participants and spectators alike.”

Saint Augustine's University will host approximately 750 student-athletes from NCAA Division II colleges and universities throughout the nation. The result will be a great economic boom to the community, as area hotels and restaurants are expected to receive major benefits from the event.

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE

Vikings Notebook: ECSU looks to Davis for big plays

ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina  --  The situation was getting desperate.

Elizabeth City State was clinging to a six-point lead in the final moments of Saturday’s game against Virginia Union, and a last-gasp Panthers rally had put the ball on the Vikings’ 14-yard line.

“Coach said we needed a big play, so he looked to one of his big-play guys,” said ECSU senior defensive end Brad Davis, who just happens to be one of those guys.

Sure enough, Davis delivered. He blew through the Virginia Union offensive line and dumped quarterback Kenneth Graham for an 8-yard loss on an attempted boot-leg play.

Two incomplete passes later, Elizabeth City State had a 27-21 win that clinched a second consecutive Northern Division title and a second straight berth in the CIAA championship game.

“They got me one time on the ...
 

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Mobile sweeps XU Gold Nuggets after rallying in first two sets

MOBILE, Ala. — Disah Kolassiba had 14 kills and Bailey Nations 10 Tuesday to lead Mobile to a 25-21, 28-26, 25-16 women's volleyball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana.
    
The Lady Rams (23-10) rallied from deficits of 20-18 in the first set and 20-17 in the second set to help them end the three-match win streak of the Gold Nuggets (16-7). Mobile swept the two-match season series from Xavier and is 3-0 all-time at home against the Nuggets.
     

Xavier University of Louisiana's 2012 women's volleyball team

ROSTER

Moira Kirk had 13 kills, and Jodi Chatters had 10 digs for Xavier. Kirk reached double figures in kills for the fifth time in six matches.
    

Kolassiba had three kills and a block in Mobile's 7-1 run to end the first set. Xavier trailed 13-9 in that set before grabbing momentum with an 11-5 run which included Kirk's two kills and a block.
    

Xavier failed to even the match despite leads of 15-9 and 17-11. Nations and Kiara Gay had two kills apiece in Mobile's next comeback, and the Lady Rams won the second set after three Chinedu Echebelem attack errors in the final four rallies.
    

Kolassiba's kill put Mobile ahead to stay, 10-9, in the third set. The Nuggets were still in contention at 17-15 before Mobile closed with eight points — including three Nations kills and two Nicole Armstrong aces — in the final nine serves.
    

Mobile outhit Xavier .282 to .090 and had advantages of 45-29 in kills and 6-1 in aces. XU standout Taylor Reuther equaled a season low with four kills — one in 13 swings in the final two sets — and served no aces for the second consecutive match. Reuther began the day as the NAIA leader with 0.84 aces per set — two-hundredths of an ace ahead of UT Brownsville's Danica Markovic. Reuther had 19 kills at home in a four-set victory against Belhaven on Monday.
    

The loss was Xavier's second in a row on the road after a school-record 11 consecutive road victories.
    

Xavier can clinch its second consecutive Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championship with a victory Thursday against city rival SUNO. That match will start at 7 p.m. at The Barn. The regular-season finale will be 7 p.m. Saturday at GCAC and city rival Dillard, then the Nuggets will travel to Little Rock, Ark., for the GCAC Tournament on Nov. 8-10.

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