Nunez's Homer Carries A&M Past IPFW, 11-4

NORMAL, Alabama -- Led by senior Julio Nunez's four-RBI day, the Alabama A&M baseball team scored seven runs in the final two innings for an 11-4 win against Indiana Purdue-Fort Wayne, Sunday afternoon at Bulldog Field.

Nunez, who was 4-for-5 on the day, plated two of his three RBI's in a three run bottom of the fourth for the Bulldogs, who move to 2-2 on the season. IPFW falls to 2-2.

Derrick Winter picked up the win on the mound, his first, pitching four innings and striking out two batters in the process.

IPFW would take a 2-0 lead over the Bulldogs in the top of the second inning to open the scoring.  In the bottom half of the same inning, Nunez earned his base with a single to left field and would eventually score on a RBI single from Austin Hulsey.

The Mastodons then scored their final runs of the game in the top half of the fourth inning. IPFW's third baseman Zach Mishler and Tyler Shepherd both scored on a RBI single and a fielder's choice.

Nunez would put the Bulldogs on board in the bottom of the fourth, with a three-run homer to right field, his first, tying the game at four. Nunez batted in Dylan Johnson and Brandon Crutcher who earn his place on base with a hit by pitch to his shoulder.

"We swung the bat very well today," head coach Mitch Hill said. "I thought that we had some good approaches (at the plate)."

"It's great when guys who don't get to play a lot come in to get hits. That makes it fun for everybody," Hill continued. "I'm proud of Julio Nunez he started off very rough, but got out of that first inning. It was just a good day."
Caleb Bowen came in to pitch the fifth and sixth innings. He faced eight batters, striking out one and walking two.

In the bottom half of the fifth inning, Hulsey started off with a walk, then advanced to second on a Cornelius Woods' single.  Justin Folger was then walked to load the bases for the Bulldogs.  IPFW went to the bullpen, but that didn't help their cause as Dylan Johnson's smacked a shot to right center field scoring two runs for the Maroon and White.

Nunez, added his final RBI on the day with a single to score Johnson, giving the Bulldogs a 9-4 lead.

A&M would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning as Johnson and Crutcher recorded RBI singles, to bring home Allen Smith and Dustin Dhanani.

IPFW starter Cody O'Neal (0-1) took the loss, giving up four runs on five hits before being lifted in the third inning.

A&M will return to the diamond on Feb. 18, when they face the Blazers of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. at Bulldog field.

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2   
   
COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FAMU Rattlers Sweep Doubleheader Over Naval Academy

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The Florida A&M Baseball team picked up a pair of wins today as the Rattlers swept the Naval Academy with a 3-2 win in game one and a 7-3 victory in game two, here Sunday afternoon at Moore –Kittles Field.

Navy grabbed the early lead 2-0 lead as the Midshipmen scored two runs in the top of the third with Travis Blue scoring on a FAMU error, followed by a Kash Manzelli single up the middle scoring Brad Borosak.

Bennie Robinson would cut Navy’s lead to 2-1 with a 405 ft. homer off the scoreboard in right-center field in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Rattlers would tie the contest in the bottom of the eighth inning as Michael Birdsong scored on a Navy infielder’s error.

Robinson would give the Rattlers the win with a double to right center scoring Marlon Gibbs in the bottom of the 10th inning, giving FAMU the 3-2 win.

FAMU finished the contest with four hits with Robinson finishing with two hits and two RBIs. Navy finished the contest with eight hits with both Borosak and Connor Deneen tallying two hits each to lead the Midshipman.

Jordan Montague (1-0) received the win for the Rattlers as he pitched two innings in relief and struck out one in the six batters he faced. David Duncan got the start for the Rattlers as he pitched six solid innings, allowing six hits, one earned run and striking out six in the 26 batters he faced. Also making his first collegiate appearance on the mound for the Rattlers was Matthew Schaeffer as he pitched two innings, allowing two hits and striking out one in the 10 batters he faced.

Sam Sorenson received the loss for Navy as he pitched two innings of relief allowing one hit and one earned run in the nine batters he faced. Stephen Moore, the Midshipmen's starter, pitched six innings, allowing two hits, one earned run and striking out nine in the 21 batters he faced. Also making appearances on the mound for Navy was Charlie LaMar and Andrew Bartek.

In game two, the Rattlers tallied 11 hits, while the Midshipmen finished with nine.

FAMU (2-1) was led by both Ryan Kennedy and Ryan Hutson as they both finished with three hits each for the Rattlers, while Navy had three to finish with two hits each in Robert Currie, Connor Deneen and Jack Keller.

Kendal Weeks (1-0), picked up the win for the Rattlers as he pitched four scoreless innings, allowing two hits, and striking out four in the 13 batters he faced. William Carrasco was the FAMU starter as he pitched two and one-third innings, allowing five hits and one earned run in the 14 batters he faced. Brandon Fleming pitched two-third innings, allowing two hits and two earned runs in the four batters he faced.

Luke Gillingham (0-1) received the loss for Navy as he pitched four innings, allowing seven hits, three earned runs and striking out five in the 21 batters he faced. Kyle Condry and Colby Sciarrilla made appearances on the mound for the Midshipman.

Deneen gave Navy the early 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning with a single up the middle scoring Robert Currie.

FAMU would regain the lead in the bottom of the third inning with a Ryan Kennedy two-run homer to left center. Michael Birdsong stroked a single up the middle scoring Hutson, giving the Rattlers a 3-1 lead.

Navy would tie the contest in the top of the fourth inning with a Travis Blue single scoring Drew Hayes, followed by a Borosak single scoring Blue, knotting the score at 3-3.

Kennedy would give the Rattlers a 4-3 lead on a Blake Quillin sacrifice fly to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Rattlers would plate three more runs in the bottom of the sixth innings for the 7-3 finale.

FAMU will return to action as they will travel to Macon, Ga., to take on Mercer University on Thursday, Feb. 18 at Claude Smith Field in a 4 p.m. start.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Hill and Gearlds Spark TSU Tigers Over New Mexico, 6-4



Courtesy: Tennessee State Athletics

Courtney Gearlds led the Tigers on the week with a .467 average

TUCSON, Arizona – The Tigers earned a win as they concluded play at the Hillenbrand Invitational on Sunday morning. Tennessee State (3-7) used a run in the fifth and two runs in each of the final two innings to claim a 6-4 win over New Mexico (1-7) in front of 2,471 fans.

Carmen Hill gave a spark to the Tigers lineup from the nine-hole and was instrumental in the win over New Mexico. Hill finished the day 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a run driven in. With the Lobos leading 2-1, the transfer led off the fifth inning with a hard shot to third. Hill reached as the ball shot away towards left center. Jayna Hanawahine grounded out to first to push Hill to second, who then moved to third on a bunt hit by Courtney Gearlds. Hill scored from third to tie the game at 2-2, as she was able to break for home as a throw would get away from the fielders as Gearlds stole second

A frame later, Hill started a two-out rally in the top of the sixth with a single down the right field line. After a Hanawahine walk, Gearlds hit a slow roller that received help from an unexpected hope to shoot over the fielder’s glove into right center allowing both runners to move up two bases, as well as a 3-2 lead. The Tigers would extend the lead to two runs as Gearlds held up between bases to give Hanawahine time to score from third on a double-steal.

 
The Lobos would bounce back in the bottom of the inning by taking advantage of a Tiger mishap. Naomi Tellez used the extra at bat for UNM in the sixth with a two-run bomb to left field to tie the game at 4-4. 

TSU continued the pressure on the Lobos in the top of the seventh inning as Kate Morris earned her second walk of the game and was followed by the second hit of the game by Lindsey Burgess. Two batters later, Tayler Shimizu hit a ground ball too short for a potential double play. Morris was able to avoid the tag and Burgess slid into second in time to cause a bobble, giving the Tigers bases loaded for Kiarra Freeman. The sophomore fell behind in the count 0-2 and battled her way back for a walk six pitches later, giving the Tigers a 5-4 lead as Morris crossed home plate.

Hill stepped to the plate and made her presence felt again as she delivered a ball into center on a line drive, pushing Burgess home for a 6-4 lead.

Starter Shea Morris would make the score hold up as she retired the Lobos in the bottom half of the last inning. Morris improved to 3-3 allowing four runs, two earned, and six hits while striking out six.

Shimizu finished 1-for-4 on the day as she collected a leadoff single in the second inning. Shimizu would eventually score in the inning on a passed ball that gave TSU an early 1-0 lead.

The Tigers completed their trip through Arizona 2-4. Gearlds led Tennessee State over six games with a .467 average. Hanawahine hit the lone home run on the week and scored five runs. Kate Morris finished with three doubles and five RBI.

Tennessee State returns home to host the Tiger Classic Feb. 21-23. All games can be heard on tsutigers.com.

 

BOX SCORE

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

XU teams lose to unbeaten, ranked Georgia Gwinnett

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi -- Xavier University of Louisiana lost to Georgia Gwinnett in matchups of ranked NAIA men's and women's tennis teams Sunday. The Gold Nuggets lost 5-2, and the Gold Rush lost 6-1.

Georgia Gwinnett, a second-year NAIA member, is 5-0 and ranked fifth among men's teams, and its women are 6-0 and ranked 20th. New rankings will be announced Tuesday afternoon.

The Gold Nuggets (3-3) are ranked third, and the Gold Rush (2-4) are sixth.

Xavier never led in either dual. Brion Flowers and Simone-Alyse Ewell won at No. 2 doubles for the Nuggets with an 8-6 decision against Paloma Cortina and Victoria Svensson. XU freshman Nour Abbes remained unbeaten in singles with a 6-3, 6-1 victory against Ines Costamagna at No. 1.

The women's dual was stopped after Chiara di Salvo clinched with a 6-3, 6-1 victory against Ewell at No. 5 singles. At the time the match ended, XU freshman Brandi Nelson was one point from a victory against Svensson at No. 4. Flowers lost 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 to Cortina at No. 3.

It was the second straight day that the Grizzlies' women defeated a top-3 team. They won on Saturday at No. 2 William Carey, which lost to the Nuggets on Friday.

The only XU point in the men's dual came at No. 1 doubles, where Kyle Montrel and Nikita Soifer remained unbeaten with an 8-6 decision against Mark Verryth and Tony Kostadinov. The Grizzlies won at the top four singles flights, and only freshman Tushar Mandlekar won a singles set for the Rush.

Georgia Gwinnett's men defeated a ranked opponent for the third consecutive day.

The Gold Nuggets were 2-1 and the Rush 1-2 in their Mississippi duals. Next for Xavier will be a women's dual at 2 p.m. Friday at McNeese State. Both XU teams will play Alabama State at 3 p.m. Saturday at the XU Tennis Center, and the Gold Nuggets will play host to Southeastern Louisiana at 1 p.m. Sunday.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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MONDAY NIGHT: Mississippi Valley at Southern on ESPNU

Ram Ramblings: Parity ruling the CIAA this season

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  -- Parity, parity, parity.

That’s the only way to describe this season's CIAA where it’s hard to find a dominant team.

Because of this parity next week’s CIAA Tournament in Charlotte will likely be one of the most wide open tournaments in a long time.

Because there is no clear-cut favorite and no one team that is a sure-fire at-large pick to the NCAA Tournament it’s likely that the only school from the conference that makes it to the tournament will be the winner of the CIAA Tournament.

That should make the tournament that much more exciting.

CONTINUE READING

DWIGHT FLOYD COMMENTARY: Trey Kellum Most Valuable Player in Rattler Defeat of Coppin State

Delaware State University vs. Florida A&M University

Monday Night, February 17, 2014
Women 5:30 P.M./Men 7:30 PM
Tallahassee, Florida
Al Lawson Multipurpose Center
Watch live on Rattler Vision   

Dwight Floyd

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Can the FAMU Rattlers go 2-0? On Saturday night the Rattlers defeated a Coppin State team that is coached by the legendary Fang Mitchell. For those who have been around as long as he has, we were waiting on him to take off his jacket and loosen his tie. Like the days of Grambling’s Eddie Robinson in football, that is when you know he means business. Mitchell didn’t take his jacket off or loosen his tie, but he did something else we’re used to seeing. He raised his voice particularly when Reggie Lewis or Jamie Adams were left open to make a three point basket. That happened all night.

In games the Rattlers have loss since conference play started, the majority of the losses have been due to an anemic offense. Both the Rattler players and coaches have been trying to figure out how to get open shots. It’s not that the shots haven’t been falling, rather other teams have figured out ways to shut down Lewis and Adams and force someone else to win the game. Not so on this night.

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Big Inning Lifts ASU Hornets To First Win

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- A five-run seventh inning broke a 2-2 tie and lifted the Alabama State baseball team to an 8-2 win over Eastern Kentucky Saturday night at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.

After the Colonels tied the score in the top half of the inning, Dillon Cooper led off the home seventh by being hit by pitch ahead of an Emmanuel Marrero single to left field. Dexter Price then hit a bunt single to the left side to load the bases. Einar Muniz' bloop single to right scored pinch runner Marcus Swint, which put the Hornets ahead 3-2. After a sacrifice fly by Richard Amion scored Marrero, Richard Gonzalez laced a two-run double on a 2-1 pitch to the left field wall, scoring Prince and Muniz. Cesar Rivera's single to left-center field scored Gonzalez to give the Hornets a 7-2 lead.

All but one Hornet starter got at least one hit, with Price, Muniz, Amion, Rivera and Waldyvan Estrada each with two hits in the 13-hit attack.

"It was a totally different ball game for us tonight," head coach Mervyl Melendez said. "We put runners in scoring position like we did Friday, but we made it happen in this game. We got a couple of hits when we had runners in scoring position (after stranding 12 runners Friday night) and were able to put a good inning together. When you have a big inning, you usually win that game. You have to stay away from them defensively, and you have to have them offensively."

Joseph Camacho earned the win, going seven innings, allowing seven hits, two runs, with two walks and five strikeouts. He consistently worked out of jams, as Eastern Kentucky left at least one runner on base in the first four innings, and five of the seven innings he pitched.

"It was a very strong outing," Melendez said of Camacho. "He threw every pitch for a strike, located very well, and got their best hitters out, which is key when facing a good-hitting ball club, which they are. You have to contain their best hitters. That's one of the things we discussed that we had to do better against their best hitters, and take advantage of key situations."

The Hornets scored in the first inning. Amion hit a leadoff double to right-center field, and scored on a one-out single to left field by Rivera to give ASU a 1-0 lead.

Alabama State added a run in the third after another leadoff hit by Amion, this time a single to right field. With two out, Estrada dropped a single into right field between several defenders, scoring a hustling Amion from first base for a 2-0 Hornets' lead.

Swint score the final Alabama State run in the eighth. He walked, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a two-out single by Muniz through the left side for the final margin.

The teams conclude the three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
 Box Score

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

ASU Lady Rams fall to Claflin at home

ALBANY, Georgia  -- Senior guard Kourtney Alexander scored 19 points, but the Albany State Lady Rams couldn't get past the Claflin Lady Panthers, falling 65-57 in a rare home loss. With the setback, ASU falls to 15-5, 10-3 in the SIAC and enters into a first place tie with Benedict in the SIAC East. Claflin improves to 12-11, 8-5.

Cold first-half shooting put Albany State into an early deficit. The Lady Rams were only 10-29 (34.5%) from the field in the first stanza. Claflin led 33-19 with 1:07 left before halftime. A three-pointer by Alexander and a jumper by Ieshia Young during the remaining time closed the gap to 33-24 at intermission.

In the second half, Lady Rams slowly chipped away at the Lady Panthers lead. A Keidra Green trey with 6:26 left in the game brought Albany State within one, 49-48. Claflin expanded its advantage to 51-48, only to see Amber McKenzie make two free throws to make the score 51-50 at the 5:13 mark.

With 4:19 left in regulation, Green gave ASU a 52-51 lead, its first of the game. However, the Lady Rams went cold once again. Claflin ended the game on a 14-3 run to close the contest.

Green scored 14 points from Albany State. Artisha Holston pulled down a game-high 13 points to go along with eight points. Mecca Frost recorded six assists.

The Lady Rams shot 22-65 (33.8%) from the field, 7-26 (26.8%) from three-point range and 6-10 (60%) from the free throw line. They outrebounded Claflin 40-36 and forced 23 turnovers.

Albany State returns to action on Monday, February 17^th when they face Clark Atlanta University for the program's annual Breast Cancer Awareness "Think Pink" Game. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.

 

Box Score

 

COURTESY ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Coach Sandy Pugh not happy despite SU women’s win

Head Coach Sandy Pugh
Courtesy Southern University Athletics
 

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -- Kendra Coleman and Britney Washington were the primary reasons the Southern women’s basketball team defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 77-68 on Saturday in the F.G. Clark Activity Center.

Coleman scored a game-high 21 points and Washington came off the bench to score 20 as the Jaguars overcame a slow start offensively and an uneven defensive performance.

“I thought the biggest thing in the game was Kendra and Britney just getting to their mid-range jump shots and hitting some shots,” Pugh said. “I thought starting the game we had everybody shooting but the right people.”

But even Coleman and Washington didn’t play well enough to satisfy Pugh, who didn’t make any players available for post-game interviews.

“I look at the opportunity to be in the media as a perk,” Pugh said. “I want them to do that, but not when we play with a lack of passion and intensity. Nobody played well tonight.”

CONTINUE READING 

TSU Defeats Grand Canyon, Falls to #22 Arizona

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

TUCSON, Arizona --The Tigers split a pair of games on day two of the Hillenbrand Invitational on Saturday afternoon. Tennessee State (2-7) earned a 3-2 victory over Grand Canyon University (4-6) and lost a five inning 10-1 game to No. 22 Arizona (6-0) in front of 2,471 fans.

 

The Tigers opened the day by avenging a loss from a day ago against Garand Canyon. Kate Morris continued her hot hitting with a double to left center, as Courtney Gearlds tried to score from first on the hit. GCU executed the relay to get the freshman as she slid in to home plate. Morris advanced to third two pitches later and scored on a passed ball late in the at bat to give TSU an early 1-0 lead.

 

The Lopes tied up the game at 1-1 in the top of the third with an unearned run off starter Shea Morris. The junior would get help in the Tigers half of the inning from her twin sister, as Kate Morris would once again come through in a key situation. Jayna Hanawahine reached on a one-out single and moved to second as Gearlds was hit-by-pitch for the second of three times in the game. Morris came up with a drive off the wall in left center driving in both base runners for a 3-1 lead.

 

The runs would stand as Shea Morris continued to put out any fires the Lopes tried to start. The hurler improved to 2-2 by allowing just six hits and a walk. Morris struck out five batters, including Camree Wartman for the final out of the game with runners on second and third.

 

In the late afternoon game, the Tigers tried to stand toe-to-toe with the Wildcats. Arizona looked to get things started early with a leadoff double by Hallie Wilson, but she was stranded at third as Morris recorded back-to-back strikeouts of Kellie Fox and Chelsea Goodacre.

 

Eventual winner, Michelle Floyd (1-0), would retire all nine batters she faced in her three innings of work. The perfect innings led to the bottom of the third when the Wildcats took advantage of a leadoff error and a two-out home run to take a 3-0 lead. Morris would give up four runs in the inning, all unearned, as Arizona took a 4-0 advantage into the fourth.

 

The Tigers would end a bid for a perfect game as Hanawahine greeted relief pitcher Nancy Bowling with a hard line drive over the wall in left center to cut the lead to 4-1. The blast is the second of the season for the Waimanalo, Hawai’i native.

 

It would be as close as the Tigers would get as UA exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fourth.

 

The Big Blue will wrap up play at the Hillenbrand Invitational as they face New Mexico at 9:00am (MT) on Sunday. All games can be heard at tsutigers.com.

TSU vs. Grand Canyon Box Score
TSU vs. #22 Arizona Box Score

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
 

FSU's Deja Middleton Stars as Lady Broncos Top WSSU

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina  -- Deja Middleton scored 15 points and had a career-high 22 rebounds as Fayetteville State beat Winston-Salem State 75-65, in its "Ball in Pink" game at Felton J. Capel Arena on Saturday. The Lady Broncos donned its pink uniforms and improved to 17-5 overall, 10-3 in the CIAA and 6-1 in the Southern Division. The Lady Rams falls to 3-4 in the division, 7-6 in the conference and 13-10 overall.

The fifth annual breast cancer awareness event raised awareness and funds for the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation Friends of the Cancer Center. The donations will be used to provide patient support for cancer survivors in Fayetteville."

Middleton, a Richmond, VA, native, also had seven blocks.

"We came out and got the win. I knew we were going to get it the whole time," Middleton said. "I was just sitting there hoping I had a double-double. I didn't even know I had a double-double. I was just playing, that was all."

It was the first 20-rebound game for the Lady Broncos since SheQuitia Manning had 25 in a game against Salem Intermont on Dec. 11, 2012.

Amber Calvin (Fayetteville, NC) scored 14 points despite making just one of her 13 shots from the field. She was 11-of-14 from the foul line. Je' Lena Robertson (Houston, TX) finished with 11 points and went 7-of-11 from the free throw line.

After battling to an early 12-12 tie, FSU scored nine points in a row on layups by Akysia Resper (Concord, NC) and Robertson, a 3-pointer by Calvin and two Robertson free throws to build some cushion.

The Lady Rams cut into the gap and reduced the FSU lead to seven, but the Lady Broncos went on a 13-1 run to make it 36-17 with 4:51 to play in the half. WSSU was able to trim nine points off that deficit before halftime, but the Lady Broncos still took a 38-28 lead into the locker room.

Final Stats

COURTESY FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

No. 13 Virginia State Cruises Past Elizabeth City State

ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina – The 13^th-ranked Trojans defeated the Vikings of Elizabeth City State University for the series sweep, 71-59 at the RL Vaughan Center on Saturday. This was the 11th consecutive victory for the team, maintaining first place in the CIAA Northern Division standings.

The Trojans (21-1, 12-1 CIAA) received an offensive boost with three players scoring in double figures, including a season-best 14 points from Senior Shakirah Gray (Philadelphia, PA). Gray was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Lamesha Deal (Norfolk, VA) led the Trojans with 16 points and added five rebounds, while Alexandria Massado (Wilmington, DE) chipped in 14 points, collecting five rebounds.

VSU never trailed in this game, coming out with two free-throw shots from Gray after she collected a steal from a turnover of Elizabeth City. They built the lead to seven, making a 7-0 run before the Vikings finally got on the scoreboard with a jumper by Chelsey Davis.

ECSU trimmed the Trojans lead to 16-12, going on a 6-2 run, highlighted by three offensive rebounds from the Vikings.

However, VSU gained separation, ignited by a 10-0 spurt over the next 5:07 to take a 25-14 lead. Tiffanie Adair (Spartanburg, SC) collected 6 points during the run.
The Trojans were able to maintain a comfortable lead for the remainder of the half, taking a 37-23 lead into intermission. VSU scored ten points off of Elizabeth City's turnovers and got 9 points from its second unit in the opening half.

The second half mimicked the first half as the Trojans would open the frame with an early bucket by Deal, 39-23. The Vikings would cut the deficit to seven with 16:52 left in the game but VSU responded with another good jumper by Deal.

VSU would begin to dominate offensively as they gained a lead as large as 25 points with 9:41 left in the game. ECSU pulled within nine points, but the Trojans scored the game's last and final three points, with a final score of 71-59.

The Trojans will be on the road again on Monday, February 17^th as they take on Chowan University at 5:30 p.m.
      
Final Stats

COURTESY VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Aiken's Huge Second Half Leads LU Lions to Victory Over VUU

Kyle Aiken
(Courtesy The Lincoln University Athletics)

RICHMOND, Virginia – Three Lions reached double figures in a 65-47 road victory over Virginia Union University on Saturday, February 15^th. Kyle Aiken (Randolph, NJ/Randolph HS) paced the Lions with 15 points in the second half as Lincoln outscored the Panthers 40-25.

Lincoln's offense dished out 10 assists on 11 made shots from the field early in their battle against Virginia Union. Senior guards Justin and George Jackson (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor HS) along with Derrick Washington (Washington, DC/Coolidge SHS) all had two assists a piece. Freshman forward Timothy McKenzie (Central Islip, NY/Central Islip HS) scored eight first half points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting from the field. He also had five rebounds as the Lions held a 17-12 rebounding advantage over the Panthers. Defensively, Lincoln held VUU to nine made field goals and forced eight turnovers. At the half, the Lions led 25-22.

The Lions' bench caught fire in the second half exploding for 26 points. Junior guard Kyle Aiken (Randolph, NJ/Randolph HS) went 4-for-7 from the field and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line for 15 points. Aiken also had two steals and one of the Lions' two made shots from long range. Down the stretch, Lincoln made 16-of-18 free-throws while the Panthers struggled at home going 13-for-20. Derrick Washington (Washington, DC/Coolidge SHS) made 6-of-8 attempts and Timothy McKenzie (Central Islip, NY/Central Islip HS) made all four of his shots from the line.

Kyle Aiken (Randolph, NJ/Randolph HS)'s layup with 6:26 left in the contest gave Lincoln their first double-digit lead 52-41. He later sank a pair of free-throws to extend the lead to 62-43 with just under two minutes remaining in regulation. Lincoln sealed the victory with a junior guard Demetrius Johnson (Baltimore, MD/Milford Mill HS) three-pointer with five seconds left and won 65-47.

Timothy McKenzie (Central Islip, NY/Central Islip HS) recorded his third double-double of the season with 16 points and ten rebounds. McKenzie grabbed seven offensive rebounds and went 6-for-8 from the field. Derrick Washington (Washington, DC/Coolidge SHS) and Kyle Aiken (Randolph, NJ/Randolph HS) combined for 26 of the Lions 35 bench points. Aiken had 15 points, six rebounds, and three steals while Derrick Washington (Washington, DC/Coolidge SHS) had 11 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Justin Jackson (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor HS) finished with seven points and three steals and George Jackson (Baltimore, MD/Digital Harbor HS) had five points with three rebounds, and three assists.

Lincoln improves to 17-7 overall record and 9-5 CIAA record after their victory. The Lions travel to Murfreesboro, NC on Wednesday, February 19^th to tangle with the Hawks of Chowan University in their second to last regular season game.

Box Score

COURTESY THE LINCOLN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Chowan University Adds Women's Golf

MURFREESBORO, North Carolina  -- Vice President/Director of Athletics Ozzie McFarland stated, "We are very excited to announce the addition of women's golf to our athletic department.  It is a growing women's sport and should be a great addition to our athletic program."

Mike Ordnung has been selected and tasked with the implementation and the development of the institution's first women's golf team in program history.  He noted, "I am thrilled to have been selected to begin the women's golf program at Chowan.  It is undoubtedly an outstanding opportunity to build history and impact the lives of student-athletes."

McFarland noted, "I believe Mike is the perfect person to lead our entry into women's golf.  His playing background, knowledge of our area and in particular, of Chowan University along with his golf connections make him an excellent choice for this position".

Ordnung is currently the general manager of Valley Pine Country Club in Lasker, NC and has held the position since 2006.  There, his is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the facility, inventory control, conducting private golf lessons, clinics and tournaments while supervising the staff.  Additionally, he generates revenue and expands sales by initiating and monitoring the effectiveness of monthly promotions, maintains and expands the country club's membership base while making responsible management decisions.

Prior to working at Valley Pine, Ordnung was the Head Golf Professional at Club Corp: The Currituck Club for four years.  He developed and oversaw the club's 3.2 million dollar budget through financial forecasts, revenue game plans and inventory control.  He was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Pro Shop, the 15-member golf operations staff and conducted lessons, clinics and tournaments.

The Jackson, NC native is a 2002 graduate of Campbell University where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration.  He is the son of Chowan's men's golf coach and outdoor facilities manager Ellen Ordnung.  He has a wife, Laurie, and son, Preston.

Opportunities continue to grow for female students at Chowan University with the official addition of women's golf for the 2014-15 academic year.

COURTESY CHOWAN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

St. Aug Set To Defend Titles at CIAA Indoor Track & Field Championships Sunday

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Saint Augustine’s University is aiming to defend its men’s and women’s titles at the 2014 CIAA Indoor Track & Field Championships held at the JDL Fast Track on Sunday, February 16 and Monday, February 17.

The Falcons are gunning for their 17th straight league crown and 29th overall. The Lady Falcons will attempt to capture their second crown in a row and 17th in 18 seasons. Overall, the Falcons and Lady Falcons have amassed over 150 CIAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships and 33 NCAA Division II Titles under legendary Head Coach George Williams. Last season, the Falcons breezed past the competition by a 122-point margin.

The Falcons’ men, the defending Division II national champions, are led by a host of sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers including Moussa Dembele (Sr./Dakar, Senegal), Jermaine Jones (Jr./Wilmington, NC), Joshua Edmonds (Sr./Jacksonville, FL), Ty’reak Murray (Sr./Portsmouth, VA)  and DeJon Wilkinson (Sr./Summerville, SC). Jones and Dembele are defending NCAA Division II individual champions in the 200 meter dash and 60 meter hurdles, respectively. Dembele is currently ranked second in the 60 hurdles and Jones is ranked sixth in the 200 dash in Division II.

Wilkinson is the top-ranked triple jumper in the nation. Edmonds is ranked second in the 400 meter dash and Murray ranks third in the 60 hurdles. The 4x400 relay team of Edmonds, James Quarles (Sr./Washington, DC), Burkheart Ellis Jr. (Soph./Raleigh, NC) and Roxroy Cato (Sr./Jamaica) are No. 1 in the nation. Cato is also ranked fourth in the 400 dash.

The men’s teams expected to challenge the Falcons are Virginia State University, Johnson C. Smith University and Virginia Union University. Virginia State is ranked 31st in Division II while Johnson C. Smith is 40th and Virginia Union 47th, respectively.

Virginia State is led by sophomore Charles Robinson, who is the seventh-ranked 400 dash sprinter in the nation. He also is part of the seventh-ranked 4x400 relay team which includes junior Clive Cameron, freshman Justin Williams and junior Te’Shad Chambers. Johnson C. Smith is sparked by senior Rolando Berch, who ranks fifth nationally in the 400 dash. He is also a member of the ninth-ranked 4x400 relay team which includes freshman Joshua Cunningham and sophomores Patrick Campbell and Waynee Hyman. Junior Berfrantz Charles heads the Virginia Union men. Last season, he was named CIAA Field MVP after scoring 14 points for the Panthers. He is currently ranked seventh in Division II in the 60 dash.

Among the women, the contenders are expected to be Johnson C. Smith and Winston-Salem State in addition to defending champion St. Aug. Johnson C. Smith is ranked fifth nationally and St. Aug is ranked 17th. Winston-Salem State is ranked 28th.

The Lady Golden Bulls are led by the speedy duo of senior Danielle Williams and junior Samantha Elliott. Williams, last season’s CIAA Track MVP, currently ranks first in the nation in the 60 hurdles and 200 dash. She is also sixth in the nation in the 60 dash. Elliott ranks second in Division II in the 60 hurdles, seventh in the 200, and eighth in the 60 and 400. They both are members of the fourth-ranked 4x400 squad which includes freshman Domenique Julius-Williams and freshman Crystal Campbell.

The Lady Falcons are led by the third-ranked 4x400 team of Akeisha Dumont (Jr./Brooklyn, NY), Fanta Fofana (Soph./Amiens, France), Tia-Adana Belle (Fr./St. George, Barbados) and Cherrisse Lynch (Jr./St. Lawrence, Barbados). Shakinah Brooks (Fr./Raleigh, NC) ranks fifth nationally in the long jump and Brittni Finch (Jr./Centreville, VA) ranks sixth in the triple jump.

Tajanel McNeil and Raven Covington are the top stars for the Lady Rams. McNeil, the co-CIAA Field MVP last season, ranks third in Division II in the triple jump. Covington ranks seventh in the 60 dash.

Kendall Reynolds, who shared the CIAA Field MVP with McNeil last season, ranks fifth in the triple jump and sixth in the long jump for Bowie State University, which ranks 31st in the nation. C’evon Jones ranks fifth in the 60 dash for 50th-ranked Virginia Union and Alicia Terry is the nation’s eighth-ranked triple jumper for 59th-ranked Virginia State. Six CIAA schools are ranked among the top 60 Division II women’s  teams in the nation. Another name to watch is junior Quanera Hayes of Livingstone College, who ranks first in the 400 and third in the 200 in Division II.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and military personnel with valid ID . Children ages 12 and under are admitted free.

Need Directions?
From Interstate 40 (East or West), take exit 189 for US-158/Stratford Road. At the top of the ramp, turn right onto US-158/Stratford Road. Proceed approximately 2 miles and turn left on Kimwell Drive. JDL Fast Track will be approximately 1/2 mile down on the corner of Kimwell and Empire. Spectator parking is in the front.

COURTESY THE CIAA MEDIA RELATIONS

Golden Bulls Men's Basketball Falls To Division Rival Livingstone

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  --  The Johnson C. Smith University men's basketball team splits the season series with Livingstone College after an 87-82 divisional loss on Saturday, February 15^th at Trent Gymnasium. JCSU moves to 13-10 overall, 5-7 in the CIAA, and 2-5 in the Southern; while the Blue Bears improve to 16-6 overall, 9-4 in the conference, and 6-1 in the division.

The Golden Bulls faced a deficit for the majority of the first half. Livingstone never led by more than eight points in the opening. Down eight with 3:40 on the clock, sophomore guard Joshua Linson (San Antonio, TX) made a three pointer to pull within five. Junior guard LaMarquis Letchaw (Dallas, TX) followed up with another three on the next possession.

Letchaw connected on two free throws at the 2:13 mark, but JCSU still trailed 41-39. Mark Thomas misfired on a three pointer on the next Livingstone possession. Sophomore center Alandre Davis (Wilson, NC) tied the game with a layup and 1:34 remaining in the half.

Anthony Welch scored the last points of the period with a shot at the buzzer. The basket put the Blue Bears ahead 43-41 at halftime. The combination of Thomas and Welch paced Livingstone throughout the initial half. Thomas had 11 points and five assists, while Welch produced 16 points and six rebounds.

Junior forward Emilio Parks (Ashtabula, OH) had a team-high 10 points at the break. Linson went 3-of-5 from the three point line for nine points, but also had four turnovers. Davis made 4-of-5 from the field for eight points and two assists.

JCSU continued to face an uphill battle in the second half. Two free throws with 7:08 on the clock by Jody Hill put the Blue Bears up 75-65. However, the duo of Letchaw and Parks evenly generated an 8-0 run over the next two and half minutes. Thomas broke the scoreless drought for LC, sophomore forward Markell Lotharp (Marshville, NC) answered on the other end with a layup.

Senior forward Antwan Wilkerson (Greensboro, NC) eventually tied the score 80-80 with 1:28 remaining. Unfortunately, the Blue Bears managed to outscore JCSU 7-2 during the final minute and a half. JCSU finished with 17 turnovers compared to eight for Livingstone.

Parks finished with 26 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Linson and Letchaw each had 14 points. Davis concluded with 12 points and two assists. Wilkerson produced a career-high 18 rebounds, along with seven points and two blocks.

Welch had a game-high 28 points along with 10 rebounds and two steals. Thomas ended the evening with 21 points, nine assists, and three steals.

The Golden Bulls look to snap their four-game winless streak in their next contest against Saint Augustine's University. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Monday, February 17^th at Emery Gymnasium in Raleigh, NC.

Box Score

COURTESY JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS          

Winston-Salem State Rams Picks Up Big Division Win With 69-61 Victory Over Fayetteville State Broncos

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina  -- Winston-Salem State got a big win on Saturday afternoon, and defense forced Fayetteville State to 25 turnovers, as the Rams rolled in the second half en route to a 69-61 win over the Broncos at Capel Arena.

With the win, Winston-Salem State improves to 14-9 overall, 9-4 in the CIAA and 5-2 in the Southern Division. Fayetteville State falls to 17-7 overall, 9-4 in the CIAA and 5-2 in the Southern Division. The win also puts the Rams into a tie for second place in the Southern Division, a game behind the Livingstone College Blue Bears.

 

Winston-Salem State was able to get out in front of the Broncos early, led by the big three of Marquez Jones, WyKevin Bazemore and Preston Ross, III, before Fayetteville State battled back to tie the game at 10-10 with 12:31 in the first half.

 

Fayetteville State would use a 9-4 run to jump out ahead of the Rams, but the Rams defense was able to keep the Broncos within reach by forcing them into numerous turnovers, and by the 7:15 mark had pulled back even at 21-21.

 

A three pointer from Javan Wells and Quinton Alton, gave the Rams back the lead and extended it to five points, before the Rams would turn up the defensive pressure and were able to hold the Broncos scoreless over the last five minutes of the first half, and outscored FSU seven to two to end the first half with a 35-30 halftime lead.

 

In the first half, the Rams controlled the points in the paint, with a 14-6 advantage and also got big contributions from the bench as the Rams held a 14-6 bench scoring advantage.

 

As the second half began, the Rams big three would take control and it would take less than five minutes for the Rams to push their lead to double figures, a place it would stay for most of the half.

Jones, Bazemore and Ross proved throughout the evening that the first matchup with the Broncos was a premonition,  as the also punished the Broncos on the boards, out rebounding them by 10 (42-32).

 

Winston-Salem State would go up by 10 at the 14:10 mark, 45-35, and maintained that lead into the under 12 minutes media timeout, at 48-38.

 

The Rams would increase their lead to 14, but the Broncos would cut into the lead following back to back WSSU turnovers and a made three and began to force their way back into the game.

 

Fayetteville State cut the Rams lead to six at 59-53 with 1:49 left to play, but coming out of the timeout, WyKevin Bazemore would find a wide open Preston Ross, III underneath the basket for a powerful two hand slam dunk to push the lead back to eight points.

 

The game would come down to free throws, as with 44.10 seconds remaining, Tyre Desmore would be fouled and he would make one of two, but WyKevin Bazemore would fight the rebound and he would force the ball off of a Bronco defender, giving the Rams a fresh shot clock. Preston Ross, III would go to the line after a quick FSU foul, and he would sink both, pushing the Rams lead back to seven with just under 44 seconds left.

 

WSSU would force a quick turnover from the Broncos, and Marquez Jones would be fouled and he would sink two to give the Rams a nine point lead with just under 30 seconds left.

 

The Rams Preston Ross, III would also go to the line and sink four free throws coming down the stretch to give the Rams the win by the final of 69-61.

 

Winston-Salem State was led in scoring by Marquez Jones and Preston Ross, III who each finished with 18 points and five rebounds. Jones also added six assists and two steals, while Ross added two steals. WyKevin Bazemore picked up his 10^th double-double of the season with his 12 point and 12 rebound performance. Bazemore also finished with three steals, two blocked shots and an assist.

 

For the Broncos of Fayetteville State, Tyrrel Tate finished with a game high 26 points, to go with seven rebounds and two assists. Devin Thompson added 11 points for the Broncos.

 

Winston-Salem State University will continue the mad scramble of games leading up to the CIAA Tournament, as they will return home for a Monday night matchup with Shaw University. This is a makeup game from Wednesday night, when the game was postponed due to the inclement weather.

 

Box Score  

 

COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

AAMU Bulldogs Victorious in Thrilling Overtime Victory Over Rival Alabama State

Normal, Alabama -- In their second meeting of the season, the Alabama A&M- Alabama State match up did not disappoint.

Like the first game in Montgomery, action in Huntsville began early and was frequent. Both teams asserted themselves offensively from the first whistle. The Maroon & White held the early lead at 13-12 by the first media timeout (14:34).

Action remained frantic between the rival programs for the next eight minutes. By the six minute mark the Maroon & White held a three point lead at 28-25, after leading by as many as 10.  The visiting Hornets went on a run to end the half and stole the lead from the Bulldogs.  At the half, the visiting Hornets held a 36-30 lead.



A.J. Capers and Jeremy Crutcher lead scoring for the home team with 10 first half points each.

Maurice Strong led the Hornets with 11 points, with Tony Armstrong adding seven.

Coming out the break, both teams got right back into the flow of things. A&M went on a run to close the Hornet lead to two; however, ASU was able to extend the lead to six at 44-38 by the first media time out.

The visitors continued to maintain a six-point lead with A&M fighting to stay in arms reach.  The Bulldogs increased their defensive pressure and showed multiple looks in hopes of cutting the Hornet advantage.

The Maroon & White crowd exploded in support of the Bulldogs as a Crutcher three pointer brought them within three at 55-52 with just 3:00 left on the clock. On the ensuing possessions, both teams would sink a pair of free throws keeping the game at a three-point reach.

With 1:23 left in the game, the Bulldogs stole the ball and cut the lead to one after again sinking two clutch free throws. ASU head coach, Lewis Jackson, would call a timeout after a huge made basket by Jamel Waters to increase State's lead to three at 59-56 with just a minute left to play.

The senior Jeremy Crutcher came up huge again, hitting a layup and the resulting free throw to tie the game 59-59 with 19.4 on the clock.

A last second three-point attempt by the Hornets was unsuccessful and there was overtime on "The Hill" for only the third time this season.

In overtime the Bulldogs used the energy from the 3,510 in attendance to outscore State 9-6 resulting in the seventh conference win.

Jeremy Crutcher led all scorers with 27 points shooting 10-20 from the floor. This was a career high for the Hazel Green native. A.J. Capers added 16 points, three rebounds, two blocks and two steals to aid the Maroon & White victory.

The 10-12 Bulldogs (7-5 SWAC), will return to action Saturday, February 22, when they host the Jaguars of Southern University.

Box Score

COURTESY ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION          

Ingram Lead NCCU Eagles Over SCSU Bulldogs 67-53

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina — Senior guard Jeremy Ingram poured in a game-high 22 points to lead North Carolina Central to a, 67-53, victory over South Carolina State Saturday at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.

The Bulldogs fall to 8-16 overall, 4-7 in the MEAC, while the Eagles soar to 19-5 overall, 10-1 in the league and extend their conference winning streak to 11-straight games.

"We played a very good NC Central team tonight," said Bulldog head coach Murray Garvin. "I feel like I am repeat because we are discussing turnovers again. We have to do a better job of taking care of the basketball."

"It's been tough not having Jalen White and someone stepping up to fill that point guard role," said Garvin. "Make no excuses their guards played really well tonight in Ingram and Parks."

NCCU jumped out to a quick six point lead, 20-14, off a 3-pointer by Ingram at the 8:09 mark. A jumper by junior forward Karamo Jawara  followed by a layup senior point guard Emanuel Chapman pushed the Eagles lead to 10, 26-16 with 3:21 remaining in the first-half.

The Bulldogs cut the lead in half to five, 22-27, off a tip-in by junior guard/forward Devin Joint with 0:21 seconds remaining in the half. NC Central closed out the first-half with a 29-22 lead over SC State.

Garvin stated, "We felt pretty good coming into the game and played well the first twelve minutes of the first-half."

Ingram nailed the second of his three 3-pointers of the day to extend NCCU lead to 17, 48-31, at the 11:22 mark in the second-half. Junior guard Jordan Parks's driving layup with 2:35 remaining in regulation gave the Eagles their biggest lead of the game 22, 67-45. Parks finished with 16 points and eight rebounds to secure the Eagles 67-53 victory over the Bulldogs.

Despite, a costly 21 turnovers South Carolina State's bench outscored NCCU 30-19, while the Eagles dominated in the paint 40-22 and scored 33 unanswered points off turnovers in the win.

SC State was led by senior guard Theron Stephens with 10 points, while sophomore forward Daryll Palmer added nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

"We have to move forward and get ready for a young and scrappy Aggie team on Monday," said Garvin.

South Carolina State returns to action on Monday when they host conference rival North Carolina A&T in an MEAC doubleheader, beginning at 5:30 p.m., with the men following afterwards.

COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

HU Pirates Win In Overtime at Norfolk State

NORFOLK, Virginia  –  The Hampton University men's basketball team needed five extra minutes, but the Pirates still beat rival Norfolk State 79-73 Saturday evening in Echols Hall to further establish themselves in the upper half of the conference standings.

The Pirates (14-11, 9-3 MEAC) have won three straight games and six of their last seven.

Sophomore guard Dwight Meikle (Baltimore, Md.) led the Pirates with 14 points off the bench, while sophomore guard Deron Powers (Williamsburg, Va.), sophomore guard Brian Darden (Hampton, Va.), and senior forward Du'Vaughn Maxwell (Manhattan, N.Y.) each added 11 points.

Jervon Pressley (Charlotte, N.C.) scored on a floating layup to open overtime and give the Pirates a 68-66 lead, and then added free throws at the 4:09 mark of overtime to grow that lead to 70-66.

Darden added a steal and a breakaway layup to put the Pirates up 72-66, then he broke toward the basket again, got fouled, and hit a free throw to give Hampton a 73-66 lead with 3:23 left. Norfolk State's first basket of overtime didn't come until the 2:49 mark, when Marese Phelps hit a jumper to cut Hampton's lead to 73-68.

Maxwell gave the Pirates a cushion with a floater, putting Hampton up 75-69 with 1:10 left. Jamel Fuentes hit two free throws with 34.8 seconds left, cutting the lead to 75-71, before the Spartans started fouling.

Powers hit both free throws with 33 seconds left, putting Hampton up 77-71 before Pendarvis Williams hit two free throws to cut the lead to 77-73.

Darden answered with two free throws with 20.6 seconds left, putting Hampton up 79-73.

The Spartans only had one field goal in overtime.

Norfolk State led 12-5 with 16:14 left in the first half, before the Pirates went on an 8-2 run to cut the lead to 14-13 after a dunk from Brown at the 13:29 mark. Hampton's first lead came at the 6:56 mark, after junior center Emmanuel Okoroba (Garland, Texas) hit two free throws to put the Pirates up 20-18.

The teams then traded 3-pointers, and sophomore guard Miles Jackson (Silver Spring, Md.) hit two of them – the latter giving the Pirates a 26-24 lead with 4:42 left in the half. Powers hit a jumper at the 3:34 mark to give the Pirates a 28-24 lead.

Okoroba hit two more free throws with 1:42 left to give Hampton a 32-29 lead, but Norfolk State closed the half on a 6-1 run, taking a 35-33 lead into the locker room after a Riley Maye layup with a second left.

Powers gave the Pirates a 38-37 lead with a 3-point play with 17:56 left in the game, and after the Spartans tied the game at 40-40, the Pirates went on a 7-0 run to take a 47-40 lead after a trey from Meikle.

Powers made it a 9-0 run with a driving layup to give the Pirates a 49-40 lead.

Norfolk State answered with a 7-1 run to cut the lead to 50-47, before Okoroba hit a layup with 9:34 left to put the Pirates up 52-47, before the Spartans went on a 7-2 run to tie the game at 54-54 on a Brandon Goode dunk with 6:40 left.

Williams hit a 3-pointer with 5:17 left to extend the run to 10-1 and give the Spartans a 57-54 lead. A Phelps trey at the 4:31 mark gave Norfolk State a 60-56 lead.

Kievyn Lila-St. Rose added a trey of his own with 3:56 left, putting the Spartans up 63-58.

The Spartans extended the lead to 65-58, before Maxwell hit two free throws with 2:31 left to cut the lead to 65-60. Brown followed with a spinning layup with 1:55 left to cut the Spartans' lead to 65-62, and Darden cut the lead to 65-64 with free throws with 1:20 to play.

Maxwell scored on a putback with 32.3 seconds left and was fouled, but he missed the free throw to leave the game tied at 66-66. The Pirates got the rebound, but Darden's 3-pointer fell short and Hampton couldn't convert the stickback.

The Pirates shot 41.4 percent (24-for-58) from the floor and hit five of 21 3-pointers (23.8 percent). Hampton and Norfolk State each had 39 rebounds, but the Spartans turned the ball over 16 times to just 13 for the Pirates.

Norfolk State (14-11, 8-3 MEAC) shot 38.1 percent (24-for-63) from the floor and only went 17-for-25 (68.0 percent) from the free throw line.

Williams led four Spartans in double figures with 18 points.

The Pirates will be in Washington, D.C. next Saturday to take on Howard at 7 p.m. For more information on Hampton University basketball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

Box Score

 

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

FAMU Lady Rattlers Defeat UI Chicago 6-2 At UCF Tourney

ORLANDO, Florida  --  The Florida A&M Softball team picked up their first win of the season with a 6-2 win over the University of Illinois-Chicago in their second game of the UCF/ Holiday Inn Classic, here Friday morning at the UCF Softball Complex.

FAMU (1-5) finished the contest with six hits, whereas UIC (1-5) tallied seven.

The Lady Rattlers were led by Raven Mosley with two hits, while Erica Hampton finished the contest with three hits to lead the Flames.

Amber Fullwood picked up the win for FAMU as she went seven innings, giving up seven hits, two earned runs and striking five the 30 batters she faced.  Alice Fitzpatrick (0-1) received the loss for UIC as she went two and two-thirds innings in relief, giving up two hits, three earned runs and striking out two in 14 batters she faced.

UIC grabbed the early 2-0 lead on a pair of  doubles by Jenna Marshall scoring Jacki Fletcher in the bottom of the first and Natalie Hernandez in the bottom of the third.

FAMU tied the contest at 2-2 as Moseley scored two runs for the Lady Rattlers on a Whitney Farris single back to the pitcher and on a Flames’ error in the top of the sixth inning.

The Lady Rattlers would plate four runs in the top of the eighth inning with Amanda Weaver scoring both Moseley and Tashayla Irvis, followed by an Alyssa Weaver double to center field scoring both Christina Robbs and Amanda Weaver for the 6-2 final.

FAMU will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 15 as they take on Middle Tennessee State at 4 p.m. and then UCF at 6 p.m., at the UCF Softball Complex in their second day of the UCF Holiday Inn Classic Tournament.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION