TSU Tigers Not Able To Make Gamache's Performance Stand

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State softball returned home to host the Tiger Classic. In the fourth game of the day, the Tigers took the field, but came up short in a 1-0 loss at the hands of Youngstown State.
 

TSU (3-8) could not give starter Olivia Gamache the run support in a game where the senior was in control through most of the game. Gamache fell to 0-4 as she pitched 6.2 innings allowing a run on five hits and a walk.
 

The senior surrendered a hit in the second and two hits in each of the fourth and seventh. The final stanza was the one to derail Gamache as the Penguins picked up a leadoff double and a two-out double to make the score 1-0. Shea Morris entered the game to retire the last batter.
 

The Tigers went down in order in the seventh to give YSU (3-2) the win. Casey Crozier (2-1) held the Tigers to three hits and three walks, while striking out 11 batters.
 

TSU threatened in the first off a single and a stolen base by Courtney Gearlds, as well as a walk by Lindsey Burgess. Crozier would end the threat by striking out the side.
 

The Tigers attacked again in the third as Kiarra Freeman opened the inning with a single and moved to second on a passed ball. Jayna Hanawahine sacrificed Freeman to third before Gearlds reached after being hit by a pitch. The freshman swiped her second base of the game giving the Tigers another great opportunity with one out and runners in scoring position. Once again, Crozier would avoid any damage by sitting down the next two Tigers.

 

TSU would get lead off runners on in the fourth and sixth, and picked up a one-out walk in the fifth, but again could not push a run across home plate. The Tigers would leave seven runners on over the course of the game.
 

Kate Morris notched a hit and finished 1-for-3.
 

On Saturday the Tigers will face Western Michigan at 1:00pm and will play Temple at 7:00pm in the final game of the day. Both games can be heard on TSUTigers.com.
 

Tiger Classic - Day One - Results

Game 1 - Dayton 3, Temple 2

Game 2 - Western Michigan 14, Dayton 2

Game 3 - Temple 11, Western Michigan 3 (5)

Game 4 - Youngstown State 1, Tennessee State 0

 

BOX SCORE

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Lincoln University Spring Men's & Women's Golf Preview

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri  -- Coach Frost previews the spring golf season and explains what the Lincoln men's golf team needs to do to win a second-straight PGA Minority Collegiate Championship as part of the MIAA's Virtual Media Day.  Head coach Cathy Carter recaps the Lincoln women's golf team's fall season and previews some of the upcoming spring tournaments as part of the MIAA's Golf Virtual Media Day.





 COURTESY LINCOLN UNIVERSIY BLUE TIGERS ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Loyola names Angela Franke Head Volleyball Coach



ANGELA FRANKE
(Photo Courtesy Mississippi Valley State Athletics)

NEW ORLEANS -- Loyola University New Orleans Director of Athletics and Wellness Dr. Michael Giorlando announced the hiring of Angela Franke as head coach of the women's volleyball team. Franke joins the Wolf Pack after spending two seasons at Mississippi Valley State University as the head women's volleyball coach. She is the fifth women's volleyball coach in Loyola history.

"Coach Franke has a wealth of experience leading programs at all levels including her latest stint as a NCAA Division I head coach. She impressed our search committee with her vision of the volleyball program, organization, and her emphasis on coaching student-athletes to develop the whole person. We look forward to her joining our team," said Dr. Giorlando.

As head coach at Mississippi Valley State, Franke planned, promoted and guided a Division I women's volleyball program. Highlights of Franke's tenure in Itta Bena included a third place SWAC Eastern Division finish and a first round SWAC tournament upset of top seeded Prairie View A&M in 2012. This past season MVSU defeated defending SWAC champions Jackson State in five thrilling sets in the conference tournament.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to join the Loyola family. The Wolf Pack volleyball program has a history of being successful and I look forward to building on the tradition of the past. I'm excited to work with the talented student-athletes that are currently part of the program as well as recruiting student-athletes to such a fine institution in the future," said Franke.

In February 2011, Franke was hired as the head women's volleyball coach at St. Andrews University. Franke spent one season with the Knights, but made a lasting impact on the volleyball team, restarting a program that did not compete the previous year.

Franke accepted her first head coaching position as head women's volleyball coach at McCook Community College in 2009. For one season as head coach, Franke successfully fulfilled her coaching responsibilities in addition to serving as a housing director. Prior to her time at McCook, Franke was the volleyball graduate assistant at Alcorn State from 2007-2008.

As a student-athlete, Franke played volleyball on scholarship for two seasons at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Ariz., and completed her career at Jackson State University. Franke received a Master of Science in Guidance Education from Alcorn State University in 2008 and a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Alcorn in 2007.

COURTESY LOYOLA UNIVERSITY NEW ORLEANS ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

HorneTVision To Webcast Saturday Basketball, Baseball Doubleheaders

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State University fans will be able to watch and listen live to key Hornet basketball and baseball doubleheaders this Saturday live online at no charge.

It's the first basketball/baseball doubleheader webcasts on the same day on HorneTVision, the online channel of bamastatesports.com. The home Alabama State basketball doubleheaders against Alcorn State will be video streamed beginning with the women's game at 3 p.m., with the men's game to follow at 5 p.m.

Also starting at 3 p.m., Hornets' baseball will play the first of two Saturday games at the University of the Pacific. Game two of the doubleheader begins at 8 p.m. Fans can listen live online to both baseball games as well.

Since the Fall of 2011, more than 140 Hornet athletics contests and events have been video or audio streamed live on bamastatesports.com in a collaboration between the Athletics Department, the University's media center, the communications department, WVAS 90.7 FM, and University Administration. The combination of experienced professionals and talented, aspiring students work to produce and direct live athletics events, all while giving students real world, on-the-job training and preparation for exciting communications careers.

HorneTVision allows Alabama State alumni, parents, families, friends, and supporters to watch and/or listen to Hornet athletic contests and events – free on your computer or mobile devices.

Saturday's 'double-double' is just one of a full weekend of live events produced and directed by Alabama State University.

Date Sport Time (CT) Audio/Video

Friday, Feb. 21 Baseball at Pacific 8 p.m. Audio

Saturday, Feb. 22 Basketball DH vs. Alcorn 3 and 5 p.m. Audio and Video

Baseball DH at Pacific 3 and 8 p.m. Audio

Sunday, Feb. 23 Baseball at Pacific 3 p.m. Audio

Monday, Feb. 24 Basketball vs. Southern 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Audio and Video

Big games. Big moments. HorneTVision brings it right to you. Over the past three seasons, fans have been able to watch or listen to important games played by the ASU football, soccer, volleyball, women's and men's basketball, softball and baseball teams. Already in 2014, HorneTVision has video webcast the home basketball doubleheader sweep of Alabama A&M, as well as present an audio broadcast of baseball's historic win at Auburn.

This weekend, women's basketball looks to continue to strengthen its seeding for the upcoming SWAC Tournament, men's hoops is in second place and in the hunt for the regular season tournament title and postseason berth, and baseball looks to ride the momentum of its winning streak into an important road series on the West Coast.

The best way to support your ASU is in person, making your voice make a difference. However, if you just can't make it to the game in person, HorneTVision will take you there!

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Howard Bison Track & Field Gains Membership In ECAC

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Howard University Track and Field program has been officially granted membership into the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) and will be able to compete in ECAC events along with the programs' status as members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).

In a letter submitted to Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Louis B. "Skip" Perkins, Jr, ECAC Commissioner Kevin McGinniss said, "We are excited to have Howard as a member of the ECAC and look forward to assisting your staff in providing championship, officiating, public relations, award recognition, legislative services, and ECAC Convention benefits for student-athletes, coaches and administrators."

Head Track and Field Coach Marc Harrison lauded the move, stating, "Howard's entry into the ECAC will greatly benefit the programs and the University, allowing our student-athletes to compete with other quality institutions.

The ECAC was founded in 1938 as the Central Office for Eastern Intercollegiate Athletics and is celebrating its 75th anniversary during the 2013-14 season. The conference currently boasts over 300 member schools in Divisions I, II and III, ranging in location from Maine to North Carolina.


COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

TSU Tigers Welcome Five Teams for Tiger Classic

Live Audio | Tournament Central

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  – The Tigers return from a five day trip to the state of Arizona to host the Tiger Classic. Tennessee State welcomes five teams for the three day event. The first game of the Classic is set for 11:30am and pits Temple vs. Dayton. TSU will take the field on Friday at 6:15pm vs. Youngstown State.

On Saturday the Tigers will face Western Michigan at 1:00pm and Temple at 7:00pm. On the final day, TSU will play 1:30pm versus Dayton, before closing out the Classic with a 3:30pm against Indiana State.

LIVE action can be heard for all TSU games on TSUTigers.com.

Tennessee State finished 2-4 on their trip through Arizona and moved their record to 3-7 on the young season. TSU dropped a 10-3 contest to #5 Arizona State. The Tigers jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the second inning. The three runs matched the total number of runs ASU allowed through their first six games.

At the Hillenbrand Classic, the Tigers split a pair of games with Grand Canyon. The Lopes are in their first year of D-I and came away with a 7-6, nine-inning, win on Friday. The Tigers evened up the series with GCU with a 3-2 win on Saturday.

Alabama, ranked 4th, and Arizona, ranked 22nd, would get the best of the Tigers. Jayna Hanawahine got Tennessee State on the scoreboard against the Wildcats with a solo-home run in the top of the fourth inning. The run was the lone run Arizona would surrender all weekend, including in two matchups with Alabama. The long ball by Hanawahine was also the first extra-base hit the Wildcats have allowed on the season.

TSU closed out the Invitational with a 6-4 win over New Mexico. The win is the first ever against a team from the Mountain West Conference.

Freshman Courtney Gearlds leads the offensive attack for the Tigers with 10 hits in 26 at bats for a .385 batting average. Gearlds is tops on the team with three swipes and has been hit by a pitch four times. Kate Morris (.280) is pacing the Tigers with four doubles and eight RBI. Hanawahine has hit two bombs on the season and has crossed home plate a team high six times.

Shea Morris has been the pitcher of record for all three Tiger wins and sits at 3-3, while Olivia Gamache has been tagged with a 0-3 record. Morris has a 4.32 ERA and has fanned 34 batters in 35.2 innings of work. Gamache has toed the slab for 21.2 innings and has sat down 18, while compiling a 5.17 ERA.

Youngstown State (2-2)
2013 Record: 19-27
Conference: Horizon
2013 Finish: 9-13/6th
Series Record: First Meeting
Last Time Played: N/A
Last Win: N/A

Youngstown State played in the Upstate Classic during the opening weekend where they won their last two games after starting the season 0-2. The Penguins batted .316 as a team scoring 23 runs with five doubles and a pair of home runs. Haley Knight has team highs in average (.500), RBI (5) and on-base-percentage (.600). Knight is tied with Katie Smallcomb and Darcella Blakely with two walks. Miranda Castiglione (.417) joins Knight and Smallcomb (.444) as the three players hitting above .400. In the circle, the YSU staff has amassed a 5.25 ERA with 14 walks and 16 strikeouts in 22.2 innings. Kayla Haslett (1-0, 1.50) has appeared in three games, while Casey Crozier (1-1, 4.90) has started two games; the duo has worked 19 innings.

Western Michigan (3-3)
2013 Record: 16-33
Conference: Mid-American
2013 Finish: 7-13/5th West
Series Record: 1-1
Last Time Played: 2/27/09, W, 8-2
Last Win: 2/27/09, 8-2

The Broncos opened two weeks ago at the Kajikawa Classic, hosted by Arizona State. WMU is batting .260 and is led by Melissa Palmer and Jenny Rohn. Palmer is 9-for-18 (.500) with five runs scored, a double, two RBI and two walks. Rohn is batting .316 (6-19) with four doubles and has crossed home plate three times and has driven in four. Allyson Kus has started four games and has appeared in five throwing 23.1 of the teams 34 innings pitched. Kus is 2-2 with one save and a 5.40 ERA.

Temple (0-0)
2013 Record: 32-26
Conference: American
2013 Finish: 15-7/3rd
Series Record: First Meeting
Last Time Played: N/A
Last Win: N/A

The Owls step on the playing field for the first time since 2013. Last season Temple powered 94 long balls and returns the owners of 81 from a year ago. Stephanie Pasquale and Sarah Prezioso lead the way of five Owls who hit double-digit bombs with 15 apiece. Pasquale led Temple with a .465 average, 21 doubles, and 80 RBI, while fellow senior Prezioso topped the Owls with 65 runs, two doubles and 32 stolen bases. In the circle, Kelsey Dominik and Jessica Mahoney totaled for 263.2 of the 368 innings pitched. Dominik finished 15-8 with a 4.03 ERA, while Mahoney was 9-10 with a save and a 5.39 ERA.

Dayton (0-5)
2013 Record: 22-24
Conference: Atlantic 10
2013 Finish: 12-9/6th
Series Record: 1-2
Last Time Played: 2/24/08, L 1-8
Last Win: 2/23/08, 6-5

Dayton opened 0-5 two weeks ago at the UC Santa Barbara Gaucho Classic where they fell to the host squad before dropping a pair of games to each, #11 Texas A&M and CSU Bakersfield. Gabrielle Snyder led the Flyers at the plate and in the circle. The freshman was 7-for-15 at the plate for a .467 batting average and finished the weekend 0-1 with a 2.10 ERA in 13.1 innings of work. Jordan Jennings batted .438 with three doubles to add to Dayton’s offensive production. Tiffany Ricks picked up four RBI off two doubles and a home run, while batting .389.

Indiana State (1-3)
2013 Record: 16-34
Conference: Missouri Valley
2013 Finish: 5-19/10th
Series Record: 1-5
Last Time Played: 2/17/12, L, 6-9
Last Win: 2/24/01, 2-0

The Sycamores opened the season at the Cyclone Invitational during the first week of the season and won their opener over South Dakota State. ISU lost the final three games of the tournament by a combined five runs. Despite the 1-3 record, Indiana State is averaging 5.6 runs per game is batting .336 as a team. Erika Crissman is leading a group of eight Sycamores who are batting .300 or better. Crissman is hitting .571 in three games and is followed by Morgan Allee (.500) who is 6-fo-12 with three doubles and four runs scored. Yvette Alvarez picked up the lone win and is 1-1 with a 4.28 ERA in 18.0 innings in the circle.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

TSU Defeats SIUE on Senior Night, 66-61

NAHSVILLE, Tennessee -- Neither the weather or SIUE could stop Tennessee State from sending off its seniors with a, 66-61, victory on Thursday night in the Gentry Center.

In a game that was delayed for 30 minutes at halftime because of a tornado warning, senior Patrick Miller led all scorers with 23 points on 8-of-17 shooting. The contest marked the 40^th straight game that the Chicago native has scored at least 10 points.

Fellow senior Chaed Wellian had a career-night, pouring in a new personal best 12 points and junior M.J. Rhett had his 14^th double-double of the season, notching 16 points and 11 rebounds.

 

Senior Jacquan Nobles scored three points and grabbed four boards in his final home game.

Each of TSU’s three seniors hit triples to start the game and Wellian’s put the Tigers in front, 9-3, with only a minute-and-a-half gone.

SIUE (11-17, 7-7 OVC) responded with a 9-2 run to take the lead at 12-11, but Rhett finally got the Tigers back on track with a strong dunk off of a nice assist from Miller.

The two sides went back-and-forth for the next six minutes, but a third-straight great play from Miller --this time finding Rhett again for an easy layup—prompted SIUE head coach Lennox Forrester to call timeout with his team trailing, 25-24, with 7:53 to go in the first half.

The Cougars used the pep-talk to score six straight points and re-take the lead and head into the break up, 33-30.

The Tigers outshot SIUE in the first half (46 to 39 percent) and had more rebounds (19 versus 14), but turned the ball over seven times, leading to 10 Cougar points.

A mammoth one-handed dunk by Miller at the 15:58 mark put TSU back in control, 41-39, but the Tigers couldn’t put together consecutive field goals.

Tennessee State (4-24, 2-11 OVC) eventually gained a little ground when Miller hit threes on back-to-back trips down the court to move ahead by four, 58-54, with 5:18 to go.

An assist from Miller led to another Rhett layup from in close, allowing the Tigers to take a five-point advantage with just over one minute left in the game.

Miller hit a pair of free throws down the stretch, and TSU walked away with a 66-61 victory in the last home game of the 2013-14 season.

Tennessee State had just three turnovers in the second half and forced 10.

SIUE was paced by Kris Davis’s 14 points while Keaton Jackson added 12.

TSU will next travel to Morehead State on Feb. 27 for a 6:30 p.m. tip-off with the Eagles.

BOX SCORE
 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

Rush, Nuggets will compete 4 times in home state

NEW ORLEANS -- Four in-state meets are included on the 2014 Xavier University of Louisiana men's and women's outdoor track and field schedule.

Coach Joseph Moses announced the schedule Thursday. This is the fifth season in XU's most recent revival of the sport.

The Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets will compete in Louisiana at the McNeese Cowboys Relays in Lake Charles on March 15, the Tulane Team Challenge at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans on March 29, the Pelican Relays in Baton Rouge on April 4 and the Southeastern Invitational in Hammond on April 18.

Xavier will begin the season March 1 in the Mississippi College Opener at Clinton, Miss., a suburb of Jackson.

The Rush and Nuggets will compete April 12 in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships. In 2013, Xavier won the GCAC women's team championship for the second time in three years.

After four years in Marion, Ind., the NAIA Outdoor Championships will move to the Deep South for the first time since 1999. Gulf Shores, Ala., will be the meet site May 22-24.

Xavier returns 15 All-GCAC performers -- 13 women and two men -- from 2013.

The schedule:

March 1 (Sat): Mississippi College Opener at James E. Parkman Track, Clinton, Miss.

March 15 (Sat.): McNeese Cowboy Relays at McNeese Cameron Communications Track and Field Complex, Lake Charles, La.

March 29 (Sat.): Tulane Team Challenge at Tad Gormley Stadium, New Orleans

April 4 (Fri.): Pelican Relays at Roscoe Moore Track at A.W. Mumford Stadium, Baton Rouge, La.

April 12 (Sat.): Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships, site TBA

April 18 (Fri.): Southeastern Invitational at Southeastern Track Complex, Hammond, La.

May 9 (Fri.): Seminole Twilight Invitational at Mike Long Track, Tallahassee, Fla.

May 22-24 (Thu.-Sat.): NAIA Outdoor Championships at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium, Gulf Shores, Ala.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
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XU's Montrel, Abbes selected GCAC Players of the Week

(l) Kyle Montrel and (r) Nour Abbes

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Kyle Montrel and Nour Abbes are the first recipients of Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week tennis awards in 2014. The awards were based on performances from Feb. 10-16.
   
Montrel, a sophomore from Atlanta and a graduate of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, won the men's honor after going 2-2 in singles and 3-0 in doubles. He won in singles and doubles Friday in a 6-3 victory at then-NAIA No. 15 William Carey. Montrel teamed with Nikita Soifer for a 9-7 victory against the Crusaders' Jody Claassen and Philipp Mueller, the NAIA's ninth-ranked doubles team.
   
Montrel set a GCAC record by winning the men's weekly award four times in 2013.

Abbes, a freshman from Tunis, Tunisia, and a graduate of Lycée Sportif d'El Menzah, was 3-0 in singles and 2-1 in doubles. Abbes won in doubles with Kourtney Howell and in singles on Friday to help the Gold Nuggets win 9-0 at then-No. 2 William Carey.
   
Beginning Friday, the Gold Nuggets will play four duals in four days. They'll visit McNeese State at 2 p.m. Friday, then play at the XU Tennis Center against Alabama State at 3 p.m. Saturday and Southeastern Louisiana at 1 p.m. Sunday. On Monday the Nuggets will travel to Mobile, Ala., for a 4 p.m. neutral-site match against NAIA No. 5 Brenau at the University of Mobile. Xavier's men will play just once during that time — 3 p.m. Saturday at home against Alabama State.
   
Xavier's men are 2-4 and ranked eighth in the NAIA, and the women are 3-3 and ranked sixth. The Gold Rush and the Gold Nuggets have been in the top 10 simultaneously since March 5, 2013 — a streak of nine polls.
   
SCHEDULE NOTES:  The Nuggets' dual against Brenau was pushed back one hour . . . Both XU teams will play Coastal Georgia at 9 a.m. on March 7 in the opening round of the AUM Invitational at Montgomery, Ala. Pikeville's men are entered; so are the men's and women's teams of Auburn Montgomery, Belhaven, Campbellsville, Cumberland and Martin Methodist. Eleven of the competing teams have top-25 rankings this week.


By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
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A&T Bowling To Host Aggie Master's Challenge

GREENSBORO, North Carolina  -- After three months of traveling on the road to various tournaments, the North Carolina A&T bowling team will finally return back to Greensboro to host the first Aggie Master’s Challenge, beginning on Friday, Feb. 21 at AMF Lanes.

The tournament will stretch over a three-day period with Friday’s action beginning at noon with five four-game baker matches. On Saturday, a Senior Day presentation will start at 9:30 a.m.  followed by five traditional team matches scheduled to start at 9:45 a.m. The tournament will conclude on Sunday with bracket play that will include three best four-of-seven baker matches, followed by an awards ceremony.

Teams participating in the tournament include NCCU, Fayetteville State, Norfolk State, Morgan State, Winston-Salem State, Shaw, UAB, and Hampton.

The Aggies (47-20 overall), who are ranked 17th in the National Tenpin Coaches Association poll, haven’t competed in Greensboro since Nov. 9 when they hosted the first MEAC meet of the season. A&T is also familiar with most of its opponents participating this weekend except for CIAA members Shaw and Fayetteville State.

A&T has been led by sophomore Emily Strombeck who has averaged a 198.5 this season. Strombeck has been a consistent leader for the Aggies and has averaged over 200 in their last four tournaments. Freshman Kristin Shinn appeared in all five games for A&T at the Wildcat Invitational last weekend where she averaged 197.6 in traditional team games. Sophomore Briana Jackson played in three games and averaged 202.

Following the Aggie Master’s Challenge, A&T will compete in the final MEAC meet of the season beginning on Saturday, March 1.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

HBCU guarantee money could dry up

DUER SHARP
SWAC COMMISSIONER

SAVANNAH, Georgia -- When Savannah State football coach Earnest Wilson III went searching for future opponents a few weeks ago, he called FBS programs like Iowa and Miami, the kind of deep-pocketed athletics departments that are capable of writing the Tigers six-figure checks in exchange for being a sacrificial lamb for one Saturday.

"Iowa told me they couldn't do it," Wilson said. "Other programs told me they couldn't."

As major college football moves to the four-team College Football Playoff this coming season, in which two national semifinals and a championship game will determine the sport's national champion, cash-strapped HBCUs (historically black colleges and universities) like Savannah State are being further squeezed out of the equation. Strength of schedule is one of the criteria the 13-member selection committee will consider when choosing four teams for the playoff, so FBS teams are less willing to pay FCS opponents such as Savannah State for what would probably be an easy victory.

"It is kind of unchartered waters with strength of schedule being what's going to be looked at," said Southwestern Athletic Conference commissioner Duer Sharp. "Our schools just have to be smart. There are different ways to make money, and you've got to be smart about it."

CONTINUE READING

S.C. State defensive coordinator Mike Adams takes job at the University of South Alabama

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- For the past five seasons, Mike Adams was the architect of a South Carolina State defense whose intensity mimicked his personality and ranked atop the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Football Championship Subdivision standings.

Now, after nearly a decade in Orangeburg, Adams has moved on to Mobile, Ala., where he’s expected to become the new defensive backs coach at the University of South Alabama.

The Indianapolis native joins a Jaguars’ program that, in its fourth season, went 6-6 overall and 3-3 in the Sun Belt Conference last season. He replaces Kevin Sherrer, who was also the team’s defensive coordinator and is now a defensive assistant for the University of Georgia.

S.C. State head football coach Buddy Pough confirmed Adams’ departure Tuesday and said such a move was in the works for a couple of weeks.

CONTINUE READING 

Southern University scrambles to keep teams eligible for NCAA tourney

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern University is running out of time to meet an NCAA mandate that could keep several of the school's athletic programs ineligible for postseason play.

The school has been attempting to satisfy the NCAA requests for additional and corrected paperwork regarding the academic progress of student-athletes dating back to 2009.

The ban is most significant because its men's and women's basketball teams each are in first place of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and contending for automatic bids to the NCAA tournament. Three other winter sports — men's and women's indoor track and women's bowling are also in jeopardy of missing the postseason if the school cannot file the adequate documents in time.

Southern athletic director William Broussard and his staff issued the following statement: "We are collaborating with the NCAA and developing strategies for providing usable data in a timely fashion."

CONTINUE READING

NCAA: Southern has “significant amount of work” to complete

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- The postseason ban on Southern’s athletic programs is indefinite until the NCAA determines that the data on student-athletes’ academic performance submitted by the university is usable.

The NCAA said Thursday that the ongoing process of providing usable data requires that “a significant amount of work be completed before NCAA postseason eligibility can be restored.”

The fate of the Jaguars teams rests with the Data Collection and Reporting Subcommittee of the Committee on Academic Performance.

NCAA spokesperson Michelle Brutlag Hosick responded by e-mail to The Advocate’s request for comment on the ban, which was instituted in early December and became public knowledge last Thursday.

CONTINUE READING

JSU Tigers sign two more standouts

JACKSON, Mississippi -- The Jackson State football program added two more standouts to its 2014 recruiting class. The Tigers strengthened themselves on the offensive side of the ball in signing Robert Johnson and Romello Shumake. Both players bios and highlight films are below.

Robert Johnson RB 6-2 190

Terry, Miss. (Terry High School)

HighlightsThe 6-2 190-pound running back accumulated 1482 rushing yards, 9.75 rushing yards per carry, 82.3 rushing yards per game, eleven touchdowns, and 13 total touchdowns over a two-year playing span... He helped Terry High to a 5-6 overall record and a 3-4 league record during his season… As a senior he had 144 carries for 1453 yards and 11 TDs… His long run of the season was 74 yards … he also played basketball at Terry HS and averaged 6 ppg.

Romello Shumake WR 5-10 165

Lithonia, Ga. (Martin Luther King, Jr.)

Highlights

Shumake is considered a 2-star prospect by 247Sports and Rivals.com… Has the ability to stretch the field with his speed… During his junior season he helped lead MLK to an 11-1 record and a 9-0 league mark… As a senior the MLK Lions went 7-4 and 6-3 in league play… Recorded 30 receiving touchdowns during his high school career… He was named to the Metro Atlanta High School All-Star Game.

COURTESY JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

North Carolina A&T Aggies Release 2014 Schedule

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- North Carolina A&T released a 12-game football schedule on Tuesday that includes five strong home games, exciting road trips for fans and a non-conference schedule that is second to none.

The Aggies will open the season in Orlando, Fla., as they take on Alabama A&M in the annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge. It will mark the first time in the event’s 10-year history that A&T has been a participant. It will also mark the first time the Aggies and the Bulldogs have met on the gridiron. Fourth-year A&T head coach Rod Broadway faced the Bulldogs four times during his tenure as Grambling State’s head coach and won all four.

The Aggies home opener will feature one of the best teams in Division I-FCS in Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers were 12-3 last season, finished ranked seventh in the country while advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA FCS Playoffs. The Aggies are winless in four tries against the Chanticleers.

A&T’s four other home games are against Chowan (Sept. 20), Hampton (Oct. 11), Florida A&M (Oct. 25) and Morgan State (Nov. 8). Hampton returns to Aggies Stadium for the first time since beating the Aggies 41-24 on Sept. 19, 2009. Hampton head coach and A&T alumnus Connell Maynor will also be returning to the place where he led the Aggies to the 1991 MEAC championship as the starting quarterback.

The Florida A&M Rattlers will be the Aggies Greatest Homecoming On Earth opponent for the fourth time in their existence.

The Aggies road schedule includes games at Elon (Sept. 13), Howard (Sept. 27), Delaware State (Oct. 18), Savannah State (Nov. 15) and N.C. Central. A&T will play at Elon for the first time since losing 12-9 on Sept. 24, 2005. The Aggies are back in Washington, D.C., for the first time in three years, but will play at Savannah State for the first time in school history.

A&T closes out its season once again against archrival N.C. Central, a team they have defeated three straight times, including last season’s 28-0 blowout at Aggie Stadium. The Aggies other neutral site game is against S.C. State as the two teams return to Atlanta for the Atlanta Football Classic. S.C. State held off a late-game drive by A&T to win last year’s classic 29-24.

"We’re going to find out how good we are early,” said Broadway. “Alabama A&M, Coastal Carolina and Elon are going to be a challenge for our young team, and of course the MEAC continues to get better each year. We will have our hands full.”



North Carolina A&T 2014 Football Schedule

Aug. 31: Alabama A&M at Orlando, Fla., MEAC/SWAC Challenge

Sept. 6: Coastal Carolina, 6PM

Sept. 13: at Elon, Elon, N.C.

Sept. 20: Chowan, 6PM

Sept. 27: at Howard* Washington, D.C.

Oct. 4: at South Carolina State* Orangeburg, S.C.

Oct. 11: Hampton,* 1PM

Oct. 18: at Delaware State* Dover, DE

Oct. 25: Florida A&M, 1PM HOMECOMING 2014

Nov. 8: Morgan State*, 1PM

Nov. 15: at Savannah State* Savannah, GA

Nov. 22: at N.C. Central* Durham, N.C.

* MEAC Conference Games
BOLD: Home Game

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Broken light forces WSSU-J.C. Smith game to end in a tie

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  -- The always lively Winston-Salem State-Johnson C. Smith rivalry found a new level on Wednesday night at Brayboy Gymnasium.  

A tie game.

Yes, in what is a first in the 53-year history of the historic gym the Rams and Golden Bulls were tied at 76 at the end of regulation thanks to a Javan Wells follow basket for the Rams. After Wells made the shot the Bulls’ Joshua Linson tried a heave of 75 feet but his high throw hit off two lights and knocked them out and one of the lights was left hanging by a wire.

Instead of finishing the game with a ...

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Jackson State defeats Southern

JACKSON, Mississippi  --  Leadoff hitter Aneko Knowles scored three runs while going 2-for-4 and stealing a base and Bryce Taylor was 3-for-4 with two RBIs as Jackson State toppled Southern 6-2 Tuesday night at Robert Braddy Field.

Knowles drew a leadoff walk and stole second base, eventually scoring on a bases-loaded walk issued by Ryan Flynn (0-1), to spark a two-run first inning as Jackson State (4-1) was in control the entire game.

Southern (2-2), which struck out nine times and had just four hits, was nearly shut out. Freshman Sergio Torres, in his first at-bat of the season, hit a two-out, two-RBI single in the top of the ninth to provide the Jaguars’ only scoring.

“We really had a chance in the first ...

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Alabama State Hornets Beat Auburn Tigers 9-3, on the Road

AUBURN, Alabama  -- The Alabama State baseball team erupted in the late innings to beat Auburn 9-3 Wednesday at Plainsman Park.

Richard Amion, Emmanuel Marrero, and Brandon Castro each had two hits, and Einar Muniz scored three runs for the Hornets (4-1), who have beaten South Alabama and Auburn in back-to-back games on the road.

"These wins are good for our confidence," said Alabama State Head Coach Mervyl Melendez said of his team which has now won four straight games. "Any win is good, and when you play a tough opponent, and we did yesterday in South Alabama and we played Auburn tonight, and when you're able to play at their home and you're able to come out with a victory, you have to feel good about yourself."

After a scoreless first five innings, the Hornets scored in the sixth inning. Loading the bases with none out, Cesar Rivera laid down an RBI bunt single past the pitcher's mound, scoring Muniz. With one out, Marrero's bunt single to right field scored Amion for a 2-0 lead. With two outs and the bases still loaded, Castro's RBI walk scored Richard Gonzalez for a 3-0 Hornet lead.

Auburn scored a run in the sixth before Alabama State answered in the seventh. A hustling Rivera beat out a would-be double play at first base, allowing Amion to score to extend the Hornets' lead to 4-1.

The Tigers (2-2) scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to cut the lead to 4-3 before Alabama State put the game away with a five-run eighth inning.

Marrero led off with a triple, and scored on a one-out single by Castro. Dexter Price then doubled to left center, scoring Castro. After Muniz reached on a throwing error, Amion's two-run single scored Price and Muniz. Rivera then reached on a throwing error, scoring Amion for the final margin, beating for the first time in eight matchups.

A total of six Hornet pitchers combined to limit Auburn to just five hits in the game.

"I thought we played pretty well, and pretty good defense," Melendez said of his team which did not commit an error. "The performance offensively was good. We utilized a number of pitchers to keep everyone fresh for this weekend. We got out of jams, which is important in baseball. The opponent is usually going to make a run, and we did a pretty good job holding them to three runs tonight."

The Hornets travel to the West Coast for a four-game series at the University of the Pacific beginning Friday at 8 p.m. CT. Every game will be broadcast live on bamastatesports.com/showcase.

Box Score



COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Clutch Hits, Defense Leads ASU Hornets' 5-0 Shutout of South Alabama Jaguars

MOBILE, Alabama (Feb. 18)  --  Richard Amion and Dexter Price each hit home runs, and five pitchers combined for a four-hit shutout as the Alabama State baseball team defeated South Alabama 5-0 Tuesday night at Stanky Field.

Amion homered to left field on the second pitch of the game to give the Hornets the lead. In the eighth, Richard Gonzalez hit a two-run single to extend the lead to 3-0. Price's two-run homer in the ninth sealed the win for Alabama State (3-1), its first in 11 meetings against the Jaguars (1-3).

Michael Estevez (1-0) and four relievers combined for the shutout. Alabama State got huge outs when it mattered, perhaps none bigger than left fielder Dillon Cooper's strong accurate throw to home plate, nailing South Alabama's Davis Knapp to end the fifth inning.

Despite walking five, Estevez yielded just three hits and got big the huge assist from Cooper to preserve the shutout. Hornet pitchers continually pitched out of trouble, as the defending Sun Belt Conference champions left 14 people on  base.

The Hornets play game two of their weeklong, six-game road trip at Auburn Wednesday at 3 p.m. with live radio on bamastatesports.com.

Box Score            

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Howard University Unveils 2014 Football Schedule

WASHINGTON, D.C.  -- Howard University announces its 2014 football schedule.  The Bison, who are coming off a 6-6 season, open the campaign in a non-conference game at the University of Akron on August 28.  They will follow with another non-conference game at Rutgers on September 6.

"We will find out early about who we are when we face two tough opponents in Akron and Rutgers," said Howard head coach Gary Harrell.  "Our goal is to play a 12, one-game season, win the MEAC and compete in the playoffs.  Our September and October schedule will tell us a lot about who we are."

 

Following the game at Rutgers, Howard will take on Morehouse in the AT&T Nation's Football Classic at RFK Stadium on September 13.  The Bison will then take on Morgan State on September 20 and will play their first home game on September 27 when they host North Carolina A&T.
 

Howard will then travel to Durham, NC to play North Carolina Central on October 4, followed by another road game in Daytona Beach, FL against defending MEAC champion Bethune-Cookman on October 11.

 

Then comes homecoming against the Rattlers of Florida A&M on October 18.

 

Following the bye week, the Bison will host Delaware State on November 1, followed by road games at Savannah State on November 8 and at first time non-conference opponent Central Connecticut State on November 15.  Howard will close out the regular season against the Pirates of Hampton University on November 22.  That will be Senior Day.

 

"I am very excited about our home schedule," said Harrell.  "We have NC A&T, FAMU for homecoming, an always tough Delaware State and finally Hampton in the Battle of the Real HU to close out the season."

 

The following is the 2014 schedule:

Date	Opponent	Location	MEAC	Time
8/28/2014	University of Akron	Akron, OH		TBA
9/6/2014	Rutgers University	Piscataway, NJ		TBA
9/13/2014	Morehouse College	Washington, DC		3:30 PM
9/20/2014	Morgan State University	TBA	*	TBA
9/27/2014	North Carolina A&T State University	Washington, DC	*	1:00 PM
10/4/2014	North Carolina Central University	Durham, NC	*	1:00 PM
10/11/2014	Bethune-Cookman University	Daytona Beach, FL	*	TBA
10/18/2014	Florida A&M University	Washington, DC	*	1:00 PM
11/1/2014	Delaware State University	Washington, DC	*	1:00 PM
11/8/2014	Savannah State University	Savannah, GA	*	TBA
11/15/2014	Central Connecticut State University	New Britain, CT		TBA
11/22/2014	Hampton University	Washington, DC	*	1:00 PM

Howard Showtime Marching Band, courtesy of the BGMM Media Team of NCA&T.

 

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Gold Nuggets fall from 3rd to 6th in NAIA coaches poll

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana dropped three places -- from third to sixth -- in the NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll on Tuesday.

After recording their highest-ever preseason ranking two weeks ago, the Gold Nuggets have split their first six dual matches. They won 9-0 Friday at No. 2 William Carey but lost 5-2 Sunday to Georgia Gwinnett, which beat William Carey on Saturday. Georgia Gwinnett then leapfrogged 18 schools to grab the No. 2 ranking.

Xavier also lost to NCAA Division I members Tulane and Louisiana-Lafayette.

It's the Gold Nuggets' ninth consecutive appearance in the top 10 and their 14th in a row in the top 25.

Three of the five teams ranked ahead of Xavier -- No. 1 Auburn Montgomery, No. 3 Lindsey Wilson and No. 5 Brenau -- remain on the Nuggets' schedule. Xavier will play Brenau on Monday in Mobile, Ala., to conclude a Nuggets stretch of four duals in four days.

Xavier will visit McNeese State at 2 p.m. Friday, then play on consecutive days at the XU Tennis Center -- 3 p.m. Saturday against Alabama State, 1 p.m. Sunday against Southeastern Louisiana -- before meeting Brenau in a neutral-site dual.

New rankings will be announced March 4.

The top 25:

1. Auburn Montgomery
2. Georgia Gwinnett
3. Lindsey Wilson
4. SCAD Savannah
5. Brenau
6. Xavier
7. Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
8. Northwood (Fla.)
9. Vanguard
10. Lewis-Clark State
11. Oklahoma Baptist
12. Westmont
13. William Carey
14. Concordia (Calif.)
15. SCAD Atlanta
16. Indiana Wesleyan
17. Olivet Nazarene
18. Cumberland
19. Coastal Georgia
20. Milligan
21. Campbellsville
22. Marian (Ind.)
23. Southeastern (Fla.)
24. Davenport
25. Bethel (Kan.)

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
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ASU Football Announces Spring Practice Schedule; Black and Gold Game April 12

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  The Alabama State football team will open 2014 spring practice Tuesday, March 4, with the annual Black and Gold Game set for Saturday, April 12 at the New ASU Stadium.

The Hornets are scheduled to practice 15 times over a six-week period, taking off the last week of March for spring break.

All practices will be held at Old Hornet Stadium, with the exception for the Black and Gold Game on April 12.

2014 Alabama State Spring Football Practice Schedule  
Tue. March 4                      11 a.m.                                                           
Thurs. March 6                  11 a.m.                                           
Fri. March 7                        3 p.m.                                             
Tue. March 11                   11 a.m.                                           
Thurs. March 13                11 a.m.                                           
Sat. March 15                     9 a.m. Scrimmage                                      
Tue. March 18                   11 a.m.                                           
Wed. March 19                 3 p.m.                                             
Thur. March 20                  11 am.                                             
Tue. April 1                       11 a.m.                                             
Thurs. April 3                      11 a.m.                                           
Sat. April 5                           9 a.m. Scrimmage                                      
Tue. April 8                         11 a.m.                                           
Thur. April 10                   11 a.m.                                             
Sat. April 12                        1 p.m. Black and Gold Game (New ASU Stadium)
                     



COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION