MEAC TOURNAMENT: UMES Lady Hawks Pull Off Opening Round Upset Over Norfok State

NORFOLK, Virginia  -- The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women’s basketball team came into the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament as the No. 11 seed and pulled off the big upset on the women’s side as they knocked off Norfolk State University (NSU), 70-66, inside the Norfolk Scope Arena.

With the win, Maryland Eastern Shore moved to 9-20 overall while the Spartans’ 2013-14 campaign came to an end as they finished 12-16 on the season.

Junior guard Shawnee Sweeney (Chester, Va.) had a team-high 18 points, including 4-of-7 from downtown, while TeAmber Burke (Washington, N.C.) notched 17 points and a team-high four assists in the victory.

Over four minutes into the second period, the Spartans opened on a 16-4 run to increase their halftime lead, 45-32, the largest of the game. In the next five minutes, Maryland Eastern Shore fought back as they cut the deficit to three, 49-46, after going on a 14-4 run. The Spartans withstood UMES rally as they went on another run, 7-3, to create separation, but the Lady Hawks continued to claw away at the lead.

In the final moments, Maryland Eastern Shore reclaimed the lead for the first time since the 3:20 mark back in the first period after a layup from Alexis Udoji (Randolph, Mass.), 65-64. At this moment, the Lady Hawks matured before the UMES faithful eyes as they nailed 5-of-6 free-throws down the stretch to seal the upset, 70-66.

Other notable Hawk performances included Ashleigh Claybrooks (Manassas, Va.) coming off the bench scoring 13 points, including 6-of-8 from the floor, whereas Jessica Long (Fort Washington, Md.) added eight points in the upset win.

Nearly eight minutes into the game, both teams were deadlocked, 7-7, until the Spartans went on a 6-0 run to take the lead, 13-7. The Lady Hawks answered with a 10-0 run of their own to regain the lead, 17-13, with less than seven minutes to go before halftime. Within the next five minutes, NSU reclaimed the lead, 23-20, after a layup from the Spartans’ Quineshia Leonard. In the waning minutes, Maryland Eastern Shore trailed, 29-25, until a jumper from Claybrooks, as time expired, cut the halftime deficit, 29-27.

For the Spartans, Rae Corbo had a game-high 24 points while Koryn Lawrence netted 14 points in the loss.

With today’s victory, the Lady Hawks take two days off in preparation to face the No. 3 seed, Coppin State University (CSU). Tip-off is slated for noon (EST).

For complete recaps, results and news of Hawk athletics, please visit www.umeshawks.com.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE SPORTS INFORMATION

Seven Home Games Highlight Alcorn 2014 Football Schedule

HEAD COACH JAY HOPSON
ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY
Courtesy: ASU BRAVES ATHLETICS

LORMAN, Mississippi  --  Head football coach Jay Hopson and his staff announced the 2014 football schedule this morning.

The Braves schedule features seven home games at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium including two non-conference games and five SWAC games.

The first four games on the Braves schedule are in the State of Mississippi beginning with the home opener against Virginia University at Lynchburg on August 30^th. The following week the Braves travel to Hattiesburg, MS to face Conference-USA opponent Southern Mississippi. On September 13 the Braves will entertain Louisiana College at Spinks Casem Stadium before hitting the road for their SWAC opener at Mississippi Valley State.

The Braves wrap up the month of September on the 27^th with a key matchup against defending SWAC champs, Southern University at Spinks-Casem Stadium and will kick off the month of October at home as they welcome Alabama State for High School Day.

On October 11^th the Braves make their way back to Eddie Robinson Stadium in almost five years to take on Grambling State. The following week on October 18 the Braves face the Tigers of Texas Southern for homecoming.

The Braves end the month of October at Prairie View A&M (Oct. 25^th) and will have an open week on November 1^st before hitting the road again for the final time in 2014 at Alabama A&M on Nov. 8^th.

The Braves conclude the 2014 season at home against Arkansas Pine-Bluff (Nov. 15^th ) and the season finale versus rival Jackson State (Nov. 22).

ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY BRAVES 2014 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date	Opponent	Conference Game	Location	Time

8/30/2014 Virginia University at Lynchburg Lorman, Miss. 4:00 P.M.
9/06/2014 at Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, Miss. - Roberts Stadium TBA
9/13/2014 Louisiana College Lorman, Miss. 4:00 P.M.
9/20/2014 at Mississippi Valley State * Itta Bena, Miss. - Rice-Totten Stadium TBA
9/27/2014 Southern University * Lorman, Miss. -4:00 P.M. High School Day
10/4/2014 Alabama State * Lorman, Miss. 2:00 P.M.
10/11/2014 at Grambling State * Grambling, La. - Eddie Robinson Stadium 2:00 P.M.
10/18/2014 Texas Southern * Lorman, Miss. - 2:00 P.M. Homecoming
10/25/2014 at Prairie View A&M * Prairie View, Texas - Blackshear Stadium TBA
11/01/2014 Open
11/08/2014 at Alabama A&M * Huntsville, Ala. - Louis Crews Stadium TBA
11/15/2014 Arkansas-Pine Bluff * Lorman, Miss. 4:00 P.M. Senior Day
11/22/2014 Jackson State * Lorman, Miss.  2:00 P.M.

ALL HOME GAMES (BOLD) PLAYED AT Spinks-Casem Stadium
* Denotes SWAC Games

COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

SWAC Announces 2013-14 Women's Basketball Honors

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama  -- The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2014 SWAC Women’s Basketball All-Conference teams and individual award winners on Monday, March 10.

Texas Southern's Jazzmin Parker was tabbed SWAC Player of the Year, while Quentori Alford of Alabama State captured Defensive Player of the Year honors.  TSU's Sarah Williams collected Newcomer of the Year and Mississippi Valley State's Ashley Beals was honored as the SWAC Freshman of the Year.

Head Coach Sandy Pugh of Southern University received the vote as the league's Coach of the Year. All selections were voted on by the Conference's coaches and sports information directors.

Pugh was tabbed SWAC Women's Basketball Coach of the Year after leading the lady Jaguars to a 16-2 conference record and her third regular season championship title in the last five years.

After spending her first year as a TSU Lady Tiger, Parker led the league in scoring all season and carried TSU to its first three victories on the season. Parker scored more than 30 points in five games this year, which was a league best. She earned SWAC Player of the Week honors four times during the season while earning a spot on the first-team All-SWAC.

Alford picked up Defensive Player of the Year after leading ASU in rebounds, averaging 8.4 boards per game, landing second in the league in the category. She played a strong role in the Lady Hornets' defense, averaging a conference high 2.1 blocks per game. She helped ASU take the No.1 seat in offensive and defensive rebounds, rebound percentage and block shots in the SWAC.  Alford was tabbed SWAC Player of the Week this year, earning one of two awards for ASU.

Williams becomes the second player from TSU to receive post season individual honors. The junior started in 27 of 28 games for the Lady Tigers and ranks first on the team in assists and second in the league with a total of 140, averaging 5.0 per game. Williams has two double-doubles on the season.

Beals collected Freshman of the Year after posting three double-double's this year. She averaged 10.1 points and a team-best 6.2 rebounds per game. Beals led the Devilettes in scoring with double figures in six games this season, and carried MVSU to their only non-conference victory with 19 points in a 68-58 win over Eastern Kentucky.

Joining Parker and Alford on the All-SWAC First Team include: Jeanette Jackson (Prairie View A&M), Jasmine Jefferson (Southern), and Ayanna Hardy-Fuller (Jackson State).

Tierro Frost of Alcorn State earned All-SWAC Second-Team honors after recording the most points scored in a game this year with 39. Joining Frost on as a second-team selection include: Joanna Miller (Grambling State), Nakiya Smith (Alabama State), Victoya Ricks (Grambling State) and Morgan Simmons (Texas Southern).

COACH OF THE YEAR

Sandy Pugh - Southern

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Jazzmin Parker - Texas Southern

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Quentori Alford - Alabama State

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Sarah Williams - Texas Southern

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

Ashley Beals - Mississippi Valley State

FIRST TEAM
Position	Player	School
Guard	Jazzmin Parker	Texas Southern
Guard	Jeanette Jackson	Prairie View A&M
Forward	Jasmine Jefferson	Southern
Forward	Ayanna Hardy-Fuller	Jackson State
Center	Quentori Alford	Alabama State

SECOND TEAM
Position	Player	School
Guard	Tierro Frost	Alcorn State
Guard	Joanna Miller	Grambling State
Forward	Nakiya Smith	Alabama State
Forward	Victoya Ricks	Grambling State
Center	Morgan Simmons	Texas Southern

COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

TSU's Aaric Murray named SWAC Player of the Year

HOUSTON, Texas  --  The Southwestern Athletic Conference has recognized Texas Southern center Aaric Murray as its Southwestern Athletic Conference Player and Defensive Player of the Year.

Southern swept the final three accolades with Tre'Lun Banks receiving Freshman of the Year honors along with teammate Calvin Godfrey earning Newcomer of the Year while head coach Roman Banks was tabbed Coach of the Year.

All honors including first and second team selections were voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.



Murray led the SWAC in scoring for the entire regular season averaging 21.7 points per game while hauling in 7.7 rebounds per contest. He was TSU's leading scorer in 17 of their 29 games on the year. Earlier in the year, Murray became the first NCAA Division I player taller than 6'10 to score 48 points in over a decade while also becoming the first player to connect on 20+ field goals in a game since 2011. Defensively, he blocked a league best 69 shots for an average of 2.4 per outing.

CONTINUE READING

Southern men's basketball dominates postseason SWAC honors

2013/14 SWAC MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH OF THE YEAR
ROMAN BANKS
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

HOUSTON, Texas  -- Southern basketball coach Roman Banks was named Southwestern Athletic Conference Coach of the year, while forward Calvin Godfrey was named Newcomer of the Year and guard Trelun Banks was chosen Freshman of the Year in voting by the league's coaches and sports information directors announced Monday.

Godfrey also was a first-team all-league honoree, along with teammate guard Malcolm Miller. Texas Southern's Aaric Murray was named the league's Player of the Year.

Godfrey averaged 13 points per game and was finished second in the league with nine rebounds a game, while shooting a league-leading 56 percent from the field and finished fourth with a total of 46 blocked shots.

CONTINUE READING

Former Hampton U's McCorory Wins Twice at IAAF World Indoor Championships

SOPOT, Poland  –  Former Hampton University track & field standout Francena McCorory took home a pair of gold medals this past weekend at the 2014 World Indoor Championships, winning the 400-meter dash and the 4x400-meter relay.

McCorory, a three-time NCAA champion in the 400-meter dash at Hampton, turned in a 51.12 in the final to take the gold. She also turned in the quickest time of the semifinal round, taking her heat race with a 51.35.

She was also on the 4x400-meter relay squad that won gold with a 3:24.83.

Former Lady Pirate, and current assistant coach, Yvette Lewis advanced to the semifinals of the women's 60-meter hurdles over the weekend, turning in a 7.91 in the preliminary heats.

Current volunteer assistant coach Dominic Berger also advanced to the semifinals of the men's 60-meter hurdles, thanks to the 7.61 he ran in his preliminary race.

For more information on Hampton University track & field, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com


.

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

TSU Senior Aaric Murray Headlines All SWAC Team

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama  -- The Southwestern Athletic Conference has recognized Texas Southern forward Aaric Murray as its Southwestern Athletic Conference Player and Defensive Player of the Year.

Southern swept the final three accolades with Tre’Lun Banks receiving Freshman of the Year honors along with teammate Calvin Godfrey earning Newcomer of the Year while head coach Roman Banks was tabbed Coach of the Year.

All honors including first and second team selections were voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. 

Murray led the SWAC in scoring for the entire regular season averaging 21.7 points per game while hauling in 7.7 rebounds per contest.  He was TSU’s leading scorer in 17 of their 29 games on the year.  Earlier in the year, Murray became the first NCAA Division I player taller than 6’10 to score 48 points in over a decade while also becoming the first player to connect on 20+ field goals in a game since 2011.  Defensively, he blocked a league best 69 shots for an average of 2.4 per outing.

Freshmen T. Banks led SU in assists and had a 1.4 assists to turnover ratio.  He notched a career high of 21 points twice and scored in double figures on 10 occasions. 

In his first season at SU, Godfrey averaged 13 points per game and was ranked second in the league with nine rebounds per contest. The center shot a league leading 56 percent from the field and is ranked fourth in the conference with a total of 46 blocked shots.

R. Banks was named SWAC Coach of the Year after guiding the Jaguars 19-11 overall record going 15-2 in league play. His team claimed the 2013-14 SWAC regular season championship.  Banks and the Jaguars won the 2013 SWAC Basketball Tournament and made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Joining Murray and Godfrey on the All-SWAC Men’s Basketball First Team include guards LeAntwan Luckett (Alcorn State) and Antwan Scott (Grambling State) along with forward DaVon Haynes (Arkansas-Pine Bluff).

The second team is highlighted by Jamel Waters (Alabama State) and Brandon West (Jackson State).  Waters is ranked 13^th nationally in assist (6.0) out of 100 Division I players.  Up until last week, West was the only player in the SWAC averaging a double-double.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Roman Banks - Southern

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Aaric Murray - Texas Southern

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Aaric Murray - Texas Southern

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Calvin Godfrey - Southern

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

Tre'Lun Banks - Southern

FIRST TEAM
Position	Player	School
Guard	Antwan Scott	Grambling State
Guard	Malcolm Miller	Southern
Forward	LeAntwan Luckett	Alcorn State
Forward	Calvin Godfrey	Southern
Center	Aaric Murray	Texas Southern

SECOND TEAM
Position	Player	School
Guard	Jamel Waters	Alabama State
Guard	Julysses Nobles	Jackson State
Forward	DaVon Haynes	Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Forward	Bobby Brown	Alabama State
Center	Brandon West	Jackson State

COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Xavier University of Louisiana Names Jason Horn as New Athletics Director

JASON HORN
ATHLETICS DIRECTOR
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
 

NEW ORLEANS -- Senior Vice President for Administration Ralph Johnson has announced the appointment of Mr. Jason Horn as the new Athletics Director (AD) at Xavier University of Louisiana. He will join the athletics staff effective March 31, 2014.

Horn comes to Xavier from the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) in Detroit, Mich., where he has served as Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs since 2011, overseeing the areas of event management, marketing, licensing, development, fundraising, ticket sales, social media, branding, and media relations, as well as supervising several sports. During his tenure he also served as UDM interim Director of Athletics for more than seven months.

“I am elated that Mr. Horn will be joining the Xavier community,” said Johnson. “His professional accomplishments are remarkable and he has extensive and successful experience in athletics operations. He will be a tremendous asset as we position all aspects of the Xavier athletics program for enhanced success.”

Horn replaces Xavier's retired AD Dennis Cousin, taking over an athletics program that has achieved unparalleled success competing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

During the past 10 years Xavier teams have won 53 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference or NAIA unaffiliated group championships and qualified 36 times for NAIA National Championships in basketball, cross country, tennis, track and field and volleyball. During that same stretch, 125 of 130 senior student-athletes under the current head coaches received degrees from Xavier or are still enrolled.

XU facilities also received a major upgrade last year with the completion of the XU Tennis Center and the new Convocation Center, which hosts all of the University’s intercollegiate basketball and volleyball games.

Horn's professional career spans nearly 20 years in the field of marketing and promotions, ticketing and sales, holding positions with Northwestern State University, the University of Central Florida, Bowling Green State University, the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Development League, Palace Sports and Entertainment, Conference USA, and the 1996 and 2002 Olympic Games.

Prior to his work at UDM, he served as Northwestern State University’s  Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Promotions for two years. At Northwestern, he was directly involved in marketing, revenue generation, event management, branding and licensing. He also provided oversight to the ticket office, equipment services and was involved in event scheduling. He helped manage and heighten awareness of the university's athletic website, social media and licensing programs, setting new school records for revenue and customer and fan traffic in each quarter. He also helped develop season and group ticket sales strategies resulting in overall revenue increase for all ticketed sports.

From 2006-08, he was with Central Florida as the Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Promotions, where the marketing team's ticket sales strategies in 2006-07 led to a 21-percent spike in basketball attendance, 58 percent in baseball attendance and 32 percent for softball. In 2007 alone, more tham 7,000 new football season tickets were sold generating over $1.4 million in new revenue.

At Bowling Green State University, he created and planned season and group ticket sales strategies that created a 40-percent increase in football season ticket revenue and an overall all-sports ticket revenue increase of 21 percent. He developed and maintained corporate contacts for partnerships, event sponsorships and promotions and hired, trained and evaluated marketing and game-day staff members.

Horn's work history has also included the NBA Developmental League for the Mobile Revelers (2001-02) as their Director of Marketing and Community Relations, the Detroit Pistons (1996-97) as an account executive for corporate sponsorships and the New Haven County Cutters (2004-05) minor league baseball team as an assistant general manager.

A University of Michigan (UM) graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Horn started his career as a UM Basketball Operations Assistant. He was born and raised in the Detroit, graduating from Southfield Lathrup Senior High School. He is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com/xulagold

TSU Shea Morris, Lindsey Burgess Honored by Ohio Valley Conference

Courtesy: Tennessee State Athletics

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  Shea Morris and Lindsey Burgess were named Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher and Co-Player of the Week, as announced by the conference office on Monday. This marks the first time in school history two Tigers were honored in the same week.

 

This is the fourth time Morris has been honored by the OVC in her career and the first for Burgess.

 

"I am proud of both of them," head coach Jeff Dabney said. "They had great weekends and having the OVC recognize the efforts of these two is an honor we all will cherish."

 

Morris guided the Tigers to a 6-1 record on the week and a championship at the Tiger Invitational. The junior finished the week with a 3-0 record and collected three saves without yielding an earned run (0.00) and holding opponents to a 0.99 ERA, while striking out 29 in 19.2 innings of work.

 

The Lawrenceburg, Tenn., native threw a complete game one-hit shutout with seven strikeouts in a five-inning 8-0 win in the TI Championship game to close out the week. Morris appeared in all five games at the Invitational, the first four in a relief role. Morris entered three games with the go-ahead or tying runs on base, only to fan the final batter to secure the wins for the Tigers.

 

Morris teamed up with Hannah St. Clair for a shutout victory Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Friday. A day later, Morris combined with Olivia Gamache to hold Saint Louis scoreless. For her efforts, Morris was named to the Tiger Invitational all-tournament team.

 

The third-year pitcher now sits atop the career lists at TSU in strikeouts, innings pitched, wins and saves.

 

Burgess went 10-for-22 on the week, batting .455, with four doubles, a home run and scored seven runs, while driving in seven in seven games. The sophomore reached safely in six games and recorded four multiple hit games. Burgess notched two sacrifice flies for a pair of RBI in the lone game she did not collect a hit.

 

The Palmdale, Calif., product had two separate two double outings. Burgess scored a run and was hit by a pitch in the first of the two in game two versus Holy Cross on Tuesday and scored a run in the first game against Saint Louis on Saturday. The shortstop hit a solo home run in the night game versus SLU in a 2-for-3 performance where she crossed home plate twice.

 

Burgess was named TI Most Valuable Player for her accomplishments over the three-day event.

 

Morris shared the award with Jacksonville State’s Sara Borders who finished 5-for-7 (.714) in two games. Borders had a double and two home runs, while scoring and driving in three.

 

TSU will travel to face #17 Georgia for a midweek game before returning home to open Ohio Valley Conference play against Eastern Kentucky. 

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NCAA Div. II March Madness: Benedict and Albany State Receive Bids to South Region Women's Tournament

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana  -- The NCAA Division II Women's Basketball selection committee announced the field of 64 teams for the 2014 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship on Sunday, with both Benedict College and Albany State University earning seeds in the South Region.

Benedict (20-9), who earned the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference automatic bid by winning the 2014 SIAC Women's title, garnered the #8 seed in the South and will face Nova Southeastern in the first round on Friday, March 14, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Sharks (25-4), who are currently ranked 10th nationally, are a familiar face for the Lady Tigers, as the two clubs squared off in Columbia, South Carolina on December 16, 2013.

Lady Tigers head coach James Rice is excited about the tournament and is looking forward to Friday's contest.

"We are happy to be a part of the South Regional and to represent our conference in this tournament," said Rice. "With facing Nova Southeastern, I'm glad we were able to play them earlier in the regular season. You want to face the toughest competition early on so you can gauge where you stand as a team. Playing them definitely made us better. We had to come together as a team during and after that game, because we lost our leading scorer and one of our best defensive players in London Richardson. After that, we had to regroup. We will be ready for the challenge."

Also taking the court on Friday in Fort Lauderdale will be the 2014 SIAC runners-up in the Lady Rams of Albany State University. The Rams (20-6) secured the #5 seed in the South Region and will face the #4 seeded Lady Statesmen of Delta State University (24-5). After losing a close overtime contest to Benedict in the SIAC title game this past Saturday, Lady Rams head coach Robert Skinner is happy with his teams seeding.

"It's a blessing," remarked Skinner. "We were praying for this and did not know exactly how things would go after the heartbreaking loss we suffered in the tournament championship game. We are very appreciative and want to be gracious about the seeding."

All eight teams within the region will travel to one site for first-round, semifinal and final competition at the regional level. First-round games will be played March 14, semifinal games March 15 and the regional championship will be played March 17. The regional champions will advance to the NCAA Women's Elite Eight March 25, 26 and 28 at Erie Insurance Arena in Erie, Pa. Gannon will host the Elite Eight.

Interactive Bracket
Printable Bracket
Selection Show

COURTESY THE SIAC MEDIA RELATIONS

NCAA Div. II March Madness: Benedict Lady Tigers To Face Nova Southeastern In NCAA Tournament

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana  -- The NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Committee announced today the field of 64 teams for the 2014 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship, and Benedict College will face Nova Southeastern University in the first round on Friday, March 14 at 5 p.m.

The Lady Tigers, 20-9, earned the automatic bid to the national tournament with their overtime victory over Albany State to win the SIAC Tournament championship on Saturday.

Benedict will face the South Region tournament host, Nova Southeastern, in the first round. Nova Southeastern won the Sunshine State Conference tournament championship on Sunday. The Sharks are 25-4 overall and ranked No. 10 nationally. Nova Southeastern took a 79-40 victory over Benedict when the two teams met in Columbia on Dec. 16.

Twenty-two conferences have been awarded an automatic qualification. The committee selected the remaining 42 at-large teams.

All eight teams within the region will travel to one site for first-round, semifinal and final competition at the regional level. First-round games will be played March 14, semifinal games March 15 and the regional championship will be played March 17. The regional champions will advance to the NCAA Women's Elite Eight March 25, 26 and 28 at Erie Insurance Arena in Erie, Pa. Gannon will host the Elite Eight.

Bracket

COURTESY BENEDICT COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION

NCAA Div. II March Madness: Virginia State to Take on Bloomsburg at NCAA Regionals

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana  – The Virginia State University women's basketball team will head to the NCAA Regional Tournament to take on Bloomsburg on Friday March 14. Regional play begins Friday at Glenville State (W.Va.) College, the top seed in the region.

The Trojans are the fifth seed in the Atlantic Region to Bloomsburg's fourth place ranking.

In regular season play, the Trojans finished the season with a 24-1 overall and 21-1 in the CIAA post season play.

Game times have not been announced, but will be forth coming.

COURTESY VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NCAA Div. II March Madness: Shaw To Open NCAA Tournament Against Gannon on Friday

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana  --  Shaw will open its NCAA run on Friday, March 14, when the Lady Bears will take on Gannon in the Atlantic Region.  Regional play begins Friday at Glenville State (W.Va.) College, the top seed in the region.

Shaw enters the Atlantic Regional as the sixth seed, while Gannon is the third seed.

The Lady Bears finished the season 21-8 after capturing their fourth straight CIAA Championship by defeating Fayetteville State a week ago.  The Lady Bears are 4-2 on neutral courts so far this season.
The Lady Knights, from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, are 27-3 overall and are 3-1 on neutral courts this season.  Gannon was defeated in the PSAC championship game by Edinboro, who earned the second seed in the region.

CIAA member Virginia State - whose two losses on the season came at the hands of the Lady Bears - enters the tournament as the fifth seed where they will take on fourth seed Bloomsburg.  In all, two teams from the CIAA, three from the PSAC and three from the Mountain East made the Atlantic Region tournament.

Game times have not been announced.

FULL BRACKET

COURTESY SHAW UNIVERSITY BEARS SPORTS INFORMATION

Talladega College win GCAC Men's Tournament



2013/14 GCAC MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
TALLADEGA COLLEGE TORNADOES

New Orleans, Louisiana  -- Talladega wins GCAC Tournament for the first time in school history, Beating Philander Smith 104-95 in OT.

 

Talladega earns GCAC's automatic bid to the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship, which will begin March 19 in Kansas City, Mo. . . . Pairings, seedings and game times will be announced Wednesday.

 

COURTESY TALLADEGA COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION 

NCAA Div. II March Madness: Livingstone Blue Bears to Face East Stroudsburg in NCAA DII Tournament

SALISBURY, North Carolina  --  Livingstone College (No. 8), the 2014 CIAA Men's Basketball Champions, will face the NCAA Div. II top seed East Stroudsburg University, in the NCAA DII regional quarterfinals.

The Blue Bears finished their 2013-14 season with their first ever CIAA Championship, back-to-back Southern Division titles, and a 21-7 regular season record. Livingstone returns to the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive time in school history.

The Warriors, who won the PSAC Championship for the second time in three years, finished their regular season 28-1. ESU returns to familiar post season territory, making their fourth appearance in five years.

The four regional quarterfinal games will be played on Saturday, March 15, followed by semifinal games on Sunday and the Atlantic Region final on Tuesday, March 18.

The eight regional winners from across Division II will advance to the NCAA DII Elite Eight in Evansville, Indiana on March 26-29.

Selection Show

Interactive Bracket

Printable Bracket

COURTESY LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION

NCAA Div. II March Madness: Tuskegee to Face South Regional No. 1 Seed, Florida Southern

LAKELAND, Florida -- About six hours after claiming its third straight Sunshine State Conference Men's Basketball Tournament title on Sunday with its 84-74 win over Tampa at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Florida Southern was rewarded with a No. 1 seed in this year's NCAA Division II Basketball Tournament that begins later this week.

Along with earning the No. 1 seed in the South Region, the 16th-ranked Moccasins, who are making its seventh consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament and is one of two schools to have played in seven straight NCAA Tournaments as Seattle Pacific is playing in the NCAA Tournament for the 10th straight season, were also awarded the right to host the eight-team South Regional at Jenkins Field House. It will mark the 11th time in school history and the second consecutive season that Florida Southern has hosted an NCAA Division II Regional Tournament. Last season, the Mocs won the South Regional title with a 90-88 win over Alabama-Huntsville and advanced to the NCAA D-II Elite Eight for the ninth time in school history.
 

Click here for the complete NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament bracket.
 

"We are excited about being able to host the regional here in Lakeland for the second straight season. It is something we've worked hard for this season," Mocs head coach Linc Darner said following the selection show. "This is a very strong region from top to bottom and the games should be really competitive."
 

FSC (26-4 overall) will open the South Regional against No. 8 seed Tuskegee (18-11) in one of the four quarterfinal games on Saturday, March 15. The FSC/Tuskegee winner will face the winner of the No. 4 seed North Alabama (22-9), who won the Gulf South Conference Tournament on Sunday with a 79-73 win over Christian Brothers and No. 5 seed Tampa (20-9), who lost in the SSC Tournament final on Sunday to FSC, in one of the regional semifinals on Sunday, March 16. UNA and Tampa will play in one of the quarterfinal games on Saturday, March 15.
 

The other side of the bracket in Lakeland as No. 2 seed Saint Leo (23-8) will meet No. 7 seed West Alabama (17-10), while No. 3 seed and 25th-ranked Delta State (24-6), who won the regular season Gulf South Conference title will face Barry (19-8), who finished fourth in the SSC regular season standings and lost in the quarterfinals of the SSC Tournament to Eckerd, 83-73.
 

This year's South Regional Championship game is scheduled for Tuesday, March 18 at 7 p.m. The winner of the South Regional will face the winner of the South Central Regional in one of four national quarterfinal games on Wednesday, March 26 at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind. The 2014 NCAA Division II National Championship game is scheduled for Saturday, March 29 in Evansville, Ind.
 

FSC is making its 28th all-time appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament, which is third-most in Division II history and the Mocs have compiled a 38-29 record in the tournament all-time, including capturing the 1981 Division II National Championship and finishing as national runners-up in 1982. Last season, the Mocs earned the No. 1 seed in the South Regional and claimed its ninth regional championship and advanced to the Elite Eight where they fell 96-82 to Western Washington.

Information about ticket prices and other items related to the tournament will be announced on Monday by the FSC Athletic Department.
 

Complete South Regional Schedule (All game times are Eastern)

Saturday, March 15 - Quarterfinals
Game 1 - #3 Delta State (24-6) vs. #6 Barry (19-8), 12 p.m.
Game 2 - #2 Saint Leo (23-8) vs. #7 West Alabama (17-10), 2:30 p.m.
Game 3 - #1 Florida Southern (26-4) vs. #8 Tuskegee (18-11), 5 p.m.
Game 4 - #4 North Alabama (22-9) vs. #5 Tampa (20-9), 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 16 - Semifinals
Game 5 - Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5 p.m.
Game 6 - Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 18 - Championship Game
Game 7 - Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.

COURTESY FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE MEDIA RELATIONS

Xavier Nuggets win at Auburn Montgomery, NAIA's No. 1 team

BRION FLOWERS -- at XU Tennis Center
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Lafayette, La.
High School: St. Thomas More


 

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  Xavier University of Louisiana sophomore Brion Flowers rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory against Paula Diaz on Sunday to clinch the Gold Nuggets' 5-4 women's tennis victory against Auburn Montgomery -- the NAIA's No. 1 team and three-time defending national champion -- in the AUM Invitational.

Xavier's men lost 7-2 to Auburn Montgomery. XU's men are ranked ninth, and AUM is second.

The Gold Nuggets (7-4), ranked fifth, defeated a top-ranked team for the first time in the history of the program, which began in the mid-1990s. Xavier won 6-3 at home last season against AUM when the Warhawks were ranked third.

Xavier took a 4-1 lead in the dual, including victories in all three doubles matches, before Flowers, playing No. 2 singles, clinched in the final match on the court.

"It was intense to the end," XU coach Alan Green said. "There were so many momentum swings I felt like I was on a roller coaster minus the fun. This was a mentally draining match for us that fortunately ended well.

"Brion Flowers came through in the clutch, but all the girls contributed to this one. We couldn't have done it without that great start in doubles."

Sisters Carmen and Brandi Nelson defeated Diaz and Anna Rudolfova 8-2 at No. 2 doubles for the first XU point. Flowers and Kourtney Howell, third-ranked in the preseason by the ITA, beat eighth-ranked Jade Curtis and Chanel Cunningham 8-6. Simone-Alyse Ewell and Amber Brown completed the doubles sweep when they defeated Celine Lenertz and Bright Phakamad 8-6.

Brown produced the Nuggets' other singles victory, 6-1, 6-2 against Maria Fernanda Vargas at No. 6. Brandi Nelson and Ewell lost three-set singles matches.

The Nuggets were 3-0 in the AUM Invitational and improved their win streak to four duals. They have four victories this season against ranked NAIA opponents, three against top-5 teams.

In the men's dual, the Gold Rush (4-6) got victories at No. 1 doubles when Kyle Montrel and Nikita Soifer defeated Francisco Mendieta and and Zinelabidine Jouini 8-3 and at No. 5 singles when freshman Jordan Harrell rallied to beat Mendieta 3-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-4).

The Gold Rush were 2-1 in the AUM Invitational with victories against Coastal Georgia and Cumberland, both in the top 25.

AUM's women are 8-3, and the men are 11-1. Both AUM teams will visit the Nuggets and the Rush on April 5.

Next for the Gold Nuggets will be a 2 p.m. Wednesday dual against NCAA Division I's Oral Roberts at the XU Tennis Center. The Gold Rush will travel to another NCAA DI opponent, Troy, for a dual at 1 p.m. Saturday.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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XU Gold Nuggets win GCAC Tournament for 4th time in 5 years

2013/14 GCAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
XAVIER UNIVERSIY OF LOUISIANA

The Gold Nuggets proudly show off their championship hardware on their home floor.
  It's the fourth GCAC Tournament title in five years for XU's women.  Shown on back
row (R) is GCAC Commissioner Steve Martin, XU President Dr. Norman C. Francis,
Head Coach Bo Browder and Associate Head Coach Darrilyn Broussard.
Photo by longtime XU staff photographer Irving Johnson III. —
at Xavier University Convocation Center.

NEW ORLEANS -- Senior center Whitney Gaston-Loyd scored seven of her 17 points in a closing run which carried Xavier University of Louisiana to a 66-59 women's basketball victory Sunday against Talladega in the championship game of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament at XU's Convocation Center.

The Gold Nuggets (23-9) won the tournament for the fourth time in five years and defeated the Lady Tornadoes (26-4) in the final for the second time in three years. Xavier is ranked 24th in NAIA Division I and was the tournament's No. 2 seed; Talladega is ranked 16th and was top-seeded.

Xavier earned the GCAC's automatic bid to the NAIA Division I National Championship, which will begin March 19 in Frankfort, Ky. Pairings, seedings and game times will be announced Wednesday. The Gold Nuggets will play in the opening round March 19 or 20; it will be their 18th appearance at nationals in the last 20 seasons.

Talladega led 53-48 after an Ella Rodriguez basket with 8:13 remaining, but the Gold Nuggets closed with an 18-6 run. Danielle Tucker passed to Chelsea Broussard for a basket with 5:19 remaining to put Xavier ahead to stay, 58-57, and Gaston-Loyd scored five of Xavier's final six points in the final 3:01.

Tucker scored 15 points, which matched her season high, and had eight rebounds, four assists, a block and two steals. Chelsea Broussard scored a career-high 13 points for Xavier, and Whitney Gathright scored 12.

On display in the XU women’s basketball locker room: the Gold Nuggets' Mount
Seniormore , from left, Whitney Gaston-Loyd, Paige Gauthier, Danielle Tucker,
Chelsea Broussard and Carmen Holcombe.

Arielle George and Jamie Robinson scored 16 points apiece for Talladega, and Jordin Feldman scored 10. Robinson grabbed 14 rebounds, and Feldman had eight.

Gathright, who averaged 16 points in three games, was named the tournament's most valuable player. XU's Tucker and Paige Gauthier were named all-tournament, as were Talladega's Robinson and Ryven Jackson and Tougaloo's Chasity Kearney.

It was the second straight day that Xavier trailed by double digits in the first half. Arielle George's basket gave Talladega a 22-11 lead at 6:16, but Xavier rallied to cut the Lady Tornadoes' lead to 30-27 by halftime.

It was the third GCAC Tournament championship for seniors Gauthier, Broussard and Carmen Holcombe.

"This championship is nothing different from the others," Gauthier said. "This team cares about each other and fights for each other, just like the other teams did. That's what it comes down to -- family. We weren't going to let somebody come in and take something from us."

Xavier, 2-0 this season against Talladega, extended its home win streak to 19. The Gold Nuggets were 13-0 at home this season.


By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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FAMU Rattlers Sweep defending MEAC Champ Savannah State



COACH JAMEY SHOUPPE
Courtesy Florida A&M Sports Information

SAVANNAH, Georgia  --  Junior Ryan Kennedy went 4-for-5, including a grand-slam to key a six-run, fifth-inning rally as Florida A&M defeated Savannah State 11-7 and completed a three-game sweep of the defending MEAC champions.

Jordan Montague (2-0) recorded the win for FAMU in relief of freshman Matthew Schaeffer who allowed three runs on three hits, striking out three in four innings of work. Montague allowed three runs on three hits over 2 2/3 innings and Brandon Fleming struck out the side in the ninth inning to close out the game and complete the series sweep.

Fleming closed out all three victories, tossing four scoreless innings, allowing two hits with one walk and six strikeouts. FAMU banged out 12 hits off four Savannah State pitchers, led by Kennedy, catcher Jeremy Barlow (3-for-5) and center fielder Blake Quillin (2-for-4). Quillin had a double and drove in four runs.

"This weekend was just what we needed," FAMU coach Jamey Shouppe said. "We have been leaving some wins out on the field, so it was important for us to put together a complete team effort and come away with a sweep. We did a good job scoring runs and our pitchers battled and pitched well.

Brandon Fleming was lights out stepping up into the closer's role after we decided to move Schaeffer into the weekend rotation."

The win improved the Rattlers overall record to 6-10, 3-3 in MEAC play
and left them one game behind MEAC Southern Division leader Bethune-Cookman, which lost its weekend series to North Carolina Central to fall to 4-2 in conference play. FAMU will travel to Fort Myers next for a three-game, non-conference series against Florida Gulf Coast University next Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
VISIT: FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY
VISIT: FAMUATHLETICS.COM 

Philander Smith Panthers Overtake Knights in Double-Overtime Thriller to Advance to GCAC Finals

2013/14 PHILANDER SMITH COLLEGE PANTHERS BASKETBALL TEAM
ROSTER

NEW ORLEANS (March 8, 2014) -- Sophomore guard Braylon Spicer scored six of his 18 points in the second overtime Saturday to lift Philander Smith to a 106-102 men's basketball victory against NAIA No. 12 Xavier University of Louisiana in the semifinals of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament at XU's Convocation Center.

The Panthers (20-10), seeded fourth and the defending champion, will play second-seeded and seventh-ranked Talladega (27-5) for the championship at 5 p.m. Sunday at Xavier. The Gold Rush (23-8) -- the tournament's top seed and winner of three consecutive GCAC regular-season championships -- will await a possible at-large bid to the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship. That tournament's 32-team bracket will be announced Wednesday.

Spicer, who made all 14 of his free-throw attempts, sank two with three seconds remaining in regulation to tie the score at 85 and send the game to overtime. Xavier trailed by five in the first overtime but forced a second extra period when Anthony Goode made two free throws with 29 seconds to play.

D'Alvin Brown's 3-pointer at 3:34 of the second overtime broke the game's 21st tie and put the Panthers ahead to stay, 98-95.

Juvon Demerson had 24 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots for Philander Smith. Brown scored 23, Aquill Baynard had 17 points and 15 rebounds, and Andre Clark had 11 points and seven rebounds. Spicer had eight assists.

Morris Wright scored a career-high-tying 26 points for Xavier. Goode had 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists, and Sydney Coleman scored 18.

Xavier was 2-0 against Philander Smith in the regular season, including a 103-99 overtime home victory Feb. 17. The Gold Rush are 3-2 in overtime this season.

If Xavier is invited to the national tournament, it would be the fourth in a row for the Gold Rush and the eighth in the last 10 seasons.

Philander Smith will advance to the GCAC Finals to take on Talladega College. The game will be held tomorrow, March 9th at 5 p.m.

Box Score

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director, Xavier University of Louisiana

TSU Tigers Run-Rule Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 8-0; Claims Title

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Two four-run innings solidify the championship for Tennessee State in the 2014 Tiger Invitational. TSU exploded in the fourth and fifth innings to claim a five-inning, 8-0 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and capped a perfect 5-0 record during the three-day event.

 

With the win, TSU improves to 12-15 on the season and records the fourth five-game win streak in program history, matching a streak in 2004. It is the first of its kind since the start of the 2009 season when the Tigers opened 9-0. In 2006, the Tigers won six in a row.

 

TSU is now 8-2 over the last 10 games.

 

Eight Tigers collected a hit on Sunday, led by Tayler Shimizu and Courtney Gearlds who each finished 2-for-2. Shimizu scored twice, drove in three and recorded her first extra base hit of her career with a double in the fourth. Gearlds scored once and plated two runs on the day.

 

The duo was named to the all-tournament team.

 

Shimizu drove in the first two runs of the game in the fourth inning as she hit the Tigers’ third double in a row as she chased home Rebekka Gross and Kiarra Freeman. Gearlds followed by reaching base when she was hit by a pitch for the 11th time this season. Liz Stansberry reached base on an errant throw on a sacrifice bunt to load the bases for Lindsey Burgess. The sophomore, who batted .500 over the course of the invitational, singled up the middle to bring home Shimizu and Gearlds to give TSU a 4-0 lead.

 

That would be all Shea Morris (7-6) would need as she picked up her first shutout of the year. The junior threw a one-hitter, while striking out seven Golden Lions.

 

The Tigers would make the Morris performance stand by scoring four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to close out the game. TSU loaded the bases as Jayna Hanawahine was hit by a pitch and Gross and Freeman were issued walks. Shimizu plated Hanawahine on a single deep into the hole at shortstop. The Tigers tacked on two more as Gearlds singled up the middle to score Gross and Freeman. The game ended as Shimizu scored off a Burgess grounder.

 

Morris was named to the all-tournament team as she appeared in all five games and finished 2-0 with three saves. The Lawrenceburg native did not allow a run and yielded just four hits in 12.2 innings of work. Morris struck out 22 batters and was a part of three shutouts.

 

Burgess was named the Invitational MVP picking up eight hits in 16 at bats with two doubles and a home run. Burgess scored five times and drove in seven.

 

The Tigers will travel to face #17 Georgia before returning home to begin Ohio Valley Conference play. The matchup with the Bulldogs can be heard on tsutigers.com. 

 

Box Score

 

Tournament Champions:

Tennessee State 

 

All-Tournament Team

MVP: Lindsey Burgess - Tennessee State

Shea Morris - Tennessee State

Tayler Shimizu - Tennessee State

Courtney Gearlds - Tennessee State

Tiressa Jacobs - Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Lacie Sutterfield - Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Lindsay Friedman - Saint Louis

Sabrina Edmonds - North Carolina A&T