Jackson State, coach Burroughs go through adjustment period

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Derrick Burroughs calls out players when they look confused on the defense.

If they miss a tackle or assignment, he’s not shy to tell them to go to Jackson State sidelines and watch someone do it right.

Despite his loud personality, the new Jackson State defensive coordinator wants his players to also remember one thing: “Don’t take it personal.”

“I’m just an energetic-type of guy,” Burroughs said. “You see me screaming and jumping and hollering all the time, and that’s just my on-the-field personality.”



CONTINUE READING

Tennessee State Football and Tigerbelles Presented with Proclamation at the Capitol

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  On Tuesday, the Tennessee State football team and Tigerbelles were honored with proclamations during a special program at the State Capitol as a part of TSU’s Day at the Capitol.

Called TSU Day on the Hill, the program recognized the institution for its outstanding academics, research, athletics, and importance to the education goals of Tennessee.

 

State legislators joined key stakeholders, including alumni, community leaders and friends of TSU to thank President Glover, faculty staff and students for making the University one of the best.

 

Following the ribbon cutting ceremony and remarks from a number of speakers, Rep. Harold Love Jr., on behalf of his fellow legislators, presented the TSU Women’s Track and Field Team with a special proclamation for winning the 2014 Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championship.

 

“The General Assembly finds it necessary to recognize these outstanding young women of the Tennessee State University Tigerbelles who have, through their hard work, dedication and determination, achieved this success as champions of the Ohio Valley Conference,” the proclamation said.

 

Also receiving a special recognition with a proclamation was the TSU football team for their outstanding performance in the 2014 season. TSU completed one of its main goals this past campaign by making the playoffs while posting a 10-4 record. The Tigers finished second in Ohio Valley Conference play with a 6-2 record, and their 31-0 win over Butler was their first postseason victory in nearly 27 years.

 

The TSU Day on the Hill, which brought together more than 200 administrators, students, faculty and staff, also included displays of different programs, giveaways and visits to various committee hearings, and discussion with some key lawmakers.

 

At the conclusion of the events, the student athletes had an opportunity to tour the State Capitol.

The Tennessee State women’s track and field team took home first prize
in the 2014 OVC Indoor Championship on March 1, 2014

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS AND TSU NEW SERVICE

Xavier Gold Nuggets eliminate defending champion in first round

WATCH THE GAMES LIVE ONLINE FOR A FEE AT NAIA.ORG
Live stats

FRANKFORT, Kentucky -- Senior center Whitney Gaston-Loyd scored 15 points Wednesday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 66-53 victory against defending champion Westmont in the opening round of the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship.

The Gold Nuggets (24-9), ranked 20th, led for nearly 38½ minutes. They won their seventh straight and will play fourth-ranked Campbellsville (31-3) in the second round at 2:15 p.m. EDT Friday.

Vinnie Briggs scored 11 points, Danielle Tucker 10 and Whitney Gathright nine for Xavier. Carmen Holcombe grabbed eight rebounds, and Gaston-Loyd and Chelsea Broussard had six apiece.

Kelsie Sampson had 26 points and seven rebounds for Westmont (20-10), and Esther Lee scored 16.

Gaston-Loyd and Tucker scored six points apiece in a 20-3 run during the final seven minutes of the first half. Xavier led 42-21 at the break.

"Some pressure defense got us that run," XU coach Bo Browder said. "We forced several turnovers, got some layups. That was huge for us."

Westmont scored the first 11 points of the second half but never got closer than eight points thereafter. After Sampson's basket with 7:19 remaining cut Xavier's lead to 53-45, the Nuggets scored seven of the next nine points and led 60-47 after Gathright's two free throws at 2:31.

Xavier outshot the Warriors 41.7 to 37 percent from the floor, outrebounded them 42-34 and had a 29-0 advantage in bench scoring. The Nuggets' seven turnovers were their fewest in a game since November 2011, and the rebound advantage was their largest at nationals since 1996.

Gaston-Loyd led the Nuggets in scoring for the second consecutive game. She had 17 points in a victory against Talladega in the championship game of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament on March 9.

"Whitney Loyd has grown tremendously on and off the court over the last year and a half," Browder said. "She has shown great leadership down the stretch and has communicated well with her teammates. She's more mature and a better person than when she got here, which is what we like to see from everyone in our program."

It's the third time in four years that the Nuggets defeated a higher-ranked team in the opening round. Westmont was 13th in the final coaches poll before the tournament.

The game was the last of eight in the first round Wednesday. Xavier and Westmont were scheduled to tip off at 9:45 p.m. EDT, but the game did not start until 10:15 p.m. The game ended at 11:45.

"We've had a lot of 7-to-9 p.m. practices this season, so the lateness wasn't a problem," Browder said. "We were prepared for everything."

The winning margin was the Nuggets' largest at nationals since the 1997 first round. The XU women are in the national tournament for the 18th time in 20 seasons and the fifth consecutive year.

There will be eight more first-round games Thursday. Quarterfinals will be played Saturday.

Box score


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

TSU Tigers fall to Cal Poly 81-69 in NCAA Tournament First Four

Texas Southern's Aaric Murray scored a
SWAC record 38 points in NCAA Tournament game
Photo Courtesy: TSU Athletics

DAYTON, Ohio  -- Cal Poly outdueled fellow 16th seed Texas Southern on Wednesday evening, 81-69 at the First Four inside the UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio.

During the first matchup between the two programs, neither Cal Poly nor Texas Southern led by more than four points for the opening eight minutes. Cal Poly and Texas Southern traded the lead on five successive early possessions before a 9-2 Mustang run capped by a three-pointer from freshman guard Ridge Shipley put Cal Poly up 25-19 with 10 minutes remaining in the first half.

A three-pointer a minute later from Tigers guard Lawrence Johnson-Danner halved Cal Poly's lead, but the Mustangs responded with a 13-4 run to take a 38-26 advantage with four minutes remaining in the first stanza.

The Mustangs, who shot 54.5 (18-for-33) percent from the floor during the first half, ended up taking a 44-32 lead into the locker room.

Keyed by a lay-up from guard Madarious Gibbs and fortified with eight points by center Aaric Murray – a 38-point scorer Wednesday and the Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year selection – the Tigers climbed back into matters with an 11-4 run over a three and a half minute span to pull to within 52-43.

Texas Southern, an automatic NCAA Tournament invitee after winning the SWAC Tournament championship, eventually clawed to a pair of eight-point deficits with the last coming with less than four minutes left in regulation but they were able to get no further.

"I'm proud of my basketball team," said TSU head coach Mike Davis. "We had a really good season. We were 6 and 6 at one time in the conference. We started to play really good basketball down the stretch. We won nine straight games, six games in the conference and three games in the tournament. I thought we played a really good basketball team tonight, they're well-coached."

"But I'm really proud of this team. I appreciate the opportunity. The NCAA put on a really good event here. I was here four years ago, and it was really nice then, but now it's gone to a different level as an event."

TSU's Murray set the new record for most individual points scored in a NCAA Tournament game with 38 points as he went 14-of-23 from the field.

"I think their defense was pretty good," said Murray. They didn't let me catch the ball one-on-one and they didn't let me go against their bigs one-on-one. They just played some good tough defense. Obviously we're disappointed with the loss but Coach Davis told us to keep our heads up because we had a really great season." 

Texas Southern concludes the year with a 19-15 overall record winning nine out of their last ten games.

ESPN VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

ESPN Photo Gallery: Texas Southern vs. Cal Poly

Box Score  

COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

S.C. State starts spring practice, hopes to find improvement

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  -- South Carolina State head coach Buddy Pough begins his 13th round of spring football practices at 6:30 a.m. at the Oliver C. Dawson Stadium practice field.

S.C. State heads into the 2014 campaign looking to continue its recent success in which it rebounded from its first losing season under Pough in 2012 by finishing 9-4 overall in 2013 grabbing a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and reaching the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs for the sixth time.

S.C. State seeks to replace 16 seniors from last year’s team, including starting quarterback Richard Cue, wide receiver Tyler McDonald, linebacker Joe Thomas of Blackville-Hilda, defensive backs Kimario McFadden and Darius Drummond and placekicker Nick Belcher. The spring also marks the return of running backs Jalen “Scoot” Simmons, Xavier Quick and Julius Pendergrass and offensive lineman Jairon “Shaq” Harrison from injury and the arrival of new defensive coordinator Tommy Restivo.

CONTINUE READING

The Pride of the SWAC

HOUSTON, Texas  -- The bands play with pride and purpose. The bands have histories, just as their schools do. The bands have nicknames. The Prairie View A&M Marching Storm. The Texas Southern Ocean of Soul. And the Southern University Human Jukebox. The bands have nicknames because the bands deserve nicknames, and if you understand only one thing about the Southwestern Athletic Conference, then understand that. There are pride and purpose and history to these schools — a different history, and a decidedly less pleasant one, than the history that attends most of the other teams represented in this year’s NCAA tournament.

These schools are in many ways proud and stubborn reminders of this country’s broken promises. They were for many years orphan schools and first came together in Houston in 1920, as a league of six Texas colleges, which now extends from Prairie View in Texas to Huntsville in Alabama. They were orphan schools in an orphan league. They are now known as “historically black colleges and universities,” and their futures are perilous and uncertain, just as they’ve always been. That is their history and that is their legacy.

On Saturday in Houston, Texas Southern beat Prairie View, 78-73, in a ragged, wonderful basketball game to qualify for the NCAA tournament for the first ...

CONTINUE READING

New Jackson State coaches pleased with first practice

JACKSON, Mississippi  -- In the first day of fall camp last season, the Jackson State football players didn’t have practice uniforms.

Instead, they had to write their numbers on masking tape and put it on their helmets.
Things were different this time around.

On Tuesday, the first day of spring practice, the Tigers donned new blue-and-white practice jerseys. It’s just one of the changes that has come along with the recent facelift for the football program that’s looking for a trip back to the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship.

But it’s about four months since the players made that trip.



CONTINUE READING

Report: Ex-Alabama A&M aide Cedric Pearl hired at Central State

COURTESY CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama  --  Cedric Pearl, the long-time offensive coordinator for Alabama A&M, will be the new head football coach at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, footballscoop.com has reported.

Athletic department officials at Central State could not be reached to confirm the report.

He will replace E.J. Junior, the former University of Alabama All-America linebacker, who was fired in December after a 2-9 season. Junior was hired as head coach at Central State in March 2009.

Pearl spent 13 seasons on the Alabama A&M staff as offensive line coach, with his duties expanded to offensive coordinator in 2007. Prior to coming to Huntsville, he was on Anthony Jones' staff at Morehouse. Pearl, like most of the A&M staff, was not retained after Jones was fired in November.

He was a three-time All-SIAC offensive lineman at Tuskegee, where he began ...

CONTINUE READING

UPDATED: Better late than never: Nuggets, Rush pursue NAIA titles

Follow Xavier University of Louisiana's men and women at NAIA basketball national tournaments

Men
# Tournament scoreboard: http://www.dakstats.com/WebSync/Pages/Tournament/TournamentPage.aspx?association=10&sg=MBB&tour=1254
# Live stats for Xavier vs. Hope International, Thursday, March 20, 9:45 p.m. CDT: http://www.dakstats.com/Websync/Pages/WebcastPlayByPlay/WebcastPBP.aspx?association=10&sg=MBB&compID=174028&sea=undefined

Women
# Tournament scoreboard: http://www.dakstats.com/WebSync/Pages/Tournament/TournamentPage.aspx?association=10&sg=WBB&tour=1256
# Live stats for Xavier vs. Westmont, Wednesday, March 19, 9:45 p.m. EDT/8:45 p.m. CDT: http://www.dakstats.com/Websync/Pages/WebcastPlayByPlay/WebcastPBP.aspx?association=10&sg=WBB&compID=173977&sea=undefined

Live internet streaming of all games through the semifinals (for a fee, not free)
http://www.naia.org/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=27900&&ATCLID=205423235

WATCH THE GAMES LIVE ONLINE

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana's basketball version of The Late Show is set for consecutive evenings, and maybe even a third.

The Gold Nuggets and Gold Rush will play 9:45 p.m. games in the opening round of NAIA Division I National Championships. The XU women (23-9) will play Westmont (20-9) on Wednesday at Frankfort Convention Center in Frankfort, Ky. -- that state capital is on Eastern Daylight Time -- and the XU men (23-8) will play Hope International (22-10) on Thursday at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.

The XU games are the last of eight on both days at both tournament sites. XU's men were assigned 9:45 p.m. games in the 2008 and 2013 opening rounds; both games tipped off later than scheduled and concluded shortly after midnight.

The Nuggets-Westmont winner will play Campbellsville or Southern Poly in the second round at 2:15 p.m. EDT Friday. The Rush-Hope International winner will get another 9:45 p.m. game Friday, against Southwestern Assemblies of God or St. Catharine (Ky.) in the second round.

Both XU programs seek their first national championships.

Xavier and Columbia (Mo.) are the only schools to qualify for NAIA D-I tournaments in men's and women's basketball each of the last four seasons. The Gold Nuggets' tournament streak is five, and it's their 18th appearance in the last 20 seasons. The Gold Rush are at nationals for the eighth time in the last 10 seasons and the 15th time overall.

This is the 10th time that both XU teams reached nationals in the same year. But the Nuggets and Rush have yet to produce same-year first-round victories. The Nuggets' most recent victory was in the 2012 first round, and the Rush won most recently in the 2007 first round.

Both XU teams are led in scoring by sophomore guards.

Whitney Gathright leads the Nuggets with 12.2 points per game, and she's the only Louisiana collegiate female this season with at least 40 made 3-pointers, 100 made free throws, 100 rebounds and 100 assists. Gathright was MVP of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tourmament, which Xavier won to earn an automatic bid to nationals.

All-conference Morris Wright leads the Rush, the GCAC regular-season champion, with 13.3 points per game and has been an effective shooter at 47.8 percent from the floor, 42.2 on 3-pointers and 78.5 on free throws. Wright is the only Gold Rush shooter ever to reach all three marks in the same season.

Quarterfinals at both sites will be Saturday, with semfinals on Monday and championship games on Tuesday.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Fisk University Alumna Dr.Tuajuanda Jordan Named President of St. Mary’s College of Maryland



Dr. Tuajuanda Jordan
President-Elect
St. Mary's College of Maryland
 

ST. MARY'S CITY, Maryland -- By unanimous vote of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Tuajuanda Jordan has been appointed president of St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Jordan’s appointment came following an extensive four-month search. The 11-member search committee—comprised of trustees, faculty members, a student and a member of the staff—evaluated applicants to identify the three finalists the board considered.

Jordan, currently serving as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of chemistry at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, will take office on July 1.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Jordan as the next president of St. Mary’s College,” said Gail Harmon, chair of the Board of Trustees and Presidential Search Committee. “A pool of well-qualified candidates sought the position, and from that pool we have chosen a superlative new leader. Her background includes substantial accomplishments and scholarship in the sciences as well as the development of innovative science education programs. Dr. Jordan will bring added creativity and rigor to the programs of St. Mary’s College.”

Dr. Ian Newbould, interim president of St. Mary’s College, said, “I applaud the appointment of Dr. Jordan. A distinguished scientist and academic leader with a national reputation, she will advance our cause immeasurably. St. Mary's is fortunate to have attracted her.”

“St. Mary’s College is an institution where individuals have a strong sense of their history, an understanding of their mission, and an eye toward the future,” said Jordan. “It is an institution where committed leadership, creativity, innovation, collaboration, and integrity are expected of and appreciated by everyone in the community. St. Mary’s is at a unique point, filled with achievement and vast opportunities for continued growth, and I am honored to have been chosen to lead this distinguished institution.”

Prior to her position with Lewis & Clark, Jordan served as director of the Science Education Alliance (SEA) of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Chevy Chase, Maryland. As director, Jordan led a collaborative effort designed to have scientists and educators work together to enhance science literacy while preparing the next generation of scientists. She also headlined the National Genomics Research Initiative in 2008, a program that exposes first-year college students to hands-on genomics research. Jordan entered academic administration in 2002, serving as associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Xavier University of Louisiana, where she soon advanced to associate vice president for academic affairs.

Jordan received a B.S. in chemistry from Fisk University in 1982 and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Purdue University in 1989. She was an undergraduate scholar and a graduate fellow of the National Institutes of Health Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) program. She conducted her postdoctoral training at the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine. Jordan was a tenured faculty member in the department of chemistry at Xavier University of Louisiana and a visiting scientist at the University of Michigan in biophysics. Her honors include being named a Purdue University Distinguished Alumni from the School of Agriculture in 2008, and, in 2009, being named a “revolutionary mind” by Seed magazine.

Jordan, 53, is from Forestville, Maryland (Prince George's County), and married to Eric Heatley. Jordan has two grown children, Jordan Starck and Patrice Starck Darby, both 23.

St. Mary’s College is one of only two public honors colleges in the nation. Dedicated to providing an affordable liberal arts education for a diverse student body, the college has the highest four-year graduation rate of any public college or university in the state. Within five years of graduation, 70% of its alumni pursue a graduate and/or professional degree. St. Mary’s College also boasts a 90% first-to-second year retention rate based on the fall 2012 class. The college was founded in 1840.

Pro Day Brings Over 20 Scouts To FAMU's Campus

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Pro Scouts from the NFL and CFL descended on the campus of FAMU, to poke, prod and examine players with exhausted eligibility today. Among those scouting were two very influential people in the NFL. Detroit Lions General Manager Martin Mayhew and head coach Jim Caldwell came in person at the Hansel Tookes Recreation Center and Fields, to see who was available for the 2014 NFL Draft that will take place on May 8.

FAMU had several players who finished their last year of eligibility this season and a few who finished previous years, giving it another shot to impress the scouts.

At the center of the scouts’ attention were John Ojo, Brandon Denmark, Frances Mays and James Owens. Along with the pre-workout favorites, Jonathan Pillow, Douglas Almandares, Devan Roberts, Kevin House, Michael Ducre, Michael Ethridge and Lonnie Lockett used the opportunity to make their bid for a chance to play at the next level.

Pro Day 2014 Gallery




While the scouts were able to conceal the results from the general public, some results were obvious. Denmark and Ojo both had verticals over 38 inches. Ojo, who had completely recovered from the shoulder injury that slowed him during last season, performed well all around. Denmark, was one of the athletes scouts were most interested in seeing. Commenting that at the end of last season he was unblockable, coach Holmes briefed the scouts on his resume as he completed his impressive showing.

James Owens, the speedy running back/kick returner from central Florida, showed his athleticism with a remarkable vertical jump and a speedy 40-yard dash. Mays, also showed agility, adding an impressive vertical to his 6’9” frame. He also ran a solid 40-yard dash time.

Padric Scott, Travis Harvey and Ellie Hyppolite also went through drills at Pro Day. Scott, who signed with the Arizona Cardinals as a free agent last season, is making another push to get in the league. Trimmed down nearly 60 pounds, Scott’s strength was never an issue, as scouts informed him that there really wasn’t a reason for him to lift, as they knew very well of his strength. His fleet feet in the 40-yard dash was impressive.

Harvey, who signed last season with the Tennessee Titans, went through the regimen again, as an injury last season hampered his performance at Pro Day.

Former Rattler football player, Kevin Elliott, was there to show support for some of his former teammates. Elliott recalled his Pro Day his senior year and how it catapulted him into an opportunity to play professional football.



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

Tuskegee University wins NCAA Div. II South Regional, advances to Elite 8 in Indiana

LAKELAND, Florida (March 18, 2014) – Who rules the NCAA II South Region in basketball? It is not the Florida Southern Moccasins! It is not the North Alabama Lions! It is not the Delta State Statesmen! It is the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers! The Golden Tigers dismantled the Delta State Statesmen, 80-59, in the championship game of the NCAA Division II South Regional on Tuesday night in Lakeland, Florida.

Head coach Leon Douglas took his Golden Tigers to Florida and captured the South Regional of NCAA II, defeating Florida Southern 98-95 on Saturday, North Alabama 93-87 on Sunday and Delta State 80-59 on Tuesday to advance to the Elite 8, scheduled for next week in Evansville, Indiana, on the campus of Southern Indiana University.

In the championship game, Kevin May, the Golden Tigers' floor general and the tournament's most outstanding player (MOP), scorched the nets for 24 points and dished out five assists. Elliot Dean followed with 15 points, Javier McKinney 14 points and Richard Dixon added 10 points and eight rebounds. May and Dixon were named to the all-tournament team.

Tuskegee University Golden Tigers being presented the Championship trophy
Photo Courtesy: Tuskegee University Athletics

Willie Readus led the third-seeded Statesmen with 16 points and Cornel Knight, Devin Schmidt and Mike Washington added 11 points apiece.

After falling behind the Statesmen, 25-21, at the 7:02 mark in the first half, the Golden Tigers went on a 15-1 run and never relinquished the lead again. The Statesmen trailed the Golden Tigers 41-32 at intermission after Javier McKinney nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer.

The Golden Tigers maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second half. Twice during the second half, the lead was extended to 30 points. With the Golden Tigers shooting 50 percent from the floor, 82 percent from the free throw line and 46 percent from the three-point range, it was too much for the Statesmen to overcome. All fourteen Golden Tigers saw action in the championship game.

With three wins at the regional and three wins at the SIAC Tournament, the Golden Tigers are on a six-game post-season winning streak, averaging 88.2 points per game. "We are not finished; we have some more games to play," Douglas said. "The team really played well and Kevin May was really outstanding."

Tuskegee is only the second eighth-seeded team to advance to the Elite 8. Saint Joseph's College of Indiana advanced in 2010.

It will be a homecoming for senior guard Kendall Coleman; he is from Hammond, Indiana.

Tuskegee will face the Metropolitan State College Roadrunners (31-1) of Denver, Colo, winner of the NCAA II South Central Region. The game between the Golden Tigers and the Roadrunners will tip off at 2:30 p.m. CT at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind., on Wednesday evening, March 26. The Roadrunners are from the Rocky Mountain Conference.

Story by: Arnold L. Houston
COURTESY TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY GOLDEN TIGERS SPORTS INFORMATION

North Carolina A&T Aggies Face South Florida In WNIT First Round

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- For the second consecutive season and the fourth time in six years, the North Carolina A&T women’s basketball team earned an automatic bid to the 2014 Women's National Invitational Tournament, announced late Monday evening.

A&T (24-6) will face South Florida (19-12) in the first round on Friday, March 21 in Tampa, Fla. Game times for the tournament have not been announced.

"Postseason play for any program says that you had a successful season," head coach Tarrell Robinson said. "I think this group of young women deserve a pat on the back for the job they've done this year. They have earned the opportunity to continue their season and play for another championship. We plan on making the most of our opportunity to participate in the WNIT for our second consecutive year."

A&T qualified for the 64-team field after posting a solid 24-6 record that included mid-major wins over Stetson, Georgia State and William & Mary, along with being named the MEAC regular-season runner-up with a 13-3 league record. In the last seven seasons, the Aggies' program has put together five 20-plus win seasons.

The field includes 10 teams that were crowned regular-season conference champions, tying a WNIT record set in 2013, and 35 teams with 20 or more wins.

Last season, the Aggies faced James Madison in the first round where they fell 77-64. A&T opened up the 2013-14 schedule in the Preseason WNIT where it posted a 2-1 record with wins against Stetson and Georgia State in November. The Aggies’ only loss was to Quinnipiac, an at-large qualifier in this year's postseason WNIT.

All games during the tournament are hosted by participating schools with first-round games opening March 19-21, followed by round two (March 22-25), round three (March 26-28), round four (March 29-31), semifinals (April 2-3), and championship (April 5 at 3 p.m. ET). The championship game will be nationally televised live in HD on CBS Sports Network.

2014 WNIT Bracket

WNIT Information

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

ECSU Release 2014 Football Schedule

Down East Classic vs. Benedict on September 20th; Homecoming Slated for October 25th

ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina -- The Elizabeth City State University Athletic Department has released their 2014 football schedule.

Last year the Vikings finished in second place in the CIAA Northern Division at 4-6 overall (CIAA 4-3); It was their under .500 finish since the 2005 season.

The Vikings will begin the 2014 season against former conference rival North Carolina Central University on September 6th in Durham, NC. The Eagles, now a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (Division I) went 5-7 last season and will be under the guidance of first year head coach Jerry Mack. ECSU's last visit to O'kelly Riddick stadium was in the 2006 CIAA Football Championship where the Eagles captured a thrilling 17-14 victory on a 51-yard field goal as time expired.

The Vikings and Eagles last meeting came the following year in 2007 at the Whitney Young Classic at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ where NCCU prevailed 18-10.

The following week, ECSU will host their home opener, completing a home and home series with Tusculum College on September 13th. Last season the Vikings fell to the Pioneers in a shoot out 54-41 in Greenville, TN. The last time Tusculum came to Roebuck Stadium, the Vikings rolled to a 49-29 win in their 2009 home opener.

The 17th Annual Down East Viking Football Classic will close out ECSU's non-conference slate when Benedict College visits Rocky Mount on September 20. The Tigers, a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) will be the first non-CIAA opponent to face the Vikings in the annual Classic at Rocky Mount Athletic Complex. Kickoff time is slated for 4pm.

The Vikings will open up their CIAA schedule on the road on September 27th against Winston-Salem State and will play their other cross division game against Livingstone College the following week, October 4th at Roebuck Stadium.

As for the race for the CIAA North, ECSU will face three division opponents on the road in 2014; Virginia State and Lincoln University, October 11th and 18th respectively and Bowie State University in the season finale on November 8th in Bowie, MD.

The Vikings will host Homecoming 2014 on October 25 versus Chowan University (1:30pm) and will close out their home slate on November 1st at 1:00pm against Virginia Union University.

The 2014 CIAA Football Championship will take place on November 15th at a site to be determined. For more information on ECSU Athletics, visit www.ecsuvikings.com and follow on Twitter @ECSUVikings.

ECSU VIKINGS 2014 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date Opponent / Event Location Time

09/06/14 at North Carolina Central Durham, NC 6:00 p.m. ET

09/13/14 vs. Tusculum, Elizabeth City, N.C. 4:00 p.m. ET

09/20/14 vs. Benedict, (17th Down East Viking Football Classic) Rocky Mount, NC 4:00 p.m. ET

09/27/14 at Winston-Salem State * Winston-Salem, NC 6:00 p.m. ET

10/04/14 vs. Livingstone * Elizabeth City, N.C. 1:00 p.m. ET

10/11/14 at Virginia State * Petersburg, VA 2:00 p.m. ET

10/18/14 at Lincoln (Pa.) * Lincoln, PA 1:00 p.m. ET

10/25/14 vs. Chowan (HOMECOMING) * Elizabeth City, N.C. 1:30 p.m. ET

11/01/14 vs. Virginia Union * Elizabeth City, N.C. 1:00 p.m. ET

11/08/14 at Bowie State * Bowie, MD 1:00 p.m. ET

11/15/14 CIAA Football Championship TBA

COURTESY ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Alabama State Falls to Sam Houston State

HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- Brandon Graham had 13 points and DeMarcus Robinson added 11, but the Hornets could not overcome the hot shooting Bearkats in falling 71-49 to Sam Houston State.

"They are a very good ball club, they won 23 games this season," Head Coach Lewis Jackson said. "They were 13-1 at home and I thought we did a great job in the first half holding them to 28 points and we just couldn't make shots."

"Fatigue just caught up with us and in the second half we just got tired. They were able to get out and get some layups on us, but it has been a long year and we had a long travel day trying to get here last night, getting here early this morning, but you have to give them credit. They shot it well in the second half and we continue to struggle shooting the ball and making good decisions on offense."

ASU struggled shooting from the field only hitting 26 percent of their shots. The Hornets top scorer Jamel Waters was held to three points, but did finish tied for game-high honors with six assists and two steals.

Maurice Strong was plagued by foul trouble, especially in the first half when he sat for most of the opening 20 minutes with two fouls. He scored all seven of his points in the second half and finished with Graham for team-high honors in rebounds with eight.

SHSU (24-10) shot 44 percent from the field, but shot 54 percent in the second half and that includes knocking down six of their 12 three point attempts.

SHSU had four players finish in double figures led by Dararai Henderson's 14. James Thomas scored 13 and Aurimas Majauskas 11 and Paul Baxter 10.

The hosts' were able to build a 28-20 halftime lead as the Hornets were able to only shoot 24 percent (7-29) from the field and only two of 11 from beyond the three point line. Graham led ASU with seven first-half points and Armstrong added six before picking up his second foul.

SHSU hit 10 of their 28 (36%) field goal attempts. They hit three of their 10 three point attempts, and hit five of nine from the free throw line. Thomas and Henderson had seven points each to lead the Bearkats.

SHSU also kept ASU off the boards by out rebounding ASU 28-14.

The Hornets finish the season 19-13 overall and have all their players returning next season.

"It's been a long year, but it's been a good year," Jackson said. "We just have to continue to work these guys and get better. Overall it has been a great experience for us to be able to get in some post season play and being the first team in our conference to get an invite after finishing second in our league. It was real good for us and it shows how much work these young men have put in to win 19 games."

"It is just a good experience and we have all these young men coming back and we look forward to working with them."

BOX SCORE

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NSU's Season Comes to Close with 58-54 Loss to Eastern Michigan

YPSILANTI, Michigan -- The Norfolk State men's basketball team saw its season come to a close with a hard-fought, 58-54 loss to Eastern Michigan Tuesday night in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.

The Spartans were not without their chances late in the game after the Eagles had gone up by seven at the Convocation Center. NSU had a chance to tie it with less than 10 seconds to go, but a 3-point attempt by senior Pendarvis Williams clanked off the iron, and EMU hit 1-of-2 from the line on the other end to finish the win.

The loss ended NSU's season at 19-15 in the third straight postseason appearance for the Spartan program, and the only three in its Division I era. EMU (22-14) moved on to the next round of the CIT against a yet-to-be determined opponent.

It was a slow, at times slogging contest, as both teams shot right around 41 percent for the game. The Eagles overcame a huge disadvantage on the glass and converted a few more free throws than the Spartans for the big difference.

NSU was hurt by its 17 turnovers, compared to just seven for EMU. That gave the Eagles an 18-6 advantage in points off turnovers for the night.

Neither team had more than a five-point lead in the first half, and NSU trailed by just one going into the break. EMU went ahead by five points early in the second stanza, and a fastbreak dunk by Glenn Bryant gave the Eagles a six-point lead with 13:28 to go. The slow pace of the game allowed NSU to stay within a five-point margin for the next nine minutes until Da'Shonte Riley's bucket put the Eagles up 56-49 with a little more than four minutes left in the game.

The Eagles did not score for the next several minutes, and senior Brandon Goode had a pair of buckets, the latter a putback layup with just 1:25 left. That cut the deficit to three for NSU, and the Spartans eventually got to within two at 56-54 when sophomore RaShid Gaston hit 1-of-2 from the line with 26.3 seconds on the clock.



Mike Talley hit 1-of-2 on the other end for EMU, and NSU's last-second attempt came up short.

Senior Malcolm Hawkins finished with 16 points and seven rebounds for the Spartans to lead all scorers. Goode also scored in double figures with 12, while Gaston added eight points and 12 boards.

The Spartans held a 39-21 edge on the boards.

Williams hit a trey from the left corner on NSU's second possession to help the Spartans get out to an early 6-2 lead. EMU was held scoreless for nearly four minutes, and a 3-pointer from Hawkins put NSU up 11-6 at the 14:31 mark of the first half.

Eastern Michigan countered with an 8-0 run and went up by four on a 3-pointer from leading scorer Karrington Ward with less than eight minutes in the half. The Eagles hit two more 3-pointers in the half, and had six altogether before the intermission, while NSU had five treys in the first stanza.

After Hawkins and senior Marese Phelps each drained a 3-pointer, Goode hit a turnaround shot from the baseline with five seconds left to cut the Eagle lead to just one, 31-30, going into the locker room.

Williams finished with eight points, four rebounds and three assists.

Tally and Raven Lee led the Eagles with 14 and 12 points, respectively.

The teams were nearly identical in overall shooting (20-of-48 for NSU, 19-of-46 for EMU) and in 3-point shooting (7-of-18, 7-of-17). The Eagles shot 13-of-19 from the foul line, while the Spartans connected on 7-of-13.

Williams, Goode, Phelps, Hawkins, Anell Alexis and Riley Maye wrapped up their careers with the program, as NSU's senior class finished with a 78-57 record over the previous four years. It marked the best four-year stretch for Norfolk State since the program went Division I in 1997.

That four-year span included NSU's first ever MEAC Championship in 2012 and subsequent upset of No. 2 seed Missouri in the NCAA tournament. Norfolk State also won the regular season conference title in 2013 at 16-0, becoming just the fourth MEAC school to go undefeated.

Williams finished his career 15th all-time at NSU in scoring with 1,646 points. He is just one of two players all-time at Norfolk State, along with leading scorer Ralph Tally, to compile career totals of 1,600 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, 100 steals and 50 blocks.

In addition to ranking in the top 15 in scoring, he also stands first in games played (132), second in 3-point field goals (217), 10th in steals (137), 12th in free throws (339), 15th in assists (270) and 20th in blocks (55).

Goode, meanwhile, ended his NSU career second all-time with 160 blocks despite playing limited minutes in his first two years behind predecessor and all-time record holder Kyle O'Quinn. Goode finished with 679 points and 458 rebounds while shooting nearly 60 percent for his career.

Hawkins totaled 827 points in just two seasons after transferring from Delaware. He also had 219 rebounds, 92 assists, 61 steals and 20 blocks during his two years with the Spartan program. He ranks 13th all-time at NSU with 97 career 3-pointers.

Like Williams and Goode, Maye also was a four-year player for NSU. He had his most productive season by far in his last year while closing out his career with 174 points, 55 rebounds, 14 assists and 13 blocks.

Phelps, a junior college transfer for NSU, scored 195 points during his two-year career to go along with 104 assists, 68 rebounds and 57 steals.

Alexis, a graduate transfer from Marist, averaged 7.3 points and 3.4 rebounds during his only season at NSU.

BOX SCORE

Mike Bello, Asst. SIDCOURTESY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

SC State Spring Football Practices Starts Today

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  -- South Carolina State will begin preparing for the 2014 campaign Wednesday (March.19), when the Bulldogs open spring drills at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium practice field. Wednesday's workout will begin at 6:30 a.m.

The first practice session will give fans and supporters an early glimpse as the Bulldogs prepare for the upcoming gridiron season, and opening contest against intrastate rival Benedict in the Palmetto Capital City Classic on Aug.30

Pough who is entering his 13^th season at the helm, led SC State to a 9-4 finish overall and a share of the MEAC title with a 7-1 mark and a trip to the FCS playoffs in 2013.

The Bulldogs will conduct 15 spring practice sessions including scrimmages on March 29, April 5 over the four-and-a-half week schedule, which culminates with the annual "Garnet & Blue "Spring Football Game on Saturday, April 12 at 1 p.m. in Oliver. C. Dawson Stadium. Admission to the spring game is free.

For more information about SCSU football, visit www.scsuathletics .

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

ASU Continues Spring Drills

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  --  The Alabama State football team continues to build on areas of concern as the Hornets look to wrap-up week three of spring drills.

"We saw some things on film from the scrimmage on Saturday that was good, but there are some areas we need to clean up," said Hornets' Head Coach Reggie Barlow. "Our coaches have done a good job of coaching these guys up this spring."

 ASU will resume spring drills tomorrow Wednesday, March 19, with practice starting at 3 p.m.

"The guys have made some improvement, but we still have to clean up some things and I know we will," said Barlow.

Despite practicing in unseasonal spring time weather the Hornets continue to work in preparation for the upcoming spring game.

"We would like for it to be warm. Typically it's hot, and nice but so far it's been cold," said Barlow. "Our guys have bought into coming out and working and not really letting that be a factor." 

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Spring Practice 2014: ASU Braves Kicked Off Spring Practice This Afternoon

LORMAN, Mississippi  --  With the wind slightly blowing and the sun brightly shining, Head Coach Jay Hopson and the Alcorn State football team took the field for their first spring practice this afternoon.

The Braves seemed very anxious to lace up their cleats and suit up in their practice uniforms as the energy level rose from the stretching exercises to basic drills in the early goings of practice.

Several faces returned to the field including All-SWAC honorees Issac Sampson (OL), CJ Morgan (DB), and Devon Francois (S), as well as quarterback John Gibbs, Jr and linebacker Will Thomas.

"We have been waiting patiently to get back to work since the season ended in mid-November," stated Coach Hopson. The guys came out today full of energy and ready to prepare for our No. 1 goal which is making the trip to Houston for the 2014 SWAC Championship game.

The Braves continue practice Thursday afternoon beginning at 3 p.m.

COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Texas Southern Accepts Invite to Play in WNIT

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama  -- Texas Southern University will head to Dallas, Texas to face SMU in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) on Thursday, March 20. The tournament includes a 64-team field with 10 teams who have won the regular-season conference championship title and 35 teams with 20 or more wins.

While game time has not yet been announced, this will be TSU's second consecutive appearance in the postseason tournament.

The Lady Tigers have a 20-12 record on the season after falling to Prairie View A&M in the SWAC championship game last week. Jazzmin Parker led the team with 19.1 points per game, and was named SWAC Player of the Year. TSU shoots 43.6 percent from the field, while holding opponents to 39.0 percent.

The Mustangs finished the regular season 17-13 overall and will look to their leading scorer Keena Mays to guide them in postseason play. Mays led the conference in both points, averaging 20.8 points per game, and 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 38.8 percent from behind the arc.

The winner of this matchup advances to play either Minnesota or Green Bay in the second round. Minnesota host Green Bay Wednesday.

General admission tickets are available for $7, $5 for students, and can be purchased by calling 214-SMU-GAME (214-768-4263), or by visiting SMUMustangs.com. Parking for the event is free in Moody Garage, located directly north of Moody Coliseum.

Schedule / Results

2014 WNIT Bracket

 

COURTESY SWAC.ORG

XU Nuggets move to No. 2, their highest rank of the season

NEW ORLEANS -- Not only did the Xavier University of Louisiana women's tennis team defeat Auburn Montgomery, but the Gold Nuggets also helped knock the Warhawks out of the top spot in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll on Tuesday.

Xavier (8-4) climbed from fifth after four consecutive victories since the previous poll, including a 5-4 decision at AUM on March 9. It was the Gold Nuggets' first-ever victory against a top-ranked team. Xavier has a season-best five-dual winning streak, and the poll position is its highest since being No. 1 in three consecutive polls in 2013. Before Tuesday, Xavier's highest rank this year was third in the preseason.

The Gold Nuggets are in the top 10 for the 11th consecutive time.

Second-year program Georgia Gwinnett, the only NAIA team to beat Xavier this season -- 5-2 at Hattiesburg, Miss., on Feb. 16 -- is the new No. 1. The Grizzlies (12-2 overall, 7-0 against NAIA teams) received 11-of-12 first place votes, with AUM (10-6, 9-1) getting the other.

AUM is ranked third, four points behind Xavier.

Beginning Thursday, the Gold Nuggets will be on the road for four duals in four days. They'll visit No. 4 Lindsey Wilson on Friday, play No. 18 Milligan in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday and visit No. 15 Cumberland on Sunday. XU's Thursday dual will be against Graceland, which missed the top 25 by six points.

The top 25:

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

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Gold Rush jump from 9th to 7th in NAIA coaches poll

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana made the second-biggest climb Tuesday -- from ninth place to seventh -- in the NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll.

The Gold Rush (4-7) are in the top 10 for the 24th straight time and in the top 25 for the 54th consecutive time dating to April 4, 2007.

Xavier is 2-2 since the previous poll, but both victories were against ranked teams, Coastal Georgia and Cumberland. Coastal Georgia made the largest climb in the poll, from 25th to 15th.

Defending champion Embry-Riddle (Fla.) remained No. 1 for the fourth time in as many polls, but it's the first time this season that the Eagles are not a unanimous choice for the top spot. Embry-Riddle received 7-of-12 first-place votes, with No. 2 Auburn Montgomery collecting three and No. 3 Georgia Gwinnett getting two. Embry-Riddle is three poll points ahead of AUM.

Beginning Thursday, the XU men will be on the road for four duals in four days. In Nashville, Tenn., they'll play No. 13 Graceland on Thursday and unranked Milligan on Saturday. The Gold Rush will visit No. 6 Lindsey Wilson on Friday and No. 8 Cumberland on Sunday.

The top 25:

1. Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
2. Auburn Montgomery
3. Georgia Gwinnett
4. Vanguard
5. Westmont
6. Lindsey Wilson
7. Xavier
8. Cumberland
9. Belhaven
10. Aquinas
11. Concordia (Calif.)
12. William Carey
13. Graceland
14. Bethany
15. Coastal Georgia
16. Northwestern Ohio
17. Bethel (Tenn.)
18. Warner
19. Lewis-Clark State
20. Davenport
21. Northwood (Fla.)
22. Pikeville
23. Olivet Nazarene
24. Campbellsville
25. Oklahoma Baptist


By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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NCCU Spring Football Practice Starts Tuesday

DURHAM, North Carolina  -- On Tuesday, March 18, North Carolina Central University football head coach Jerry Mack will make his O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium debut when his squad takes the field at 4 p.m. for the first spring practice.

Mack is encouraging fans to attend Tuesday's opening practice session to get an early glimpse of the team as the Eagles prepare for the 2014 gridiron season.

The four-and-a-half week spring practice schedule will culminate with a "Maroon vs. Gray" Spring Football Game on Friday, April 11 at 6 p.m. under the lights of O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. Admission to the spring game is free.

For more information about NCCU football, visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com or download the NCCU Sports Network mobile app for iOS, Android or Kindle Fire HD.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

GCAC honors four from Xavier for their weekly work

NEW ORLEANS -- Four from Xavier University of Louisiana -- Amber Brown in women's tennis, Vincenzo Ciccone in men's tennis, Catherine Fakler in women's track and Devinn Rolland in women's field -- are the recipient of Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player/Performer of the Week awards for March 10-16.

It's the first time that Brown and Ciccone have been honored.

Brown, a senior from Decatur, Ga., won in singles and doubles in the Gold Nuggets' 5-4 home
victory against Oral Roberts and clinched the dual with a 6-3, 6-3 decision against Mairead Cleary in the final match on the court. The team victory was the Gold Nuggets' first since 2004 against a non-HBCU member of NCAA Division I,

Ciccone, a junior from Brooklyn, N.Y., and a graduate of Aspirations High School and ASA College, scored the lone Gold Rush point in a 6-1 loss at Troy. Ciccone's 7-5, 6-1 victory against Tadju Davies was his second of the semester against an NCAA Division I opponent.

Fakler, a junior from Phoenix, Ariz., and a graduate of Xavier College Preparatory Roman Catholic High School, earned her second victory of the season in the 1,500-meter run. Her time  at the McNeese Cowboy Relays was 4 minutes, 44.21 seconds. Fakler is a 10-time GCAC weekly winner -- three times in track (twice this season) and seven times in cross country.

Rolland, a junior from Harvey, La., and a graduate of Cabrini High School, reached the NAIA's A-qualifiying standard in the long jump for the second time in as many meets this season. She finished second in the McNeese meet with a mark of 19 feet, one-half inch and finished ahead of 16 jumpers from NCAA Division I.

Rolland is a 10-time GCAC weekly winner. Last year she won the field award six times and the track award three times.

Xavier's tennis teams will be on the road for four dual matches apiece in four days, beginning at 11 a.m. Thursday against Graceland in Nashville, Tenn. The next XU track competition will be March 29 in the Tulane Team Challenge at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans.


By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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Top-seeded UConn women to open NCAAs vs. Prairie View A&M

STORRS, Connecticut -- The path toward potentially achieving perfection and making history for the UConn women has been mapped out.

The defending national champions stand six wins away from securing the fifth unbeaten season in program history, an unprecedented NCAA-record ninth national championship and a team single-season record 40 wins.

The Huskies (34-0) will begin play as the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament Sunday when they face No. 16 seed Prairie View A&M (14-17) in the first round of the Lincoln Regional at Gampel Pavilion (8 p.m.; ESPN).

UConn would then meet eighth-seeded Georgia (20-11) or ninth-seeded St. Joseph's (22-9) in the second round March 25.

"I think in the back of your mind it's inevitable. How do you not think about (making history),'' UConn senior Stefanie Dolson said. "But I think in the moment when the games are going on, you don't think about that.

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