Hampton U. Women Win Sixth Straight MEAC Indoor Crown

LANDOVER, Maryland – For the sixth year in a row the Hampton Lady Pirates captured the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Indoor Track and Field Championship winning on Saturday at the Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex.

The Lady Pirates have either won or shared the MEAC Championship now for 14 of the last 16 years. In 2008, they tied Maryland Eastern Shore for the team title and Delaware State won it in 2002.

Hampton amassed 143.33 points to outdistance Florida A&M who was second with 114 points. North Carolina A&T State was third with 81 points while Bethune-Cookman was fourth with 75.

Ce’aira Brown of Hampton was the Women’s Outstanding Runner as she set meet records winning the 800 meters (2:05.19), the mile run on Saturday (4:51.63) and also the 3000 meters along with the anchor leg of the distance medley relay team.

Zoe Ellis of North Carolina Central and Kiara Howell of Norfolk State shared the Outstanding Field Performer award. Ellis took first in the triple jump and third in the long jump, while Howell took second in the shot put and the weight throw.

Also setting a MEAC record on Saturday was Morgan Knight of North Carolina A&T State who won the pole vault with a leap of 3.50m (11-5.75) to beat the previous mark of 3.49m by Sasha Smallwood of Bethune-Cookman in 2013.

Maurice Pierce of Hampton was named the MEAC Coach of the Year for the sixth year in a row. “We made a lot of mistakes, but with Ce’aira Brown doing her thing, the rest of the team filled in the blanks,” he said. “ I thought the team did a good job and Ce’aira took it to another level. Every time she ran and broke another record, that got the team more excited. I think this championship right here was a combination of a serious group effort and Ce’aira was the knockout punch.”

Final Results

Women’s Results - Team	Points
1. Hampton	143.33
2. Florida A&M	114
3. North Carolina A&T State	81
4. Bethune-Cookman	75
5. Coppin State	58
6. Maryland Eastern Shore	55.33
7. Morgan State	41
8. Howard	30.33
9. Norfolk State	23
10. North Carolina Central	19
11. Delaware State	17

 
Women’s Co-Outstanding Field Athlete: Zoe Ellis (NCCU); Kiara Howell (NSU)
Women’s Outstanding Runner: Ce’aira Brown (Hampton)
Women’s Outstanding Coach: Maurice Pierce (Hampton)
 
WOMEN
All-MEAC First Team
Cynthia Chelelgo, Florida A&M (5,000m); Kierston Bond, Coppin State (LJ); Summer Brown, Bethune-Cookman (Pen.); Jailah Mason, Morgan State (HJ); Ce’aira Brown, Hampton (800m, DMR, mile, 3,000m); Kaylor Murray, Hampton (DMR); Tiara Robinson, Hampton (DMR, 4x400); Pollyanna Velasco, Hampton (DMR); Morgan Knight, North Carolina A&T State (PV); Dominique Bynum-Cooper, Howard (SP); Melissa Caddle-Hope, Coppin State (400m); Kayla White, North Carolina A&T State (60mH); India Brown, North Carolina A&T State (60m, 200); Zoe Ellis, North Carolina Central (TJ); Erin Morrison, Hampton (4x400); Kristian Young, Hampton (4x400); Tanisha Greene, Hampton (4x400)
 
All-MEAC Second Team
Judith Kibii, Florida A&M (5,000m, DMR, mile, 3,000m); Siobhan Ford-Holland, Hampton (LJ); Khemani Roberts, Coppin State (Pen.); Deandra Daniel, Coppin State (HJ); Jennaya Hield, Maryland Eastern Shore (800m); Cynthia Chelelgo, Florida A&M (DMR); Jharna Alston, Florida A&M (DMR); Destiny Johnson, Florida A&M (DMR); Keyoshia Harris, Bethune-Cookman (PV); Kiara Howell, Norfolk State (SP); Tanisha Greene, Hampton (400m); Morgan Knight, North Carolina A&T State (60mH); Tristie Johnson, Bethune-Cookman (60m, 200); Ashley Ivey, Florida A&M (TJ); Alexis Marsh, Coppin State (4x400); Kadeem Curtis, Coppin State (4x400); Melissa Caddle-Hope, Coppin State; Tanaya Yarde, Coppin State (4x400)

All-MEAC Third Team
Kaylor Murray, Hampton (5,000m); Zoe Ellis, North Carolina Central (LJ); Kaitlin Scott, Hampton (Pen.); Quamecha Morrison, Bethune-Cookman (HJ); Rachel Halmon, Maryland Eastern Shore (800m, DMR, 4x400); Alicia Colson, Maryland Eastern Shore (DMR); Lenneisha Gilbert, Maryland Eastern Shore (DMR, 4x400); Jennaya Hield, Maryland Eastern Shore (DMR); Johari Privott-Yeiser, Hampton (PV); Andrea Aaron, Florida A&M (SP); Pollyanna Velasco, Hampton (mile); Michelle Cole, Howard (400m); Shelasia Leitch, Maryland Eastern Shore (60mH); Kayla White, North Carolina A&T State (60m); Yakira Love, North Carolina A&T State (200m); Cynthia Chelelgo, Florida A&M (3,000m); Shauntel Lucius, Maryland Eastern Shore (TJ); Alicia Colson, Maryland Eastern Shore (4x400); Tanaya Yarde, Maryland Eastern Shore; Dypna Umunakwe, Maryland Eastern Shore (4x400)

COURTESY MEAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Hampton Pirates Fall to Roberts Wesleyan in Historic Debut

HAMPTON, Virginia --  Kendall Sapp scored two goals and had an assist, while Brock Robinson scored once for Hampton University on Saturday, as the Pirates fell 20-3 to visiting Roberts Wesleyan College at Armstrong Stadium.

But the result was almost secondary in what was a historic day.

For the first time since 1981, when head coach Lloyd Carter played at Morgan State, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) fielded a varsity men's lacrosse team -- and Saturday's game marked the first time ever on the NCAA Div. I level.

Dom Cianfarino scored six goals for Roberts Wesleyan (1-0), while Matt Benedict had a goal and six assists with three others had two goals each. Cianfarino scored five of his goals in a first period that saw the Redhawks soar to a 10-0 lead.

Robinson scored the first goal in Pirates history 58 seconds into the second 15-minute period, as he took a feed from Sapp and blasted one from the left side. Sapp then closed the scoring in the second period picking up a loose ball and putting it past goalkeeper Keith Keehn to make the halftime margin 15-2.

Sapp repeated his goal to close out the scoring in the contest with 4:42 left in the game. He finished with two goals and an assist on three shots. Alex Hudson took a team-high four shots for the Pirates.

Alyn Jordan-Bass made eight saves for the Pirates.

The Redhawks outshot Hampton 44-13 in the game, but the Pirates (0-1) outshot them 5-4 in the fourth quarter.

Roberts Wesleyan held a 28-8 edge in shots on goal and 23-4 in faceoffs.

The Pirates will be on the road for their next varsity game to take on Thiel College on Saturday, Feb. 27 in Greenville, Pa. at 2 p.m. For more information on Hampton University lacrosse, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

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Xavier's Bruins returns home in LSUA's home opener

Sha'Nel Bruins

ALEXANDRIA, Louisiana -- LSU of Alexandria's home opener is set to have an NAIA tournament feel to it.

LSUA will host No. 11 Xavier Saturday at Alexandria City Park as both teams are focused on trying to return to the NAIA Tournament.

For Gold Nugget junior Sha'Nel Bruins, it will be a return home to Central Louisiana, where she was a two-sport star at Grant, being named to the All-Cenla basketball team and winning the Class 4A girls singles tennis title in 2013 as a senior.

While she is seeing it as another match and looking to help her team rebound from a 6-3 loss to No. 6 William Carey Feb. 6, she is happy that her family can see her play.

"I don’t really feel any nervousness or anything, I just want to focus on our team winning and playing my best to help ensure us of a win," Bruins said. "I’m grateful that I will have the opportunity to return home and play. My parents sometimes travel down to New Orleans to watch me, but that is seldom. So it’s nice that it’s closer to home so they’re able to come."

This season, Bruins made the C-Flight semifinals at the HBCU National Championships and reached the consolation finals at the USTA/ITA NAIA South Regional Championships and has steadily improved her game over the last two seasons.

CONTINUE READING

After 20-year hiatus, Tuskegee to play FAMU in 5th Quarter Classic

MOBILE, Alabama -- The Mobile Sports Authority (MSA) and Promoter, Robert Buck, are proud to announce that after a 20-year break, Mobile will be the host for the revival of a college football rivalry which dates back over 100 years. It was announced today, Mobile will be the host of the first annual 5th Quarter Classic Powered by the Mobile Sports Authority.

This college football game will feature the Florida A&M University Rattlers hosting the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers on September 17, 2016 at historic Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile. With the Rattlers holding a 27-15-2 advantage in the series, Florida A&M and Tuskegee have had a rivalry that dates back to 1908. In 1996, due to a conference change, the schools ended their 44-game rivalry. With today’s announcement, the Mobile Sports Authority (MSA) along with Promoter, Robert Buck, announced that this 20-year hiatus will be awakened with the 2016 5th Quarter Classic Powered by the Mobile Sports Authority.

Kick-off is scheduled for 6 PM at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on week three of the season. Ticket information will be forthcoming.


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“This year, an old foe will return after a 20-year absence from competing against us. We look forward to facing the Golden Tigers of Tuskegee University in Mobile, Ala. on Sept. 17.” said Milton Overton, Athletic Director of the Florida A&M Rattlers. “The revitalization of one of FAMU’s traditional foes dates back to the first meeting in 1908. We listened to our constituents, including alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends of FAMU. This game will provide an opportunity for Rattler and Golden Tiger fans to enjoy the action and the spirit on and off the field with the addition of the Battle of the Bands.”

This will be the first “Classic-style” football game to be played in Mobile since 2009. The Gulf Coast Classic was played in Mobile for 35 years from 1974-2009 with Alabama State being the home team every year. However, that game was discontinued after the 2009 Classic.

Tuskegee University Athletic Director, Curtis Campbell added, “"We are excited about the opportunity to compete against Florida A&M University in the 5th Quarter Classic. The history between TU and FAMU goes back many years, and has left its mark on HBCU football as they are two of the winningest programs in football. This is an opportunity for our alumni and new generation of Tuskegee Golden Tiger football fans to be involved in such a historic game. We look forward to the game being played in Mobile this year and seeing all our alumni and fans at the game."

The Mobile Sports Authority began discussions to bring a Classic-style football game back to Mobile, Ala. in early 2014.


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Knowing that Mobile, in all its rich history, would be a perfect backdrop for this long-standing historical competition, the MSA and Promoter, Robert Buck, are proud to be reviving this competition in an all-out “Classic-style” experience on a neutral playing field for both teams.

"I am proud to announce the return of an HBCU Classic to Mobile, Alabama. It has been a pleasure to establish the 5th Quarter Classic for the Gulf Coast community. Florida A&M University and Tuskegee University are elite institutions with outstanding athletic programs, excellent marching bands, and awesome fans. We are honored to feature both as participants in 2016” said 5th Quarter Classic Promotor, Robert Buck. “The Mobile Sports Authority and I are working together to make the entire weekend an eventful experience for fans. 5thQuarterClassic.com is the best source to learn future plans for the weekend."

Danny Corte, Executive Director of the Mobile Sports Authority added, “One of the events which we at the Mobile Sports Authority thought was missing on our annual Mobile sports calendar was a “Classic-style” college football game. It’s been almost 7 years (2009) since the last Classic was played here. So, several years ago, we started working to create another Classic game for Mobile. We’re very proud to have two traditional teams, that being Florida A&M and Tuskegee, playing in Mobile this fall. We’re looking forward to welcoming the teams, officials, and fans for both teams to Mobile in September. The job of the Mobile Sports Authority is to bring quality sporting events to the Mobile County area. We're proud that we've had a good deal of success in recent years, but it's really due to a team effort with support from both Mobile County and the City of Mobile.”

With discussions continuing, Mobile Sports Authority and Promoter, Robert Buck, are working to finalize all the ancillary events surrounding the 5th Quarter Classic Powered by the Mobile Sports Authority. If interested in being a sponsor for any ancillary event(s), please contact Susan Shaw, Mobile Sports Authority, Sports Events & Marketing Director (Susan@mobilesportsauthority.com).

About The Mobile Sports Authority

The Mobile Sports Authority (MSA) is a non-profit sports commission formed in 2008 by the Mobile County Commission. The main mission is to create a positive economic and public relations impact for Mobile County, the City of Mobile, and the region through attracting, hosting, managing and supporting sporting events. MSA is the main point of contact for sports and sports-related activities for the Mobile County area. For more information on MSA, please visit www.mobilesportsauthority.com.

Courtesy of Mobile Sports Authority (MSA)

UDC Tajruba Baldwin-Kollore Reaches 1,000 Career Points; Firebirds Earn Blowout Win vs. Dowling, 86-50;

Senior guard Tajruba Baldwin-Kollore became the 5th UDC women's
basketball student-athlete to reach 1,000 career points.

WASHINGTON, D.C.  –  Senior guard Tajruba Baldwin-Kollore led all scorers with 26 points en-route to a lopsided, 86-50 victory for the University of the District of Columbia women's basketball team vs. East Coast Conference foe Dowling College Wednesday night at UDC Sports Complex.
 

With her 26-point scoring effort, Baldwin-Kollore became the 5^th UDC women's basketball student-athlete to reach the 1,000-point career milestone, and just the 3^rd to have done so entirely as a Firebird. Tonight's win saw UDC improve to 17-6 overall and remain 2^nd in the ECC standings at 12-3. Dowling, which has now lost 13 straight, fell to 2-19 overall and 2-13 in league play.

 

Baldwin-Kollore, who also tied for the game-high with six assists and had a team-high two steals, was aided by senior forward Iman Scott (11 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals) and junior transfer guard Brandi Henton (10 points, six assists, five rebounds), as well as a near double-double by senior reserve forward Tatyana Calhoun (nine points, game-high nine rebounds).

 

Dowling was led by the ECC's top scorer, Krstina Surlan, who registered 19 points, five rebounds and a game-high four steals. Forward Kaelan Ward hauled in a team-high eight rebounds.

 

The Firebirds out-shot their guests 52-percent to 31-percent from the field, and 38-percent to 24-percent from long-range, and they had a decisive, 47-30 rebounding advantage. UDC's 13 offensive rebounds (four of which were by Calhoun) led to 21 2^nd chance points, and a 34-16 points advantage in the paint.

 

UDC also took much better control of the ball with 17 assists and 13 turnovers, while holding Dowling to eight assists and using a suffocating press to force 16 turnovers. The Firebirds cashed in for 26 points off of Golden Lions turnovers on the night.

 

Team depth also played a factor as UDC had eight substitutes at its disposal and its bench out-scored Dowling's, 35-10.

 

Kaelen Ward's jump shot two minutes into the action in the first quarter gave Dowling its 2^nd and last lead of the night, 5-4, as Scott put the Firebirds ahead to stay with a layup at the 7:04 mark. An 8-2 run by UDC, capped by a Baldwin-Kollore three-pointer at 4:55, had UDC up 14-7. Surlan then scored five straight points to make it 14-12, but the Firebirds answered with an 11-2 surge, highlighted by a three-pointer each by Henton and senior forward Tiara Goode. The Firebirds would lead 25-21 at the end of the first quarter.

 

In the second quarter, UDC's defense held Dowling to just two points on 1-of-16 FG shooting (0-for-9 from behind-the-arc) and six turnovers. The Firebirds, led by Baldwin-Kollore's eight points and freshman guard Ryonna Marshall's five, scored 17 in the period, and led 42-23 at halftime. The Golden Lions' two points is the lowest point total allowed by the Firebirds in a quarter this season.

 

UDC kept its foot on the gas in the 3^rd quarter, out-scoring Dowling, 14-5 over the first six minutes to double-up the Golden Lions, 56-28. The Firebirds would take a 63-37 advantage heading into the 4^th quarter.

 

Baldwin-Kollore and Henton each knocked down a pair of three-pointers in a little over three minutes of action to start the 4^th quarter during a 15-4 tear by the Firebirds that saw their lead swell to its largest of the night, 78-41.

 

With 2:16 remaining in her 2^nd to last regular season home game at UDC, Baldwin-Kollore made the 1^st of two free-throws for her 1,000^th career point to make it 83-49, and the Firebirds would cruise to a 36-point victory – their largest margin this season.

 

Next up, UDC will visit ECC foe University of Bridgeport on Saturday, February 13^th at 1 p.m.

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FAMU baseball handling expectations while improving field

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- For the first time in more than 20 years, Florida A&M’s baseball team will step on the field on opening day as the defending MEAC champion.

There are some extra expectations surrounding the team’s season, brought on by the group’s recent success under head coach Jamey Shouppe. In Shouppe’s second season at the helm, the Rattlers won their first MEAC title since 1994.

Shouppe, now in his third season, said he’s comfortable with his team heading into the Rattlers season opener against Marshall on Feb. 19 — but, of course, he’s looking for more success.

“As a coach, all you want to do is be comfortable,” he said.

“We’ll go down to Miami during the season and we’ll be comfortable. That doesn’t mean we’re going to come out of there winning two out of three, but that doesn’t mean we won’t. We’re comfortable with our pitchers. We’re comfortable with our lineup. We’ve got some depth. That’s exciting for us.”

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Meet Howard Bison James Daniel, college basketball's unlikely, undersized leading scorer

JAMES DANIEL III
COURTESY: HOWARD UNIVERSITY

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- With less than a month to go in college basketball's regular season, a glance at the national scoring leader race hits most fans with a handful of familiar names.

There's Buddy Hield, the runaway favorite to win national Player of the Year, sitting at No. 2 with an average of 25.7 points per game. Well-known non-power conference stars Jack Gibbs of Davidson (24.6 ppg) and Kahlil Felder of Oakland (24.6 ppg) are just behind him. Anthony "Cat" Barber from NC State (23.5 ppg) and Stefan Moody from Ole Miss (23.3 ppg) are also right there near the top.

But what about the guy with a firm grip on the top spot?

 

James Daniel has a boring name, he is, by basketball standards, a boring size (5'11, 165-pounds) and he plays for a Howard program which hasn't been to the NCAA Tournament since 1992. He's also on pace to average more points in a season than any Division I player since Jimmer Fredette in 2010-11.

 

This wasn't supposed to happen for Daniel, who enters the weekend pouring in 27.4 points per contest. A season ago, he averaged a solid, but not spectacular 16.1 ppg while playing more of a traditional point guard role for the Bison. He knew he'd be asked to do more scoring in a junior season, but a rash of injuries to his teammates left Daniel -- who also goes by "J-Byrd" -- shouldering more of the offensive load than he could have ever imagined.

 

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Morgan State, ex-star O’Quinn to visit NSU

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Norfolk State gets a slight reprieve from what has been a challenging portion of its MEAC schedule when Morgan State visits Echols Hall at 6 tonight.

The Bears (5-17, 3-6 ), 11th in the 13-team league, have lost two straight and five of their past seven.

The third-place Spartans (12-13, 8-2), meanwhile, are coming off consecutive road wins over Howard and Maryland Eastern Shore, both mid-level teams or better.

Fans will have extra incentives to attend the game, which is part of Alumni Day. The first 750 to arrive wearing NSU apparel will receive a bobblehead likeness of former Spartans star and current New York Knicks forward Kyle O’Quinn, who plans to be at the game.

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Tony Hughes took a pay cut to come to Jackson State

JACKSON, Mississippi -- A Division I head coach's seat is a prized position.

"They only thing I'll say is, in my 31 years of coaching, I would love to be a head coach," then-Mississippi State assistant head coach Tony Hughes told reporters on Dec. 12. "As a career assistant in the SEC, a high school coach, junior college, I would love to be a head coach in my career. There are few opportunities that arise in a career that you may get an opportunity or not."

How valuable is a head coaching opportunity? Well for Hughes, it was worth more than $130,000.

Later that day, Hughes signed an agreement to become Jackson State's head coach for $265,000 for the next three seasons, according his contract, which was obtained this week by The Clarion-Ledger through a public records request.

Hughes was paid $400,000 as Mississippi State's assistant head coach, safeties coach and recruiting coordinator in 2015, according to USA Today.



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TSU's Griffin proving himself again as dual-sport phenom

DERRICK GRIFFIN
COURTESY: TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
 

HOUSTON, Texas -- Derrick Griffin enjoys peace.

He didn't have it in the wild world of being a sought-after football and basketball star at Terry High School. He's found it at Texas Southern.

"My circle, it was way too big," Griffin said. "It messed me up a lot. Now my circle's small. Everything is going how I like it. How I want it."

Griffin, a 6-7, 225-pound forward, learned from his past. The redshirt freshman dual-sport star is re-establishing his name at TSU because of that.

In basketball, Griffin has 11 double-doubles in 16 games for the Tigers (10-12, 9-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference). He's the SWAC's leader in rebounds (10.9 per game) and blocked shots (2.3), and is TSU's third-leading scorer (13.2 points) entering the first-place Tigers' game again
st Jackson State at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at H&PE Arena.

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William Carey wins at XU, stretches streak to 12

NEW ORLEANS — Senior guard Donta Pittman scored seven points in a closing run Thursday that carried NAIA No. 15 William Carey to a 65-51 men's basketball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana.
    
The Crusaders (17-8) won their 12th in row — their seventh straight by double digits — and snapped the two-game win streak of the Gold Rush (17-9).
    
Xavier led 48-47 — its only advantage of the second half — after Morris Wright's 3-pointer with 8:56 remaining, but the Crusaders outscored the Rush 18-3 thereafter. Pittman scored seven points in a 9-0 run during the final 2:23.
    
Pittman also had six rebounds, five assists and two steals. Teammate Leo Garrett scored 14 points, including 4-of-5 3-pointers.
    
Wright scored in double figures for the 34th consecutive time, but his 13 points were his third-lowest this season. Wright was 5-of-18 from the floor, 2-of-11 on 3-pointers, and made 1-of-4 free throws. Wright's first points came on a trey in the 15th minute. Elex Carter had 12 points and eight rebounds for the Gold Rush, and Kevin Murph and Jarvis Thibodeaux scored eight apiece. Thibodeaux grabbed five rebounds, and Murph had career highs of three assists and three steals.
    
William Carey outshot Xavier 50 to 38 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Gold Rush 35-26. The field-goal percentage was the best by an XU opponent this season.
    
Pittman had 10 points and Garrett eight to lead the Crusaders to a 36-28 halftime advantage. But Xavier rallied, and Thibodeaux's two free throws and basket gave the Gold Rush ties at 43 and 45.
    
The Gold Rush and Crusaders split their two-game season series — Xavier won 64-61 at Hattiesburg, Miss., Dec. 12 — and William Carey won for the third time in four tries at Xavier's Convocation Center, which opened in 2012. The Crusaders scored their biggest winning margin at Xavier since the 1998-99 season.
    
Xavier will play its final regular-season home game at 7:30 p.m. Monday against Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opponent SUNO at the Convocation Center.

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Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Gold Nuggets clamp down on Lady Crusaders, win 59-33

NEW ORLEANS — Whitney Gathright scored 10 points Thursday in her most-accurate shooting performance of the season, and Xavier University of Louisiana led wire-to-wire for the second time in three games in a 59-33 women's basketball victory against William Carey.
    
The Gold Nuggets (16-9) snapped a two-game home losing streak. They need one victory to clinch their 15th consecutive winning season.
    
Gathright, scoring in double figures for the sixth straight game and a team-leading 19th time this season, was 4-of-6 from the floor and 2-of-2 on 3-pointers in 22 minutes. The senior guard grabbed five rebounds and had two assists and a steal.
    
Kiera Robinson, Donyeah Mayfield and Trana Hopkins scored nine points apiece for Xavier, which led 18-5 after nine minutes and limited the Lady Crusaders (7-12) to single-digit points in 3-of-4 quarters. Robinson's three blocked shots and Hopkins' five rebounds matched their career highs, and Mayfield grabbed 10 rebounds to reach double figures for the third consecutive game and the eighth time this season.
    
Emoni Harvey had four assists for Xavier, and Hopkins had three.
  
Jacquonna Young had 10 points and six rebounds for William Carey, which has lost six straight and nine of its last 11 games.
    
Xavier outshot William Carey 40.7 to 26.7 percent from the floor and improved to 12-0 this season when it's more accurate than opponents. The Gold Nuggets had a 49-24 rebound advantage, and the margin was a season best.
    
Xavier allowed its fewest-ever points in the Convocation Center, which opened in 2012, and allowed its fewest points in a game since December 2013 and its fewest in a home game since January 2012. Xavier won at home against William Carey for the 22nd consecutive time, and the winning margin was its largest against the Lady Crusaders since February 2003.
    
Xavier will play its final regular-season home game at 5:30 p.m. Monday against Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opponent SUNO at the Convocation Center. Gathright, Mayfield, Hopkins, Harvey, Amara Person-Hampton and Alesha Smith will be honored on senior night.

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Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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from THE EDITOR, DWIGHT FLOYD: FAMU Out Slugs Opponents in Season Opener

DAPHNE, Alabama -- In the opening game of the season at the Sand Dollar Class, Daphne, Alabama, the Rattlers must have thought they were still competing in the MEAC post-season playoff. Last year they struggled out of the gate and didn’t fully find their rhythm until the end of the season. In the MEAC Conference Championship playoff games they relied on the successful pitching of Kenya Pereira and just enough hits to outscore their opponents.

Most teams would expect to win if they scored six points in a collegiate softball game. For the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles of the Conference USA six runs was not enough as the Rattlers outplayed the Eagles in almost every offensive category. The Golden Eagles collected 8 hits on 31 tries for a .258 batting average. That allowed them to take the lead at 5-2 in the 4th inning and tie the game at 6 in regulation. The Rattlers, however, found the hits when they needed them.

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Central State 2016 football schedule features five home games and appearance in 33rd Circle City Classic®

WILBERFORCE, Ohio -- The Central State University athletic department released the 2016 football schedule on Wednesday.

Despite only three home games on last year's schedule, CSU managed a respectable 5-5 overall record. Much to the delight of the coaching staff, players and fans, the 2016 schedule will feature five home games and a total of seven contests played within a 150 mile radius.

"We are excited to be playing in games that are more accessible for our fans this year," said CSU Head Coach Cedric Pearl. "With five games in McPherson Memorial Stadium, our fans are going to create a great environment to help give us a true home field advantage."

CSU fans will no doubt support the team when Central State makes the short trip to play the University of Dayton to open the season. The Marauders will then have back-to-back home games against Clark-Atlanta and Benedict on Sept. 10 and Sept. 17 before playing in the 33rd Circle City Classic against SIAC rival Kentucky State in Lucas Oil Stadium.

Central State makes its first trip down south in week five of the season to take on Virginia University-Lynchburg followed by a showdown in Fairfield, AL against SIAC reigning champion Miles College.

Lane College visits Wilberforce for Central State's Homecoming on Oct. 15. CSU will play their final road game the following weekend against Fort Valley State.

The Tuskegee Golden Tigers, the defending HSRN Division II HBCU National Champions and a NCAA Division II playoff quarterfinalist, come to McPherson on Oct. 29. The Marauders conclude the season on Nov. 5 when they host Southwest Baptist University.

Central State will be partnering with the Gem City Sports Network to provide live radio and video coverage of every home game.

2016 Central State University Football Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Location	Home / Away	Time
9/3/2016	TBA	University of Dayton	Dayton, OH	A	TBA
9/10/2016	1:30 PM	Clark Atlanta University		H	1:30 PM
9/17/2016	1:30 PM	Benedict College		H	1:30 PM
Circle City Classic
9/24/2016	3 PM	Kentucky State University		N	3 PM
10/1/2016	1:30 PM	Virginia University of Lynchburg	Lynchburg, VA	A	1:30 PM
10/8/2016	TBA	Miles College	Fairfield, AL	A	TBA
Homecoming
10/15/2016	1:30 PM	Lane College		H	1:30 PM
10/22/2016	2 PM	Fort Valley State University	Fort Valley, GA	A	2 PM
10/29/2016	1 PM	Tuskegee University		H	1 PM
11/5/2016	1 PM	Southwest Baptist University		H	1 PM

COURTESY CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

JSU, NFL legend — Richardson remembered

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Before Willie L. Richardson Jr. left his imprint on Jackson State University, before he made his mark in the National Football League, the young wide receiver from Coleman High School in Greenville made an impression on other high schools boys in a game against Lanier High School in 1959.

That’s when retired NFL player Noland Smith said he knew he wanted to play football.

Smith said he went to that game to see the band and convince his mother to buy him a trumpet.



After seeing Richardson play, Smith told his mother, “I don’t want you to buy me a trumpet. I want to play football.”

“Willie was a one-man show that day,” Smith said of Richardson, who scored six touchdowns. “He was my biggest inspiration.”

Richardson, an NFL Pro-Bowler and member of the JSU Hall of Fame, SWAC Hall of Fame, Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame, sports broadcaster/commentator and avid golfer, died Monday of natural causes at his home in Northwest Jackson. He was 76.

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Sources: Alcorn State to promote Cedric Thomas to DC

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Alcorn State will promote defensive backs coach Cedric Thomas to defensive coordinator, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

Thomas will fill the role left by Tony Pecoraro, who will follow former Braves coach Jay Hopson to Southern Miss, according to a source.

In 2015, Alcorn State finished atop the SWAC in total and scoring defense. Against the pass, The Braves were No. 1 in pass defense and allowed 121.2 yards per game. They also were the top team in pass efficiency defense.

Thomas, who previously coached at Mississippi Delta Community College, was a graduate assistant at Alcorn State during coach Johnny Thomas' tenure. He also coached at U-T Martin.

The Cleveland native, Thomas, played collegiately at Mississippi Delta Community College and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

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Documents detail FAMU athletics triumphs, woes

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M’s Board of Trustees will wait until its full meeting in March to discuss Athletic Director Milton Overton Jr.’s budget, though they’ve got an idea of where the department is going.

During a Wednesday teleconference of the board’s committees, Trustee Kelvin Lawson decided it would be better to wait until March 10, when the group meets again, to delve into Overton’s plans.

Lawson is the chairman of the Special Committee on Athletics. Overton was present for the teleconference, but did not speak.

The committee was given a 16-slide PowerPoint, which detailed some of last year's highlights. The presentation also highlighted things Overton plans to fix.

According to the presentation, the athletics department has earned 62 percent of its projected 2015-16 revenue ($5.55 million of its budgeted $8.6 million).

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XU's Wright wins third GCAC weekly award of the season

NEW ORLEANS — Morris Wright, the leading scorer for Xavier University of Louisiana in a pair of victories against city rivals, is the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week in men's basketball for Feb. 1-7.
    
This is the second consecutive season that Wright — a 5-foot-10 senior guard from Zachary, La., and a former Zachary High School and Baton Rouge Community College standout — has been honored three times.
    
Wright averaged 22.5 points and shot 50 percent from the floor. He had 25 points and a season-high-tying four steals in a 59-50 victory at SUNO, then scored a game-high 20 points — he was scoreless the first 12 minutes — and made back-to-back 3-pointers in the final four minutes in the Gold Rush's 69-61 home victory against Dillard.    

Wright led Xavier in scoring 26 times in the last 28 games, has scored in double figures in each of the last 33 games and made at least one 3-pointer in each of the last 32 games. Wright has 1,411 career points and ranks 11th at Xavier. He started the season in 33rd place. Wright's 12 20-point games in 2015-16 are the most in a season by an XU player in the last nine seasons. Wright has 77 made 3-pointers in 2015-16 — that's No. 3 on Xavier's all-time season list.

For the season, Wright is averaging 19.4 points per game and ranks 16th in NAIA Division I.
    
Wright finished third in voting for Louisiana Player of the Week, an honor sponsored by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
    
Xavier (17-8) will play NAIA No. 15 William Carey (16-8), winner of its last 11 games, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at XU's Convocation Center.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information DirectorXULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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D'Iberville (Miss.) standout signs with Xavier Gold Rush

NEW ORLEANS — Evan Howard, a 6-foot-8 forward from Biloxi, Miss., and D'Iberville High School, has signed a men's basketball scholarship with Xavier University of Louisiana.
    
Howard is averaging 8.5 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots per game and shooting 54.5 percent from the floor this season for D'Iberville, which is 17-10 and has clinched its first winning record in 10 years. Howard has produced five double-doubles, scored in double figures seven times and grabbed 10-or-more rebounds 12 times.
    
As a junior in 2014-15, Howard averaged 10.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks. He had seven double-doubles, 15 games with 10-or-more points and 10 games with 10-or-more rebounds. He was the first D'Iberville player to be selected to Mississippi's North/South All-Star Game for juniors.
    
Howard will be a pre-pharmacy major at Xavier during the fall 2016 semester.
    
"Evan is a great kid and a great student-athlete who works real hard at his game," D'Iberville coach Lorenzo Wright said. "One of the best things about him is that he gets it done in the classroom. Then he backs it up by stepping on the floor and playing well."
    
Xavier is 17-8 and has clinched a 16th consecutive winning season and a 25th consecutive non-losing season, both school records. The Gold Rush compete in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and qualified for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship each of the past five seasons.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Nelson wins first GCAC weekly award; Salwan repeats

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Brandi Nelson is the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week in women's tennis for the first time in her career, and Karan Salwan is the men's honoree for the second consecutive week.
    
Nelson, a junior from Jonesboro, Ga., and a graduate of Faith Academy, won in doubles and singles Saturday in a 6-3 home loss to NAIA No. 6 William Carey. Nelson and Charlene Goreau defeated Sara Valero Marin and Nataliia Baliaeva 8-6 at the top doubles flight, then Nelson beat Alexia Rycroft 7-5, 7-5 at No. 3 singles.
    
Salwan, a junior from New Delhi, India, and a graduate of Modern School, teamed with Kyle Montrel for an 8-0 victory against William Carey's Andreas Brune and Aleksei Tumakov at No. 1 doubles. Then Salwan beat Vivien Versier 6-4, 6-1 at No. 1 singles. The Gold Rush, also at home Saturday, won 8-1 against the NAIA's seventh-ranked team.
    
The Gold Nuggets, 1-1 and ranked 11th in the NAIA, will visit LSU-Alexandria, a 2015 NAIA National Championship qualifier, at noon Saturday in Alexandria, La. Both XU teams will visit NCAA Division I's Nicholls State at 11 a.m. Sunday in Thibodaux, La. The Gold Rush are 2-2 and ranked fourth.
    
The next XU home dual will start at 3 p.m. Feb. 25 for the men against Troy of NCAA DI.

 

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information DirectorXULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Rams Boulware likes 2016 football schedule

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Winston-Salem State’s football schedule will have a different feel this fall.

Although the Rams once again will open against UNC Pembroke on Sept. 3 at Bowman Gray Stadium, they will have two different nonconference opponents than in past years. They will play at Catawba on Sept. 10, and then play Virginia Union on Sept. 17 at Bowman Gray Stadium in a designated nonconference game.

Boulware, who will enter his third season as head coach, was pleased with the way the Rams finished 2015 with their fifth straight CIAA championship game appearance. What made the offseason better was that the Rams upset Bowie State 17-14 in the championship game to finish 6-5 and win their third conference title in the last five seasons.

The Rams, however, have missed out on the Division II playoffs for two straight seasons, and the goal is to get back there.

“The schedule is right in front of us and we know what we have to do get back to those NCAA playoffs,” Boulware said Monday. “We are still in the process of completing our recruiting class for this fall, but we are also pleased with how the schedule looks.”

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Hampton Pirates Releases 2016 Football Schedule

COURTESY: HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

HAMPTON, Virginia --  The Hampton University football team has released its 2016 schedule, a slate that includes five home games.

"It's a good schedule," head coach Connell Maynor, who is entering his third season, said. "We get an FBS program to start in Old Dominion and that will be tough, but we look forward to the challenge. It's a tough conference schedule; we won five MEAC games last year, so we're gonna see if we can get those five again this year and then pick up the other three."

The season will open on the road, as the Pirates head to Norfolk, Va. to take on FBS foe Old Dominion on Sept. 3. Hampton will then have their home opener on Sept. 10, taking on William & Mary at Armstrong Stadium at 6 p.m.

Three straight on the road follow, starting with the Nation's Football Classic against rival Howard on Sept. 17. The Pirates will then have their bye week, before heading to Greensboro, N.C. on Oct. 1 to take on North Carolina A&T.

The road trip will wrap up in Dover, Del. on Oct. 8 against Delaware State.

Hampton's Homecoming will be on Oct. 15 against Morgan State at 2 p.m., before the Pirates hit the road again on Oct. 22, traveling to Tallahassee, Fla. to take on Florida A&M.

Three straight home games will follow, starting with a tilt against South Carolina State on Oct. 29. The Pirates will then play host to Savannah State on Nov. 12, before celebrating Senior Day on Nov. 19 with the Battle of the Bay against Norfolk State.

All three of those games are set to kick off at 1 p.m.

The Pirates will close out the regular season on Nov. 26 at Coastal Carolina, which is in the process of transitioning from FCS to FBS.

"It's a tough way to start the year, and a tough way to end it," Maynor said. "But we look forward to the challenge."

Dates and times are subject to change.

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

2016 Hampton University football schedule

Date		Opponent	Location	Time
9/3/2016		Old Dominion	Norfolk, Va.	TBA
9/10/2016		William & Mary	Hampton, Va.	6 p.m.
Nation’s Football Classic/Battle of the REAL HU
9/17/2016	*	Howard	Washington, D.C.	TBA
10/1/2016	*	North Carolina A&T	Greensboro, N.C.	TBA
10/8/2016	*	Delaware State	Dover, Del.	2 p.m.
Homecoming
10/15/2016	*	Morgan State	Hampton, Va.	2 p.m.
10/22/2016	*	Florida A&M	Tallahassee, Fla.	3 p.m.
10/29/2016	*	South Carolina State	Hampton, Va.	1 p.m.
11/12/2016	*	Savannah State	Hampton, Va.	1 p.m.
Battle of the Bay
11/19/2016	*	Norfolk State	Hampton, Va.	1 p.m.
11/26/2016		Coastal Carolina	Conway, S.C.	TBA

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Morgan State Head Football Coach Lee Hull Accepts Position with NFL's Indianapolis Colts

INTERIM HEAD COACH FRED FARRIER
MORGAN STATE FOOTBALL

Bears Offensive Coordinator Fred Farrier named as Interim Head Coach

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Morgan State University head football coach Lee Hull today informed university officials that he has accepted a position with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. Hull led the Bears to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship and its first Football Championship Subdivison playoff appearance in school history in 2014, during what MSU called its football program's "Return to Greatness" season. 

Hull resigned his position today after two years as Morgan's head football coach to accept a position as wide receivers coach with the Indianapolis Colts.

"We were pleased with the direction Coach Hull was taking our football program," says Athletics Director Floyd Kerr. "We are sorry to see him leave but, of course, wish him well and continued success in his future endeavors."

Kerr has named current Bears offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Fred Farrier as interim head coach, providing some continuity to the program, he says. Farrier was recruited by Hull to be the team's offensive coordinator, a role he had filled for the past two years. He will serve as interim head coach until a permanent replacement is identified.

A native of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Farrier joined the Bears after spending a pair of seasons as the passing game coordinator at RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute). His tutelage of the quarterbacks was instrumental in the RPI Engineers' offensive resurgence. Prior to joining RPI, Farrier served four seasons as the head coach of Kentucky State (2005-09). He coached the Thoroughbreds to an average of over 30 points and 375 yards per game. He also had a punting unit that earned national rankings and saw nearly 30 student-athletes capture postseason honors for athletic and academic achievements. Farrier also has college coaching experience from his tenure at Shaw University, where he was the associate head coach and offensive coordinator in 2004.

COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Jackson State icon Willie Richardson dies

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State legend Willie Richardson died on Monday afternoon, a university spokesperson confirmed.

Sharon-Grisham Stewart, Hinds County chief medical examiner/coroner, confirmed that Richardson died of natural causes.

Richardson, 76, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003. He played nine seasons in the NFL, mostly for the Baltimore Colts and appeared in Super Bowl III. Richardson was first-team All Pro in 1967 and made the Pro Bowl in '67 and '68.

"He could do anything with the ball (as a player). Last time I played golf with him he shot even par at age 75. Everything he did athletically was smooth. He made everything look easy," Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum historian Rick Cleveland said. "He always had a kind word for everybody. Last time I saw him was at the press conference to name Fred McNair the head coach at Alcorn (last week). Here's a Jackson State guy showing up for the head coach at the rival school and he did it just because he said so many times in life people don't get what they deserve. He wanted to be there for Fred because he was getting what he long deserved. He was just a kind guy."

Richardson was drafted by the..

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