MEAC Announces Cross Country Academic Honors

NORFOLK, Virginia — The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced the 2018 Cross Country All-Academic Selections, honoring 72 student-athletes from the conference’s 12 institutions who achieved academic success during the 2017-18 academic year.

MEAC sophomore, junior and senior student-athletes with a 3.0 or better cumulative grade point average, as well as transfer student-athletes who have been in residence at the institution for at least one year, are eligible for All-Academic accolades.

“It is my honor to congratulate our women’s and men’s cross country student-athletes for maintaining a 3.0 or better grade point average,” said MEAC Commissioner Dr. Dennis E. Thomas. “I would also like to acknowledge the academic support staff, parents and coaches who have contributed to the academic success of these student-athletes.”

Listed below are the 2018 Cross Country All-Academic honorees (by institutions):

Bethune-Cookman (6)
Cameron Berryhill
Bernita Brown
Deja Davis
Damaris Jepkorir
Paige Johnson
Daniel Kiptoo

Coppin State (5)
Lunnise Gibson
Jona Hanson
Jasmine Henery
Erika Hightower
Erykah Jerome

Delaware State (14)
Rebecca Altidor
Komlan Attiogbe
Lananda Correla
Kavante Dawson
Caleb Giles
Hassan Gill
Precious Igwebuike
Hanquaamo Lintiso
Gregory Moore
Elton Quansah
Slyvia Okafor
Jose Infante Rosales
Katarzyna Rosikon
Martina Smalls

Florida A&M (4)
Emmax Kiplagat
Fridah Limo
Nancy Murgor
Mercy Rotich

Howard (13)
Sydney Benson
Mekhi Closson
Aaron Coates
Jessika Gbai
Anthony Gordon-Bester
Aliyah Hale
Jade Hardy
Oluchi Ike
Steven Imes IV
Zachare Lane
Michael Riddick
Ozioma Scott
Destiny Stanford

Maryland Eastern Shore (8)
John Akakeya
Hector Cime
Judah Corriette
Luan Gabriel
Amirah Jones
Ayanna Lynn
Neus Quinero
Jessica Roney

Morgan State (7)
Annastacia Barham
Fernandes Boyd
Halim Joseph
Valencia McDowell
Jalon Robinson
Nahshon Robinson
Chantai Smith

Norfolk State (8)
Fetus Bett
Candice Higgins
Nelly Jerop
Felix Kiprotich
Ashah Koech
Caroline Samoe
Joeseph Wanene
Lanei Woodson

North Carolina A&T State (4)
Kristoni Barnes
G’Jasmyne Butler
Dequan Maddox
Camille Martin

Savannah State (3)
Cameron Pack
Atakilti Sahlu
Jaylen Sewell

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Alabama State Sports inviting the community to game on November 3

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The Alabama State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will hold Community Day in conjunction with the football game against Texas Southern on November 3 at ASU Stadium.

The game will kick off at 2 pm and can be heard on the Hornet Sports Network, with gates opening at 12 noon.

Alabama State is inviting all community groups that include churches, schools, youth groups and any other community organization. Groups can register by going to BamaStateSports.com – the official home for Alabama State University athletics.

Community Day tickets are on a first come-first serve basis, and are limited to the first 2,000 people. Each organization will be allowed to request up to, but not over, 50 tickets; and the link will be made available through Tuesday of game week (October 30) or until the tickets are exhausted.

Follow the Hornets
For complete coverage of Alabama State University football, follow the Hornets on social media @BamaStateFB (Twitter), /BamaStateSports (Facebook) and @BamaStateSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Alabama State athletics at BamaStateSports.com.



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Wells chosen preseason All-GCAC; Nuggets picked 3rd

NEW ORLEANS — Essence Wells, the leading scorer for Xavier University of Louisiana women's basketball a year ago, has been named to the preseason All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference team in a poll of the league's head coaches.
     
The coaches also picked the Gold Nuggets to finish third in the GCAC.
     
Wells, a 5-foot-10 junior guard from Irving, Texas, and a graduate of MacArthur High School, was second-team All-GCAC last season. She averaged 10.2 points in 2017-18 and led the Gold Nuggets with 41 made 3-pointers and 77 made free throws.
     
"Essence Wells showed major improvement last season," said 20th-year head coach Bo Browder. 

"We expect her this year to have another outstanding season."
     
The Gold Nuggets will open their season Oct. 31 at 6 p.m. against Stillman at XULA's Convocation Center. The XULA women will play their first four games at home, including the Xavier Classic Nov. 2-3 with Florida Memorial, Langston and LSU-Alexandria, then a Nov. 6 visit from city rival Loyola, ranked 17th in NAIA Division I.

GCAC Women's Basketball 2018-19 Coaches Poll
First-place votes in parentheses
Rank	School
1	Dillard (6)
2	Edward Waters
3	XULA
4	Talladega (1)
5	Philander Smith
6	Tougaloo
7-tie	Rust
7-tie	SUNO

XULA in previous GCAC polls
2017-18 — 2nd-tie 2016-17 — 3rd 2015-16 — 1st 2014-15 — 1st 2013-14 — 1st 2012-13 — 1st 2011-12 — 1st 2010-11 — 1st 2009-10 — 2nd		2008-09 — 1st 2007-08 — 2nd 2006-07 — 3rd 2004-05 — 1st 2003-04 — 2nd 2002-03 — 2nd 2001-02 — 1st 1999-2000 — 1st 1993-94 — 1st

2018-19 Preseason All-GCAC Women's Basketball
Player	School
Jermisha Collins	Edward Waters
Terralyn Dominick	Philander Smith
Adriiana Jackson	Dillard
Alyssa Washington	Dillard
Essence Wells	XULA
GCAC Preseason Player of the Year:  Terralyn Dominick, Philander Smith

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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GCAC champion Price runs into 10th weekly award

 NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Taylor Price, the 2018 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference individual champion in women's cross country, has been named GCAC Runner of the Week for Oct. 15-21.
     
Price, from the Houston suburb of Missouri City, Texas, and a graduate of Ridge Point High School, ran 5,000 meters in 21 minutes, 20.07 seconds at Clinton, Miss., to win her second GCAC title in three years. She led the Gold Nuggets to their 12th consecutive GCAC team championship.
     
The GCAC weekly award is Price's first of 2018 and the 10th of her career. Former Gold Nugget Catherine Falker won the award a conference-record 11 times from 2011-14.
     
Next for both XULA teams will be the NAIA National Championships Nov. 16 at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Gold Nuggets and Gold Rush qualified automatically by winning GCAC team titles.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Mart named preseason All-GCAC; Gold Rush picked 2nd

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Rayshawn Mart has been named to the preseason All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball team in a poll of the league's head coaches.

The coaches also picked the Gold Rush to finish second in the GCAC. XULA received three first-place votes.

Mart, a 6-foot-3 sophomore guard from Houma, La., and a graduate of H.L. Bourgeois High School, was GCAC Freshman of the Year last season. Mart averaged 10.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game in 2017-18 and led the Gold Rush with 39 steals and 30.3 minutes per game.

XULA, announced Tuesday as the No. 23 team in NAIA Division I, will open its season Friday against Keiser at St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. AST/6 p.m. New Orleans time. The home opener will start at 7 p.m. Nov. 1 against Carver in the Convocation Center.

GCAC Men's Basketball
2018-19 Coaches Poll
First-place votes in parentheses
Rank School
1 Dillard (4)
2 XULA (3)
3 Edward Waters
4 Philander Smith
5 Talladega
6 Tougaloo
7 Rust
8 SUNO

XULA in previous GCAC polls
2017-18 — 6th
2016-17 — 3rd
2015-16 — 3rd
2014-15 — 2nd
2013-14 — 2nd
2012-13 — 1st
2011-12 — 2nd
2010-11 — 1st
2009-10 — 8th
2008-09 — 2nd
2007-08 — 1st
2006-07 — 6th 2004-05 — 3rd
2003-04 — 4th
2002-03 — 5th
2001-02 — 1st
2000-01 — 2nd
1999-2000 — 3rd
1992-93 — 2nd
1991-92 — 1st
1989-90 — 6th
1988-89 — 4th
1987-88 — 2nd

2018-19 Preseason All-GCAC
Men's Basketball
Player School
Malik Amos Dillard
Tonzell Handy Tougaloo
Will Ibeh Edward Waters
Christopher Journet Philander Smith
Rayshawn Mart XULA
GCAC Preseason Player of the Year: Tonzell Handy, Tougaloo

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Langston University Lions Ranked 12th In The NAIA Football Coaches Top 25 Poll

KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- The Langston University football team moved to the No. 12th spot in the seventh edition of the 2018 NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Poll, the national office announced.

The Lions entered the 12th slot after tallying 209 total votes and trail 11th ranked Evangel (Mo.) 224 votes to 209 votes. Langston is the only Sooner Athletic Conference institution ranked.

Poll Methodology
• The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences.
• Each conference is given one rater for every four schools in the league.
• The Top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each voter ranks the best teams. A team receives 25 points for each first-place vote, 24 for second-place and so on through the list.
• The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low rating) is removed and the team's ranking will be recalculated with an additional point added to each team for every ballot (including discounted ballots) that the teams appear on.
• Teams that receive only one point in the ballot are not considered "receiving votes."

For the complete NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Poll, click here.

2018 NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Poll – Poll Seven (Oct. 22)

RANK	LAST WEEK	SCHOOL	RECORD	FINAL POINTS
1	1	Morningside (Iowa) [15]	8-0	366
2	2	Marian (Ind.) [1]	7-0	352
3	5	Reinhardt (Ga.)	6-1	334
4	7	Grand View (Iowa)	6-1	314
5	8	Bethel (Tenn.)	8-0	304
6	3	Northwestern (Iowa)	6-1	296
7	9	Kansas Wesleyan	8-0	277
8	11	Benedictine (Kan.)	7-1	258
9	12	Saint Francis (Ind.)	6-2	238
10	4	Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)	5-2	233
11	6	Evangel (Mo.)	8-1	224
12	13	Langston (Okla.)	6-1	209
13	15	Rocky Mountain (Mont.)	6-2	197
14	17	Cumberlands (Ky.)	8-1	182
15	16	Baker (Kan.)	5-2	179
16	18	Montana Western	6-1	166
17	10	Concordia (Mich.)	6-2	157
18	19	Eastern Oregon	5-2	139
19	20	Dickinson State (N.D.)	6-2	112
20	21	Georgetown (Ky.)	5-3	94
21	23	Siena Heights (Mich.)	6-1	79
22	24	Saint Xavier (Ill.)	6-3	67
23	14	Southern Oregon	4-3	60
24	25	Avila (Mo.)	6-1	55
25	NR	Keiser (Fla.)	6-2	29

Dropped from the Top 25: Ottawa (Kan.)

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Week 8: SIAC Volleyball Players Of The Week

ATLANTA, Georgia – Taylor Hurst (Spring Hill) was named Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week, while Cassidi Sterrett (Spring Hill) earned Defensive Player of the Week, released by the league office on Tuesday.

Emmarose Neibert (Spring Hill) was also tabbed Setter of the Week alongside Deja Clark (Central State) who earned Newcomer of the Week.

OFFENSIVE – Taylor Hurst, Junior, Outside Hitter, Spring Hill

Hurst led the Badgers offense this past week as she helped them earn wins over Union University (Tenn.), Mississippi College, and Auburn University Montgomery. The junior outside hitter posted 34 kills against these ranked teams to add to her eight digs and six blocks.

DEFENSIVE – Cassidi Sterrett, Junior, Libero/Defensive Specialist, Spring Hill

Sterrett led the defensive efforts for the Badgers as she picked up 53 digs in their feats over Union University (Tenn.), Mississippi College, and Auburn University Montgomery. The Lee’s Summit, Mo. native currently leads the conference in digs as she averages 5.17 digs per game.

SETTER – Emmarose Neibert, Junior, Setter, Spring Hill

Neibert was the heart of the Badgers offense as they picked up wins over Union University (Tenn.), Mississippi College, and Auburn University Montgomery. The junior setter filtered 134 sets this past week while adding 29 digs, three service aces, two kills, and a block. The Arnold, Mo. native currently leads the conference in assists averaging 10.55 per game.

NEWCOMER – Deja Clark, Junior, Outside Hitter, Central State

Junior outside hitter Deja Clark led CSU to a 3-1 victory over UC-Clermont this week. In the only match of the week, Clark finished with a season-high 22 kills. She also recorded two blocks and a team-high 16 digs.

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Week 8: SIAC Cross Country Runners of The Week

DAWNELL COLLYMORE

ATLANTA, Georgia –  Dawnell Collymore (Benedict) was named Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Female Runner of the Week, while Collins Kiplimo (Morehouse) earned Male Runner of the Week, released by the league office on Wednesday.
Female Runner of the Week – Dawnell Collymore, Benedict

Dawnell Collymore finished 27th overall out of 331 runners, finishing the 5K course with a time of 19:15. The Benedict College women's cross country team finished 25th out of 34 teams at the Sand Shark Invitational hosted by USC Beaufort on Saturday.

Male Runner of the Week – Collins Kiplimo, Morehouse

Morehouse’s Kiplimo competed in the Bobcat Invitational this past weekend as he finished with a time of 26:20.4 in a field of 162 runners for the 30th place. The Morehouse Maroon Tigers finished 12th out of 18 teams behind some Division II and Division III opponents.

OTHER PLAYERS NOMINATED

MEN’S RUNNER OF THE WEEK Eric Butler (Spring Hill)
WOMEN’S RUNNER OF THE WEEK Mary Shelton (Spring Hill)


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MEAC Announces 2018-19 Women's Basketball Preseason Honors

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Bethune-Cookman senior guard Angel Golden was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Women’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year, the conference announced today. North Carolina A&T State was selected as the preseason favorite to win the MEAC this coming season.

All awards are voted on by the conference’s head coaches and sports information directors.

Golden is the reigning MEAC Player of the Year, having led the Lady Wildcats to a share of the regular-season title in 2017-18, a program Div. I-record 24 wins, and a third straight WNIT berth. She ranked fourth in the MEAC in scoring last season, averaging 15.7 points per game, and she was second in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage, hitting from deep 39.6 percent of the time. Her 2.7 made threes per game were also second-best in the MEAC, and in conference play, Golden averaged more than 17 points a contest.

North Carolina A&T State, the reigning MEAC Tournament champion, picked up 15 first-place votes in being named the preseason favorite. The Aggies won 23 games and their second MEAC Tournament title in three seasons last year. Defending regular-season co-champion Bethune-Cookman was picked to finish second, receiving eight first-place votes, while Norfolk State was picked to finish third.

Rounding out the rest of the preseason poll are Howard, Maryland Eastern Shore (one first-place vote), Morgan State, North Carolina Central, Florida A&M, Coppin State, Delaware State, South Carolina State and Savannah State.

Joining Golden on the Preseason All-MEAC First Team are Bethune-Cookman’s Ashanti Hunt (the reigning MEAC Defensive Player of the Year), Coppin State’s Chance Graham, Delaware State’s NaJai Pollard and North Carolina A&T State’s C’coriea Foy. Hunt and Pollard were First Team honorees last season.

The 2018-19 season begins on Tuesday, Nov. 6, with five teams in action.

The 2019 MEAC Basketball Tournament will be held March 11-16 at the Norfolk Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virgina.

2018-19 MEAC Women's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
As voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors; first-place votes are in parentheses
 

1. North Carolina A&T (15)	279
2. Bethune-Cookman (8)	271
3. Norfolk State	217
4. Howard	200
5. Maryland Eastern Shore (1)	177
6. Morgan State	162
7. North Carolina Central	134
8. Florida A&M	108
9. Coppin State	98
10. Delaware State	81
11. South Carolina State	80
12. Savannah State	65

  

2018-19 Preseason All-MEAC Teams

As voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors
 

Player of the Year: Angel Golden, Bethune-Cookman

 
First Team

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Class	School	Hometown
Angel Golden	G	5-8	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Tampa, Fla.
Ashanti Hunt	G	5-11	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Washington, D.C.
Chance Graham	F/C	6-0	Jr.	Coppin State	Upper Marlboro, Md.
NaJai Pollard	F	5-11	Sr.	Delaware State	Richmond, Va.
C'Coriea Foy	G	6-0	Jr.	North Carolina A&T	Fayetteville, N.C.

 
Second Team

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Class	School	Hometown
Chasimmie Brown	F	6-0	Sr.	Bethune-Cookman	Deltona, Fla.
Sarah Edmond	G	5-9	Jr.	Howard	Freeport, N.Y.
Ciani Byrom	G	5-5	Sr.	Md. Eastern Shore	Winston-Salem, N.C.
Raven Russell	G	5-10	Sr.	Norfolk State	Millbrook, Ala.
Alexus Lessears	C	6-3	Jr.	North Carolina A&T	Cleveland, Ohio

 
Third Team

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Class	School	Hometown
Ayonna Williams	G	5-4	Jr.	Howard	Washington, D.C.
Bairesha Gill-Miles	F	6-0	So.	Md. Eastern Shore	Lexington, Ky.
Khadedra Croker	F/C	6-3	R-Sr.	Norfolk State	Suffolk, Va.
Alexys Long	G/F	5-11	Sr.	Norfolk State	Clinton, Md.
Rodneysha Martin	G	5-5	Sr.	N.C. Central	Olive Branch, Miss.

 
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