FAMU athletics expects return of postseason football

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M Athletic Director Milton Overton Jr. came prepared to a meeting of the university's Board of Trustees' Special Committee on Athletics.

Overton and his deputy Elliot Charles made several announcements during a Friday conference call that left trustees pleased. Chief among those announcements was Charles' declaration that "no sport will be unable to participate in the postseason" next year.

FAMU's football team and the entire men's track program (indoor, outdoor and cross country) have been banned from the postseason for years. Charles said all of FAMU's programs will be postseason-eligible -- it'll be the first time that's been the case since 2013.

Overton also provided an update on Bragg Memorial Stadium. Repairs to the stadium are expected to begin April 1, and the total cost of repairs has gone down. The latest projected cost, per Overton, is $450,000, down from $622,000 when the problems with the stadium were first announced. Overton said the athletic department has already secured $200,000.

Plus, the athletic department is inching closer to breaking even at the end of the fiscal year. The projected athletics revenue shortfall is now $122,883. Originally it was at $651,724. FAMU Interim President Larry Robinson announced the athletic department will receive $300,000 of its Florida Classic game guarantee sooner than expected, too.

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Florida A&M guard Craig Bowman to transfer

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M men’s basketball guard Craig Bowman on Thursday confirmed he’s transferring from the program.

Bowman, who was a starter in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons, played in 19 games for the Rattlers (7-23) this season. He started seven games and averaged 5.8 points per game. He averaged 8.9 points per game in his sophomore year and 7.6 points per game in his first year with the Rattlers.

"I just want a different opportunity," Bowman said. "I feel like we accomplished a lot since I’ve been here. I just wanted a new opportunity. A new chance to compete against some different talent.

"I just want to think everybody for the opportunity. It was a pleasure. I’ll always be a Rattler. I’m just thankful for the opportunity."

Bowman’s first season with the Rattlers was also FAMU head coach Byron Samuels’ first year at the helm.

The Rattlers’ 2016-17 season ended in disappointment. FAMU, playing in the postseason for the first time since the 2013-14 season, lost to South Carolina State 82-78 in overtime in the first round of the MEAC tournament.

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FAMU parts ways with basketball coach Byron Samuels

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- After three seasons at the helm, Florida A&M head basketball coach Byron Samuels' contract will not be renewed.

Samuels was 17-71 as FAMU's head coach. He essentially had to build a team from scratch before the 2014-15 season after FAMU's coach was fired and most of its players left the program.

The Rattlers went 7-23 this season and lost to South Carolina State in the first round of the MEAC tournament.

"After review and evaluation of the Florida A&M University men’s basketball program, FAMU Athletics has decided to take its program in a different direction," Athletic Director Milton Overton Jr. said in a statement.

"Restructuring our program with a continued emphasis on academic achievement and competitive success will be key components in moving FAMU basketball forward. We would like to thank Coach Byron Samuels for his contributions to our men's basketball program and student-athletes over the past three seasons. Assistant Coach Lamont Franklin will lead our program as the interim head coach while a national search is conducted for a replacement.

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David Six proves to be a steady winner as Hampton women's coach

HAMPTON, Virginia -- Eight years ago, Hampton University was in the market for a women’s basketball coach.

One of the applicants offered a résumé that included a .780 winning percentage and multiple championship rings.

One problem: He was a high school coach who had never worked at the college level, not even as an assistant.

Yes, David Six was something of a risky hire at the time. But here he is, headed to the NCAA tournament for the sixth time in eight years as the Lady Pirates play Duke Saturday night in Durham, N.C.

“Obviously, he saw something,” Six said, referring to HU president William Harvey. “But how often do you hear someone go from high school to head coach in college without ever being an assistant? You just don’t see it.

“He didn’t have to do that. He could have hired someone with more experience, and nobody could have faulted him for that.”

With no crystal ball available, Harvey had no way of knowing Six would win six Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championships in eight years. Five came in his first five seasons. The sixth, and most improbable, came last weekend.

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JCSU Announces 2017 Football Schedule

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Johnson C. Smith University has finalized the dates and opponents for the upcoming 2017 football season.

The Golden Bulls, under the direction of third-year head coach Kermit Blount, will host five games inside the friendly confines of the Irwin Belk Complex, including the season opener on Sept. 2 against local rival Wingate.

The following week JCSU will welcome Virginia State to Charlotte for a nonconference game with the Trojans. It marks the first meeting between the longtime CIAA rivals since 2013.

Following the meeting with the Trojans, JCSU will hit the road for the first time, traveling to Orangeburg, S.C. to take on FCS opponent South Carolina State. The meeting marks the first time JCSU and SCSU has faced off since 1998.

The Golden Bulls will then open CIAA play with a road trip to Elizabeth City State on Sept. 23, followed by a home date with Chowan on Sept. 30.

JCSU will then travel to take on the defending CIAA champions in Winston-Salem State on Oct. 7.

The home portion of the schedule concludes with two straight home games, the first on Oct. 14 against CIAA Southern Division foe Fayetteville State and concludes with the annual homecoming game on Oct. 21 against Shaw.

The Golden Bulls will then close out the season on the road, traveling to St. Augustine's University on Oct. 28 and a trip to Salisbury, N.C. on Nov. 4 to renew the long-standing rivalry with Livingstone in the 7^th Annual Commemorative Classic

Game times for those not already listed will be announced at a later date.
 

Date	Opponent	Time
Sept. 2	Wingate	TBA
Sept. 9	Virginia State	TBA
Sept. 16	at South Carolina State	6:00 p.m.
Sept. 23	at Elizabeth City State*	TBA
Sept. 30	Chowan*	TBA
Oct. 7	at Winston-Salem State*	1:30 p.m.
Oct. 14	Fayetteville State*	TBA
Oct. 21	Shaw* (Homecoming)	1:00 p.m.
Oct. 28	at St. Augustine's*	TBA
Nov. 4	at Livingstone* (Commemorative Classic)	TBA
Nov. 11	CIAA Championship Game	TBA

* denotes CIAA game
Home games in bold

JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Grambling State Lady Tigers Defeat Ole Miss, Face Tulane for Second Round of WNIT

Photo Gallery

OXFORD, Mississippi – In dramatic fashion, with only two seconds on the clock, the Grambling State University women's basketball team held the ball to defeat the University of Mississippi, 78-75, in the Women's National Invitational Tournament. The Lady Tigers continue to make history as they pick their first post season win in a major tournament in the modern era.

With the win, GSU moves to 19-14 on the season. Ole Miss finishes their season with a record of 17-14 and is eliminated from tournament play.

In the first half of play, Grambling came out with a tenacity unmatched and put Ole Miss on the run. The Lady Tigers were able to gain a 15 point lead over the Rebels. Takerra Parsons nailed a jumper with 1:15 left in the second quarter to make the score, 43-28. The half ended with Taylor Manuel of Mississippi making a fast break jumper to set the halftime score at 45-33.

The Rebels opened the second half of play by starting quickly and trying to catch the Lady Tigers off guard. Manuel helped cut GSU's lead and tied the game, 48-48, with a lay-up at the 5:57 mark in the third quarter.

The two teams traded baskets for the remainder of the third quarter and the fourth quarter. Ole Miss's Shandricka Sessom scored a bucket to make the score, 75-72, at the 1:51 mark in the fourth quarter and put Grambling on their heels. Ten second later, Jazmine Torian turned the lights on and drained a critical three pointer to knot the game up again, 75-75. It would be John'ea Thompson who stepped up and make a mid range jumper to give the Lady Tigers the lead, 77-75. Erika Sisk of the Rebels fouled Monisha Neal who went 1-of-2 at the free throw line and sealed GSU's win.

Torian was the point leader for Grambling with her season high of 23 points. She was followed by Shakyla Hill and Neal with 17 points each. Thompson finished with 10 points. Chantiara Lewis cleaned up the boards with eight rebounds and dished out a team high 11 assists.

The Rebels were led by Manuel with 28 points and Sessom with 18 points. Shequila Joseph finished night with 11 boards and Sisk had nine assists.

Grambling will continue WNIT play on Sunday as they travel south to face Tulane University in New Orleans, La. at 4 p.m. (CT).

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Dream season comes to an end as Dillard falls to Langston 84-74 in the round of 16 at the NAIA national championship

KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- No. 6-seeded Langston (Okla.) recorded its second-straight upset, earning an 84-74 victory over No. 2-seeded Dillard (La.) in the second round of the 2017 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. The Lions advance to the quarterfinal round and will play the winner of No. 1-seeded William Penn (Iowa) and fourth-seeded Georgetown (Ky.) on Saturday, March 18 at 2:15 p.m., CST.

"I thought it was more back and forth, but our guards never could get in a flow," said Dillard head coach Mike Newell. "JJ (Morris) played well, but other than that, their guards totally dominated our guards, and that was the difference in the ball game."

In what has become a trend in several tournament games, the eventual winning team was forced to dig out of a double-digit deficit in the first half. Langston (24-9) was no different as it found itself down by a dozen points at the 10:38 mark of the first half after a three-pointer by Demetric Austin (SR/Washington, D.C.).

Renard Green canned a trey of his own to begin the long road back for the Lions, sparking a nine-point burst to trim the deficit to three in less than two minutes. After taking the lead in the latter stages of the first half, the Lions went to the break trailing by a point, 42-41.

The teams traded the lead early on in the second half and were tied with 8:50 remaining before Langston took control of the game for good. Jones scored inside and Harris hit from outside for a quick five-point surge to break the deadlock. Myles Elgin added a pair of field goals to stretch the lead to nine at the 7:03 mark, and the Bleu Devils got no closer than six points the rest of the way.

Langston did significant damage in the paint, scoring 48 points inside to just 28 for Dillard. The Lions also took advantage of a 25-11 advantage in points off turnovers thanks to a 17-5 ledger in giveaways.

The Lions shot 17 of 33 (.515) in the second half and finished 49.3 percent (33 of 67) overall from the field. Dillard posted a 39-34 rebounding advantage that included an 11-9 edge on the offensive glass, but Langston had seven steals to just one for the Bleu Devils.

James Morris Jr. (JR/Peoria, Ill.) led all scorers with 27 points for Dillard, hitting 4-of-9 from three-point range and 10-of-16 overall. Austin finished with 26 points and 16 rebounds for the Bleu Devils.

"Demetric had a good first half, but struggled a little bit in the second half," said Newell. "We couldn't penetrate and we had problems passing the ball in to him, but they are a good basketball team. It's one of those games that you wish you could get back, but we gotta hit the recruiting trail now. We lose some really good seniors, and we've got a strong nucleus coming back, and now we have to get two or three key players and shore up some depth."

Dillard finished its season with a record of 25-8.

DILLARD UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Rush have 4 singles players in ITA national rankings

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's season-long run as the No. 2 NAIA men's team has not gone unnoticed by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, which Wednesday listed four singles players and two doubles teams from the Gold Rush in the initial national individual rankings of the 2017 spring semester.

Ranked from XULA are:

     •  Antoine Richard, fifth nationally and third in the South in singles.
     •  Moses Micheal, 16th nationally and seventh in the South in singles.
     •  Karan Salwan, 19th nationally and eighth in the South in singles.
     •  Catalin Fifea, 38th nationally and 11th in the South in singles.
     •  Tushar Mandlekar, 18th in the South in singles.
     •  Richard and Micheal, eighth nationally and second in the South in doubles.
     •  Pierre Andrieu and Fifea, 23rd nationally and seventh in the South in doubles.
     •  Mandlekar and Salwan, 10th in the South in doubles.
     
XULA firsts include two freshmen in the same singles ranking (Richard and Michael), a ranked all-freshman doubles team (Richard and Micheal) and five singles players and three doubles teams ranked in the region.
     
Richard, from Laval, Quebec, is the sixth Gold Rush player and the second freshman to earn a top-5 national singles ranking. Micheal is from Kaduna, Nigeria. Fifea is a junior from Bucharest, Romania, and a transfer from VCU, and Andrieu is a sophomore from Tours, France. All four enrolled at XULA in January.
     
Salwan, a senior from New Delhi, India, is in the national singles rankings for the sixth time in as many opportunities. Mandlekar, a senior from Bhilai, India, earned a regional singles ranking for the sixth time.
     
Richard and Micheal's No. 2 in the South equals the highest regional ranking ever by a XULA doubles team.
  
Oracle Corporation sponsors the ITA rankings.
     
The XULA men are in Florida for dual matches against ASA Miami at 2 p.m. EDT Thursday and St. Thomas at 10 a.m. Friday. The next home dual will start at 1 p.m. March 22 against Ouachita Baptist at XULA Tennis Center.


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Gold Nuggets again break school record in 3,200 relay

ATLANTA, Georgia — Xavier University of Louisiana's women's 3,200-meter relay team of Maliya Vaughan, Carlie Calais, Taylor Price and Brianna Pace set a school record of 9 minutes, 54.69 seconds Friday in the Emory Invitational track and field meet.

XULA broke the record for the second consecutive meet. The same four runners finished third in 9:58.68 at the McNeese Cowboy Relays six days earlier. The record entering the 2017 season was 10:00.83.

Vaughan, Calais, Price and Pace finished fourth. Emory won in 9:46.10.

XULA also got a seventh-place finish from Tamia Scott in the women's javelin — she had a season best of 33,68 meters (110 feet, 6 inches) — and 16ths from Dionysia Love in the women's 3,000 steeplechase (12:51.53) and Keairez Coleman in the men's long jump (6.34 meters/20-9 3/4).

XULA is tied for 23rd in combined team scoring with seven points. Rowan leads with 87 points, followed by Hope with 63 and Shorter with 58. Thirty-five teams scored in a meet attracted schools from the NAIA and all three NCAA levels. The two-day meet will conclude Saturday.


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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UH, TSU negotiating football game in 2018

PHOTO COURTESY: TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

HOUSTON, Texas -- The University of Houston and Texas Southern are in talks to play a non-conference football game in 2018.

UH vice president for intercollegiate athletics Hunter Yurachek and TSU athletic director Dr. Charles McClelland have been in discussions for several months about the game, which would be held at TDECU Stadium. The payout to TSU would be part of the compensation package for UH's men's and women's basketball teams playing some home games next season on the TSU campus while renovations are underway on what will become the Fertitta Center.

While not finalized, the current plan is for the UH men to play most of its non-conference schedule at TSU's H&PE Arena — site of Wednesday night's NIT opener against Akron — and the majority of its American Athletic Conference schedule at Toyota Center. The UH women would play their entire home schedule at TSU.

Yurachek said TSU has been "very accommodating" in sharing its facility and meeting on the football field would be a "win-win situation."

The two schools are separated by just a few blocks but have only met once in football, a 59-6 win by UH in 2007.

"It'd be great for TSU, " Yurachek said. "It'd be great for the University of Houston to keep that money in the city and allow TSU and Houston to create a one-year rivalry, per se.

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Rush, Nuggets defeat ranked STU teams on the road

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida
— St. Patrick's Day was a good time for Alan Green

Green, the Xavier University of Louisiana tennis coach, watched his teams win 17-of-18 matches Friday against St. Thomas (Fla.) in matchups of ranked NAIA teams. Green's second-ra.nked men beat the 19th-ranked Bobcats 8-1, and his 10th-ranked women won 9-0 against the 22nd-ranked Bobcats.

It was the third time this season that both XULA teams won on the same day on the road against ranked opponents. For the season, the Gold Rush (7-3) and Gold Nuggets (5-6) have four victories apiece against ranked teams.

Karan Salwan, Catalin Fifea and Tushar Mandlekar won in doubles and singles for the Gold Rush. Salwan and Fifea both extended their singles win streaks to five matches. Salwan clinched the dual with a 6-4, 6-3 victory against Rasmus Lindstrom.

Double winners for the Gold Nuggets were Lacee Ancar, Emma Kranendonk, Charlene Goreau, Lyndsey Clark and Yi Chen Pao. Clark and Pao, paired for the first time in doubles, beat Alexandria Curry and Katalina Pineda 8-0, and Clark blanked Curry 8-0 in singles. Ancar clinched the dual with a 7-6 (7-2), 6-1 victory against Ksenia Slavina.

The Gold Nuggets' doubles teams won 24-of-25 games. Ancar and Kranendonk — who moved into the national doubles rankings Wednesday at No. 12 — beat Victoria Slavina and Ksenia Slavina 8-0. Goreau defeated Cassandra Lemieux 6-0, 6-0 at the top singles flight.

Next for XULA will be a 1 p.m. Wednesday men's dual against Ouachita Baptist at XULA Tennis Center. OBU is ranked 37th in NCAA Division II. Next for the Gold Nuggets will be an April 1 visit to NAIA No. 12 LSU-Alexandria.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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North Carolina ends TSU's run at the NCAA Tournament

GREENVILLE, South Carolina – Texas Southern gave top-seeded North Carolina an initial wake up call, leading 10-8 in the early minutes of the game, before it was all Tar Heels from there as UNC went on pair of big runs and extended the lead to 25 by halftime before winning 103-64.

North Carolina's Justin Jackson made 5-of-6 from 3-point range in the opening half as UNC eventually went on to defeat No. 16 Texas Southern 103-64 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament's South Region at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

The Tigers (23-12), winners of three of the previous four SWAC Championships under head coach Mike Davis, came out energized as Kevin Scott made a lay in, and followed it up with a 3-pointer.

Demontrae Jefferson came up with a steal and a dunk by Marvin Jones on a feed from Zach Lofton gave TSU a 7-6 lead.

UNC's Kennedy Meeks made a bucket to give the Tar Heels the lead back, but Scott answered with a 3-pointer for TSU.

Jumpers by Jackson and Isaiah Hicks gave UNC (28-7) the lead for good at 12-10 with 15:49 remaining the first half.

Scott made 6-of-14 field goals and scored a team-high 19 points with five rebounds, three assists and a steal.

Jefferson scored 13 points while Jones finished with six points, five rebounds, two blocks and a steal.

Jackson had 21 points and seven rebounds while Hicks added 17 points and six rebounds for the Tar Heels, who will advance to play Arkansas in the second round on Sunday.

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NCCU Eagles Fall to UC Davis in NCAA Tournament Thriller

DAYTON, Ohio. – North Carolina Central University went right down to the wire with UC Davis, but the Aggies were able to hold off the Eagles, 67-63 at UD Arena on Wednesday, March 15.

NCCU finishes the season with a 25-9 mark, and the second-most wins in a season with head coach LeVelle Moton. 25 wins also stands as the third-most wins in a season in program history.

The first half of the contest was very even, with both teams having an almost equal time in the lead. NCCU (25-9) led for 7:19 minutes, UC Davis (23-12) had the advantage of 8:56 minutes, and the score was level for 3:45 of the first 20.

The Eagles rode a strong effort from Dajuan Graf (Charlotte, N.C.) into the half as he nailed a big triple to put NCCU ahead 34-31 at the intermission. Kyle Benton (Long Beach, Calif.) was a big inside presence against the Aggies with nine points and four rebounds.

UC Davis took over in the second half as they started the period on a 21-9 run over the first nine minutes, boosted by the team shooting 70 percent from the floor during that stretch. The Eagles fired back with a run of their own, and that set up a game that sizzled right down to the wire.

Rashaun Madison (Norfolk, Va.) and Graf hit a pair of big treys down the stretch, and the Eagles had a few looks to either tie or take the lead within the final two minutes. However, the Aggies were able to outlast the Eagles and make a few free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win.

Benton finished with 13 points and a joint game-high 12 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the year, and seventh of his career. Graf tallied a team-high 15 points, and Cole put in 13 points and five boards with three assists. Pablo Rivas (Phoenix, Ariz.) was the fourth Eagle in double-digits with 12 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Of note, Cole passed John Bishop (1980-81, 625) for the second-most points in a single-season with 636.

UC Davis was led by Chima Moneke (Canberra, Australia) who had a double-double with a game-high 18 points and 12 rebounds, followed by Brynton Lemar (San Diego, Calif.) with 15 points and five rebounds. Lawrence White (Burbank, Calif.) picked up 14 points with four boards and four assists.

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Virginia Union Lady Panthers to Face Columbus State in Elite 8

RICHMOND, Virginia -- The Virginia Union University women's basketball team, champions of the NCAA Atlantic Region, will face Columbus State University at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21, in the first round of the Elite Eight in Columbus, Ohio.

VUU will enter the Elite Eight as the #6 seed while Columbus State will enter as the #3 seed.

Ashland University was named the #1 seed followed by California Baptist University as the #2 seed.

Columbus State won the NCAA Southeast Region by defeating Lincoln Memorial University 86-75 on Monday, March 13.

The Cougars are 31-1 on the season while VUU enters the Elite Eight at 26-4. Columbus State is led in scoring by Alexis Carter, who averages 16.6 points per game.

VUU, however, is led in scoring by Atlantic Region MVP Lady Walker. Walker averages 14.4 points and 11.2 rebounds for the Lady Panthers. In the Atlantic Region Championship Game Walker scored a season-high 32 points.

This will mark the second straight appearance for the Lady Panthers in the Elite Eight.

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VUU Lady Walker Earns All-Region Honors

LADY WALKER

CALIFORNIA, Pennsylvania -- Virginia Union University's Lady Walker has been named to the 2016-17 Division II Conference Commissioners Association (CCA) First Team All-Atlantic Region Women's Basketball Team, the CCA announced Tuesday, March 14.

VUU's Brittany Jackson was named Second-Team All-Region.

Walker, the 2017 NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament MVP, averages 14.4 points and 11.2 rebounds per game and ranks eighth in the country in offensive rebounding (4.4). She scored 32 points and collected 10 rebounds in guiding the Panthers to the Atlantic Region Championship on Monday, March 13.

The five-person All-Atlantic Region First Team features all four Conference Players of the Year from the region: Glenn (PSAC West), Glenville State's Paris McLeod (MEC), Virginia Union's Lady Walker (CIAA) and Shippensburg's senior forward Stephanie Knauer (PSAC East). Glenn is joined on the First Team by her teammate, junior forward Seairra Barrett.

All five all-region selectees will now be eligible for the All-American Team, to be announced at a later date.

Five players were selected to the CCA All-Atlantic Region Women's Basketball Second Team: Slippery Rock senior guard Lexi Carpenter, Mercyhurst senior guard Angela Heintz, Virginia Union junior guard Brittany Jackson, Notre Dame (Ohio) senior forward Kelsey Miller and Chowan senior forward Jordan Payne. Heintz is one of three Division II players this season with two triple-doubles.

The Division II CCA encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.

2016-17 CCA All-Atlantic Region Women's Basketball Teams

FIRST TEAM
Seairra Barrett, California (Pa.)
Miki Glenn, California (Pa.)
Stephanie Knauer, Shippensburg
Paris McLeod, Glenville State
Lady Walker, Virginia Union

SECOND TEAM
Lexi Carpenter, Slippery Rock
Angela Heintz, Mercyhurst
Brittany Jackson, Virginia Union
Kelsey Miller, Notre Dame (Ohio)
Jordan Payne, Chowan

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Miki Glenn, California (Pa.)

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Virginia Union Lady Panthers Punch Ticket To Elite Eight

CALIFORNIA, Pennsylvania — Lady Walker dominated the paint, and Virginia Union defeated host and top-seeded California (Pa.) 85-69 on Monday, March 13, to punch their ticket to a second straight NCAA Division II Elite Eight.

Walker, the CIAA player and defensive player of the year, scored a game-high 32 points on 14-of-23 shooting from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line. She pulled down 10 rebounds and added two steals.

Ashley Smith chipped in 15 points for the Panthers. Alexis Johnson had 12 rebounds and four blocks to go with her 9 points.

Virginia Union, the No. 3 seed in the region, led by three after the first quarter and started the second quarter on a 12-2 run. It led by 11 at halftime and started the third quarter on an 11-4 run, cruising to a second consecutive region title.

Walker, who also had 10 rebounds, dominated play inside when Virginia Union had the ball. She scored 20 of her 32 points in the first 2½ quarters as the Panthers forged a 20-point lead.

California got off to a lousy start, missing its first seven shots. The Vulcans fell behind 13-6 before getting a spark from Cooper, who played in only two regular-season games but scored in double figures in each of the first two regional games. Cooper's basket started a 6-0 run that pulled Cal to within 13-12.

"We wanted to take the wind out of their sails early," said Virginia Union coach AnnMarie Gilbert. "We knew they were playing with different pieces and without their floor general at point guard."

The teams traded baskets for the rest of the quarter, which, at times, was played at an NBA-like pace. Virginia Union led 19-16 after one quarter.

The Panthers led 23-18 before going on an 8-0 run with Walker scoring six points. Virginia Union led by as many as 14 points late in the second quarter and took a 37-26 lead into halftime.

Virginia Union had a whopping 68-38 edge in points in the paint. The Panthers attempted only one three-pointer.

"We knew California's emphasis is in the paint. That was our focus on defense," Gilbert said. "We wanted them to shoot from outside and I don't think they ever figured out the zone. We kept sagging deeper and deeper. I got made whenever we stepped out past the foul line on defense."

Cal shot only 27 percent in the first half but the Vulcans were able to stay within striking distance by grabbing 12 offensive rebounds and using an attacking half-court trap to force 14 Virginia Union turnovers.

Virginia Union dominated the third quarter, making 10 of 16 shots to take a 63-42 lead into the final 10 minutes.

The Panthers shot 54.7 percent from the field and held the Vulcans to 35.3 percent.

The Panthers are scheduled to play their Elite Eight game on Tuesday, March 21, in Columbus, Ohio.

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Second-chance players find home, success at Texas Southern

HOUSTON, Texas -- 1.7 and 1.9.

Those were 7-footer Marvin Jones' scoring and rebounding averages, respectively, as a Kent State Golden Flash in 7.2 minutes per game in 2015-16.

They are numbers he never will forget.

"I come from the inner city of Chicago, and I grew up playing versus some of the best players in the country," Jones said Monday at Texas Southern's practice ahead of Friday's first-round game against top-seeded North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament. "I knew my skill set. All I knew was I just needed an opportunity."

That opportunity came in a transfer to TSU, where he quickly became a part of the Tigers' success on the court, earning honors as the Southwestern Athletic Conference's tournament MVP and the league's defensive player of the year.

Texas Southern always seems to have one or two interesting stories on its roster - diamonds in the rough who have overcome obstacles and looked to press the reset button for a second chances.

Jones finds his place

Jones, who made it to TSU by way of Highland Community College before Kent State, is one of several new faces making a difference on a 23-11 team a that won both the SWAC regular-season and conference championships. He averages 8.6 points and 6.8 rebounds and leads the team in blocks (53).

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Albany State University head football coach resigns

COACH DAN LAND

ALBANY, Georgia -- Albany State University has announced the resignation of its head football coach.

Dan Land has resigned his duties as Albany State University's head football coach effective immediately. He will remain on faculty. Land recently served in an interim role before being named to the position in June of last year.

"We appreciate the years of service Coach Land has contributed to this institution," said Sherie Gordon, director of athletics. "I have accepted his resignation and wish him success in his future endeavors."

Art Dunning, president of Albany State University, echoed Gordon's sentiment.

"I want to thank Coach Land for serving as head coach for football. I understand and appreciate his desire for this career change and wish him well," said Dunning.

Land has compiled a record of 11-8 during his two-year tenure as head coach. Land has also served as an assistant football coach and as athletic director at Albany State University.

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Hampton Pirates Set To Face Coastal Carolina In CBI

HAMPTON, Virginia – The Hampton University men's basketball team will compete in the 2017 College Basketball Invitational (CBI) presented by FIVE FOUR, as the 16-team field was announced on Sunday. The Pirates will be at Coastal Carolina on Wednesday.

Game time has yet to be announced.

The Pirates (14-16) are coming off a MEAC Tournament quarterfinal loss to Maryland Eastern Shore this past Thursday. Third Team All-MEAC and MEAC All-Rookie selection Jermaine Marrow is the team's leading scorer, averaging 15.5 points per game.

Hampton last competed in the CBI in 2014, falling 69-65 at Penn State in the first round. This will mark the Pirates' fourth straight season reaching postseason play.

Coastal Carolina (16-17) fell 74-51 to Texas Arlington in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament after going 10-8 in league play. Junior guard Jaylen Shaw, a Third Team All-Sun Belt selection, leads the team in scoring (14.1 points per game), and he ranks in the top 10 in the conference in both 3-point field goal percentage (.394) and assists (124).

Hampton and Coastal Carolina have met twice before, with each team winning on its home floor during the 1995-96 season, the Pirates' first as a Div. I program.

The winner will face either Loyola (Md.) or George Mason in the quarterfinals on Monday, March 20.

The CBI is a single-elimination tournament, until the best-of-three championship round (March 27, 29 and 31 on ESPNU).

Past CBI champions include Tulsa, Oregon State, VCU, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Santa Clara, Siena, Loyola Chicago, and Nevada. To learn more about the CBI, visit www.gazellegroup.com.

For more information on Hampton University basketball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5757, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

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A look inside of Texas Southern’s domination of the SWAC

The Tigers have a dance with the Tar Heels, but this is how they got there

HOUSTON, Texas -- The Texas Southern Tigers (23-11), led by coach Mike Davis, came into the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) tournament as the team to beat and left as the only one left standing. The Undefeated spent time with the Tigers as they climbed through the SWAC and became the No. 16 seed in the NCAA men’s tournament South regional, taking on powerhouse and top seed North Carolina.

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Texas Southern-North Carolina Preview (Mar 17, 2017)

GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- North Carolina is back as a No. 1 regional seed for the NCAA Tournament, looking for another deep run in an effort to finish one spot better than a year ago.

The 2016 runner-up will begin its quest Friday afternoon against 16th-seeded Texas Southern at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C.

North Carolina (27-7) is the No. 1 seed in the South Region.

“I’m very pleased with what our team accomplished, because they don’t give those things (No. 1 seeds) away, you have to earn them,” North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. “I think we’re a top seed for the body of work during the course of the season, winning the ACC regular season by two full games and playing a very good schedule out of conference.”

North Carolina is a No. 1 seed for the 16th time, the most for any men’s team. This is the seventh time in 14 seasons under Williams that the Tar Heels hold a top regional seed.

Of course, there are bigger goals than holding a nice seed. Coming up a victory short last spring could serve as an inspiration for the Tar Heels.

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SWAC spring football outlook

BIRMINGHAM, Louisiana -- The SWAC has been filled with the haves and the have-nots in recent seasons, and the powers look to be in control again in 2017.

Alcorn State has represented the East Division in the last three SWAC championship games and captured two overall titles. Grambling State won the conference crown last season in its second straight appearance in the championship game, while Southern was the West representative in the prior two title games, winning one.

All three teams return their starting quarterback and other key veterans from successful teams. So while optimism reigns in the spring across the rest of the conference, will it be there in late fall?

Following is a look across the SWAC with spring practices underway in college football:

EAST DIVISION

ALABAMA STATE

Head Coach: Brian Jenkins (10-12, two seasons; 56-26 overall)

2016 Records: 4-7, 3-6 SWAC

Spring Practices: April 1-29

What to Know: The hiring of Jenkins has yet to pay off considering the Hornets won at least seven games in each of the five seasons prior to his arrival. The Hornets hope the third year in his system will pay off. Like rival Alabama A&M, the Hornets return seven starters on offense and eight on defense, but their five All-SWAC selections were seniors last season, so the losses are significant. The Hornets are starting anew where offensive plays begin, replacing their starting center, quarterback and running back. They play four of their first five games at home.

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Grambling Lady Tigers Draw Ole Miss for First Round of WNIT

GRAMBLING, Louisiana – On Monday night, the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) announced the field of teams that will participate in the yearly basketball event.

The Grambling State University Lady Tiger basketball team (18-14) was informed the team would be facing the Southeastern Conference representative, the University of Mississippi on Thursday, March 16 in Oxford, Miss.

Grambling comes into the game after a loss in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship to Texas Southern University, 70-66. Ole Miss enters with an overall record of 17-13.

Game time and ticket prices for the contest will be announced later.

The 64-team tournament is a single-elimination event with all games played at sites of host schools. The WNIT is committed to offering deserved opportunities to women's basketball programs, and the 2017 Postseason WNIT features a full 64-team bracket.

First-round games will be held March 15-17 while the second round runs March 18-21. Round 3 is slated to begin March 22 and run through the 24th. Round 4 is March 25-27 with the WNIT semifinals set for March 29-30.

The WNIT Championship Game will be played at 3 p.m. ET on April 1 and air live on CBS Sports Network. Thad Anderson (play-by-play)) and Ceal Barry (analyst) will call the game.

The field will consist of 32 automatic berths -- one from each conference -- and 32 at-large teams. The intention of the WNIT selection committee is to select the 32 best available at-large teams in the nation. At-large teams must have a .500 overall record or better to be considered.

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TSU Lady Tigers set to face Baylor in NCAA Tournament First Round

HOUSTON, Texas -- The Texas Southern Lady Tigers won't have to travel far in the first leg of their first-ever trip to the NCAA Division I Women's Tournament, as TSU garnered a 16-seed in the Oklahoma City region, where the 2017 SWAC Tournament Champion will face 1-seed Baylor.

The contest will take place in Waco, Texas on Saturday.

Texas Southern comes into the tournament with a 23-9 overall record (14-4 SWAC). The Lady Tigers are led by All-SWAC First-Team guard and SWAC Tournament Most Valuable Player Joyce Kennerson, who is tied for the league lead in scoring at 18.3 points per game and has scored 20 or more points in 11 of TSU's last 15 games -- during which the Lady Tigers have posted a 12-3 record, including tournament play.

Flanking the dynamic sophomore will be inside presence Artavia Ford (10.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg), gunner Kaitlyn Palmer (9.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg) and freshman Chynna Ewing (7.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg), who also earned All-Tournament recognition. The Lady Tigers also placed in the top 30 nationally in scoring defense 57.0 ppg.

In the Lady Bears, Texas Southern has an opponent that has won 30 or more games in seven straight seasons, including a 40-0, national championship-winning campaign in 2011-12. The Lady Bears have four players that average 12 points or more per game, led by first team All-Big 12 and All-Defense choice Kalani Brown (15.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg) at center.

First-Team All-Big 12 guard Alexis Jones (13.9 ppg) and Alexis Prince (12.1 ppg) offer perimeter threats for the nation's second-highest scoring offense (88.6 ppg).

This will be the first meeting between the two teams since 2011. In the teams' Nov. 30 contest of that season, Baylor prevailed 91-39.

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UC Davis Aggie men will dance with NC Central on Wednesday in Dayton

DAYTON, Ohio -- The UC Davis men’s basketball team will face North Carolina Central in one of four play-in games to start the 2017 NCAA postseason. The Aggies (22-12) will play at 3:40 PDT Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio. The game will be broadcast on TruTV.

The winner will be a No. 16 seed and will face the Midwest Region’s No. 1 seed, Kansas, on Friday in Tulsa.

“I think it’s special,” Aggie coach Jim Les said. “You always try, as ambassadors to the university, to shine a positive light on the excellence that is UC Davis. I don’t think there’s any brighter spotlight than to hear your name called on selection Sunday.”

NC Central (25-8) won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament by beating Norfolk Central, 67-58, in its tournament finale on Saturday.

Les said it doesn’t matter what seed the Aggies drew, they are ready to play some basketball.

“We are just happy to be there,” Les said. “We will go wherever we need to go. We’re excited about the challenge.”

UCD Athletic Director Kevin Blue said it’s great exposure for the entire campus.

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