Prairie View A&M eyes spot in SWAC title game

Prairie View, Texas - Blackshear Stadium stands out as an eyesore on the Prairie View A&M campus, but it has been the site of some of the football program's biggest moments in recent years.

The Panthers beat Jackson State there Nov. 10, 2007 to clinch the program's first winning season since 1976. Prairie View topped Alcorn State a year later to finish 9-1 and capture its best regular-season finish since 1964. The Panthers did one better at Blackshear Stadium in 2009, whipping Arkansas-Pine Bluff 49-17 in their home finale to secure an undefeated Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season en route to the program's first conference championship since 1964.

Not bad for a dilapidated 6,000-seat stadium that has stood since 1960.

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3 straight Classic losses too much for B-CU Wildcats

Game Time: 2:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN Classic
Internet: ESPN3

ORLANDO, FL -- Ryan Davis remembers how bad he felt for Bethune-Cookman's seniors after Florida A&M rallied to a victory in last year's Florida Classic. "It was tough to see those seniors go out that way," said the Wildcats defensive end. "I just wanted to win it for those guys last year. I felt bad that we couldn't do it." Davis doesn't want to become one of those seniors.

Florida A&M comes into today's game at the Florida Citrus Bowl with three straight victories over its arch-rival. B-CU's senior class does not want to go out 0-4 against the Rattlers.

"I'm 0-3 against them, so this game is going to mean a little more," Davis said "Never having beaten FAMU has eaten at me throughout my career. So it's very important that we execute in all fazes of the game." Both teams have been on a roll after starting off slowly this year. Florida A&M (7-3 overall, 5-2 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) has won four in a row, while B-CU (7-3, 5-2) has won five straight. The winner will likely be considered for one of 10 at-large bids to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, which begin next week.

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McKinnis leads talented senior class for upcoming season

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama | If Stillman senior forward Jamila McKinnis excels in basketball the way she did in volleyball, she should be in line for more Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors.

McKinnis was recently named the SIAC Player of the Year in volleyball. She was also a first-team selection on the preseason All-SIAC basketball squad. McKinnis averaged 14.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.1 blocked shots in C.C. Moorer’s first season as head coach. The Lady Tigers went 16-13 and reached the semifinals of the SIAC Tournament.

McKinnis averaged 14.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.1 blocked shots in C.C. Moorer’s first season as head coach. The Lady Tigers went 16-13 and reached the semifinals of the SIAC Tournament.

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JCSU builds lead early, stays on top

Charlotte, North Carolina -- J.C. Smith opened its basketball season in top gear.

The Golden Bulls ran with abandon Friday in a 93-67 win against Allen (S.C.) in the Tip-Off Classic at renovated Brayboy Gym. All five starters scored double-figures for J.C. Smith (1-0), led by junior point guard Trevin Parks' 17 points and seven assists, with sophomore Antwan Wilkerson and Phillip Wood, a transfer from Talladega College, adding 13 points each.

"We accomplished what we wanted to do," Golden Bulls coach Steve Joyner said. "We're a little concerned about sustainability. Several times we lost focus and did not execute on both ends of the court. I told the guys it's a work in progress; it's a journey. We've got to get better tomorrow night if we're going to beat Wingate."

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J.C. Smith beats Pfeiffer in Q.C. Classic

DURHAM, N.C. - The Johnson C. Smith women's basketball team remains unbeaten after a 79-54 win over Pfeiffer on Friday during the first day of the Queen City Classic at Brayboy Gymnasium. JCSU improves to 3-0 overall, while the Lady Falcons fall to 1-3 in the standings.

The game was controlled by JCSU from beginning to end. Going into halftime, Pfeiffer trailed 43-28 and only shot 35.7 percent from the field (10-28). By comparison, Johnson C. Smith made 47.2 percent of their field goal attempts (17-36) in the first period.

All-CIAA preseason senior guard Terran Quattlebaum scored 19 of her game-high 22 points in the first half. Quattlebaum hit 7-of-12 from the field, including 5-of-10 from the three point line before the break.

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Xavier's Pieri named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Matt Pieri is one of 159 men's cross country runners named a 2011 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete, the national organization announced Friday.

Pieri, a junior pharmacy major from New Orleans and a graduate of Brother Martin High School, is the only Gulf Coast Athletic Conference runner, male or female, to earn the honor this season.

Xavier's Matt Pieri is the lone Daktronics - NAIA Scholar- Athlete
 in cross country from the GCAC this season.

Pieri is a three-time All-GCAC runner with a fourth-place finish at the 2009 league meet, the individual championship in 2010 and third place this season. He has been GCAC Runner of the Week a conference-record 10 times in his career and has helped Xavier win GCAC team championships in each of his three seasons.

Student-athletes are nominated by their institution's head coach, must maintain a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved junior academic status to qualify for Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Both Xavier teams will compete Saturday in the season-ending NAIA National Championships at Vancouver, Wash. The men's 8,000-meter race will begin at 10:30 a.m. PST (12:30 p.m. New Orleans time), followed by the 5,000-meter women's race at 11:45 a.m. PST.


By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS
VISIT: GCACSPORTS

NCAA Div.II Championship: ECSU ready for playoff opener

California (Pa.) Vulcans (9-2) vs. Elizabeth City State Vikings (8-3)
• When: Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011
• Where: California, Pa.
• Stadium: Adamson Stadium (6,500)
• Kickoff: 12 p.m.
• Live Radio: WCAL (91.9 FM) I WJPA (95.3 FM) I WRVS (89.9 FM)
• Live Video: Click here
• Live Stats: Click here
• Game Notes (.pdf)
• All-Time Series: First Meeting



Elizabeth City, North Carolina - Elizabeth City State’s path to a second appearance in NCAA Division II football playoffs in six years very much mirrors the first.

Both teams lost in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship game. Both were pleasantly surprised to learn the next day that their seasons would be extended, receiving No. 4 seeds. That, however, is where it ends.

Coming off a 38-18 loss to Winston-Salem State in the CIAA championship game last week, the Vikings head to California University of Pennsylvania today to face the No. 5 seeded Vulcans in the first round of the Division II playoffs. This is ECSU’s first playoff appearance since 2006 and third overall.

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Linebackers have stepped up for Cal

California, Pennsylvania - When Brett Diamond went down for the season with a knee injury, California University's football team suddenly had a major hole in its linebacking group. Diamond was the Vulcans' leading tackler last season with 64 and tied for second in quarterback sacks with 41/2. More important, Diamond called the defensive alignments.

That's why the play of sophomore Brian Justice and redshirt freshman Spencer Lynn has been so important. Justice and Spencer have combined for 163 tackles, three quarterback sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.

"We were anticipating that Brett would be the center post to our defense," said Cal head coach John Luckhardt. "(Lynn and Spencer) have gotten better and better. They both work hard and look at film all the time."

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Liberty Lady Flames at North Carolina A&T

The Game: N.C. A&T WBB (1-2) vs. Liberty (1-1)
When: Friday, November 18 at 7 PM
Where: Corbett Sports Center
Tickets: Free Admission
Broadcasting Station:
The Light (90.9 FM WWMC)
Video Streaming: North Carolina A&T
Complete Game Notes

Coaching Matchup
Liberty Head Coach: Carey Green
Overall Record (Seasons): 287-95 (13th Season)
Record at Liberty (Seasons): Same
Record vs. North Carolina A&T: 4-0

North Carolina A&T Head Coach: Patricia Cage-Bibbs
Overall Record (Seasons): 487-280 (27th Season)
Record at North Carolina A&T (Seasons): 116-74 (Seventh Season)
Record vs. Liberty: 0-7 (0-4 with Hampton, 0-3 with North Carolina A&T)

Must See: The North Carolina A&T women's basketball team's stellar record at home will be challenged by Liberty University, which was ranked No. 18 in Women's Mid-Major by CollegeInsider.com. The Aggies scored 103 points in their home opener on Tuesday against Division II Virginia Union. It was the first time they had passed the century mark since defeating UMES 105-79 on Feb. 16, 2008. The Aggies had five players score in double figures. The Aggies are 54-12 at home under head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs. Sophomores Tracy King and Mikala Scott, who each have scored 20-plus this season, lead the Aggies fastbreak attack. The Aggies had 26 fastbreak points on Tuesday.

What did she say?: "As I was coaching the game tonight, I looked, and I saw, and I thought, 'My goodness, look at our future'". I mean seriously, it is a great future."

-N.C. A&T head women's basketball coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs after their 103-61 win on Tuesday.



The "Starting Five" - Today's Top Storylines
1) Liberty will attempt to become a rare road team to emerge from North Carolina A&T's Corbett Sports Center with a victory. In 2007-08, the Lady Flames were the only visiting team to win on the Aggies' home floor. Since that game, North Carolina A&T is 38-4 on its home court.

2) The Lady Flames are playing in Greensboro, N.C. for the second Friday in a row. Last Friday, Liberty tipped off the 2011-12 season with a 61-46 win at UNC Greensboro.

3) Liberty's Carey Green and North Carolina A&T's Patricia Cage-Bibbs rank among the nation's elite women's basketball coaches. Green boasts a sterling .751 career winning percentage, while Cage-Bibbs has racked up 487 coaching wins during her time at Grambling, Hampton and North Carolina A&T.

4) Liberty redshirt senior center Avery Warley will look to continue her torrid rebounding pace to start the season. She has grabbed 33 rebounds in the first two games, including 19 Tuesday versus VCU. Warley has nabbed 11 boards in each of her two career meetings with North Carolina A&T.

5) The game will feature a battle between North Carolina A&T's high-powered offense (77.3 ppg) and Liberty's stingy defense (49.0 ppg allowed).

A&T Probable Starters: G Mikala Scott (5-11, SO., Dorman, S.C.); G Tracy King (5-10, SO., Alexandria, Va.); G/F JaQuayla Berry (5-11, JR., Douglas, Ga.); G Amber Calvin (5-8, R-SO., Fayetteville, N.C.); C Nikia Gorham (6-2, JR., Bowie, Md.).

Notes and Anecdotes
-- Liberty is playing in Greensboro, N.C. for the second consecutive Friday, after opening the season with a 61-46 win at UNC Greensboro on Nov. 11.

-- North Carolina A&T has played well at the Corbett Sports Center in recent years. In 2007-08, Liberty was the only visiting team to win at North Carolina A&T. Since that game, the Aggies are 38-4 at home.

-- Both Carey Green and Patricia Cage-Bibbs rank among the nation's elite coaches. Green is ranked 11th among active Division I women's basketball coaches for winning percentage, while Cage-Bibbs sits 27th among active Division I women's basketball coaches in victories.

-- Since North Carolina A&T's last win over Liberty, the Lady Flames have won 13 Big South titles and made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances.

Courtesy: libertyflames and ncataggies