Gold Nuggets' Reuther selected first-team All-Louisiana

TAYLOR REUTHER

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana's Taylor Reuther was a first-team selection on the All-Louisiana women's volleyball team announced late Saturday.

It's the second consecutive year that Reuther -- a 5-foot-7 sophomore outside hitter from Metairie, La., and a graduate of St. Mary's Dominican High School -- was named All-Louisiana. She made the second team in 2011.

Reuther led the Gold Nuggets in kills, aces and digs for the second consecutive season and led the NAIA in aces per set. She was third-team Capital One Academic All-America® and the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

Reuther's coach, Christabell Hamilton, was the runner-up for Coach of the Year. Hamilton, the winner of this award in 2011, lost 6-5 in the voting to Northwestern State's Hugh and Stephanie Hernesman, who led the Lady Demons to their first winning season since 1987. Hamilton recently resigned after two seasons at Xavier and was replaced by her assistant, Hannah Lawing.

Xavier was 22-8 in 2012 and, for the second consecutive year, won GCAC regular-season and tournament championships and qualified for the NAIA National Championship.

A Louisiana Sports Writers Association panel selected the All-Louisiana team, which consists of players from NCAA Division I and NAIA members.


2012 All-Louisiana Volleyball

First Team
Stacey DiFrancesco, Northwestern State
Courtney Donald, Southeastern Louisiana
Desiree Elliott, LSU
Mandi Gandi, Louisiana-Lafayette
Madie Jones, LSU
Taylor Reuther, Xavier
Libero: Meghan Mannari, LSU

Second Team
Carolyn Baker, Dillard
Courtni Bauer, McNeese State
Helen Boyle, LSU
Blair Claypoole, Louisiana-Lafayette
Cori Martone, Tulane
Emily Sweet, Northwestern State
Libero: Keelie Arneson, Northwestern State

Player of the Year: Courtney Donald, Southeastern Louisiana
Libero of the Year: Meghan Mannari, LSU
Freshman of the Year: Caiti O’Connell, Northwestern State
Coach of the Year: Hugh and Stephanie Hernesman, Northwestern State

Honorable Mention
Caitlyn Auxillen, Louisiana-Lafayette; Maria Coelho, Louisiana Tech; Caiti O’Connell, Northwestern State; Lavinia Tataran, Louisiana-Lafayette

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

WSSU Rams will have to make history another day

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  Devout Winston-Salem State football fans are very likely still feeling the nagging numbness of last weekend’s 35-7 loss to Valdosta State (Ga.) in the NCAA Division II championship game. Watching your favorite team go into out-of-sync mode in the biggest game of the year can be a hard pill to swallow.

It wouldn’t be surprising to learn there are still folks out there who are endlessly analyzing what transpired in Florence, Ala. a few days ago. From the WSSU perspective, the game certainly had its share of what ifs and would’ves and could’ves and should’ves. Nevertheless, no amount of conjecturing can erase reality.



For now, history will have to wait. Florida A&M still has bragging rights as the only black college to ever win an NCAA football championship. It’s still true that no HBCU has ever won it all in Division II football.

The outcome of Saturday’s game is not the end of the line. It’s really a continuation of a vision that Connell Maynor brought to Winston-Salem State when he assumed command as head football coach three years ago. The Rams seem to be well on their way to firmly establishing themselves as possibly the Alabama of Division II.

Maynor’s playoff resume (5-2) against the nation’s best says a lot. Keep in mind that the two losses came in the national semifinals and the national championship game in back-to-back years. You can’t come much closer to winning a national title than that.

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Ravens Promote PVAMU's Adrian Hamilton, Send Jameel McClain To IR

Adrian Hamilton

BALTIMORE, Maryland  --  The Ravens sent linebacker Jameel McClain (spinal cord contusion) to injured reserve in an expected move, but unexpectedly activated outside linebacker Adrian Hamilton from the practice squad.

There was thought that the Ravens were saving McClain’s roster spot for linebacker Ray Lewis (biceps).

The Ravens still could activate Lewis from the injured reserve – designated to return list by Saturday’s 4 p.m. deadline, but the Hamilton move appears to indicate that won’t happen.

Hamilton led the nation last year with 20.5 sacks at Prairie View A&M. He established a Southwestern Atlantic Conference single-season record previously held by Colts defensive end Robert Mathis.

The FCS Defensive Player of the Year and SWAC co-Defensive Player of the Year signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent, and had a good showing in the preseason. He had a highlight-reel sack on St. Louis Rams backup quarterback Kellen Clemons.

Hamilton was cut because the Cowboys had a bounty of linebackers, and Baltimore immediately added the 6-foot-3, 251-pounder to their practice squad on Sept. 3.

The knock on Hamilton was that he wasn’t ...

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Southern men upset Texas A&M, 53-51

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Southern coach Roman Banks has plenty to be thankful for concerning his opposite number at Texas A&M, Billy Kennedy.

“Coach helped me be who I am today as a basketball coach,” Banks said. “I worked for him at Southeastern, he coached me at college (at Northwestern State), so he’s been with me all my career.

“So to get this win I’m kind of happy for the team, and I have to wonder if he meant to give this one to me to help me out in my career further.”



Kennedy wasn’t biting, saying it was the Jaguars who exposed his team’s weaknesses in a 53-51 victory Saturday afternoon at Reed Arena.

Malcom Miller made four free throws in the final 40 seconds, the first two to pull even and then two with 5.8 seconds remaining to send the Jaguars (5-6) to their Christmas break on a winning note.

Miller had only shot 10 free throws all season, making six, before going 5 for 5 against the Aggies (8-3).

“I was pretty nervous, but I have confidence in myself because I stay late night in the gym working on free throws,” said Miller, who led the Jaguars with 17 points. “Putting up shots with my teammate Derick (Beltran) gives me a lot of confidence.”

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N.C. Central Withstands UVU Wolverine Comeback

OREM, Utah -- North Carolina Central University held off Utah Valley University to hand the Wolverines (6-8) a 73-67 loss on Saturday at the UCCU Center.

Alfonzo Hubbard matched his career high with 19 and Nick Thompson also scored 19 but it was Jeremy Ingram's game-high 27 that helped the Eagles (6-6) earn a two-game season sweep of UVU.

"Give North Carolina Central credit. They came out with great energy. They beat us both times this season with their aggressive play and their urgency." UVU coach Dick Hunsaker said. "This is the first tough ballgame that hasn't gone our way because in the past we've executed down the stretch. Tonight that didn't occur.

N.C. Central went ahead early in the first half and did not relinquish the lead the rest of the way despite several runs from Utah Valley.

Down nine at half time, 43-34, Thompson scored the first seven points out of the break to get the Wolverines within two. NCCU answered with a 13-4 spurt to take its largest lead of the game, 56-45, with 13:17 to go.

Utah Valley clawed back within five with under six minutes left before eventually getting within two twice in the final two minutes. Each time a missed free throw helped stall the comeback attempt and the Eagles converted on four free throws in the final minute.

"We did take care of the basketball better but it wasn't enough to overcome some questionable possessions late when the game was on the line. We weren't able to convert on some key opportunities," said Hunsaker.

Ben Aird and Antoine Hosley both added 10 points for UVU. Hubbard grabbed nine boards with Thompson and Aird finishing with eight rebounds each. Thompson scored 14 of his 19 in the second half. Holton Hunsaker finished with six assists for UVU.

In addition to a big night from Ingram, Stanton Kidd finished with 15, Ray Willis scored 13 and Emanuel Chapman chipped in 12 on four first-half 3-pointers. Chapman also dished out nine assists. N.C. Central also beat Utah Valley on Nov. 27 in Durham.

The Wolverines will be off until next Friday, Dec. 28 at the Dr Pepper Classic in Chattanooga where they'll face Austin Peay in the opener and then either host Chattanooga or High Point on Saturday, Dec. 29.

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Three Point Barrage Leads TSU Over USC-Upstate

Nashville, Tennessee – The Tennessee State men’s basketball team made a season-high 10 three-pointers en route to a 67-64 victory over USC-Upstate on Friday night.

Jordan Cyphers, after missing the team’s last game with a stomach virus, notched a season-high 22 points in the win and was four-of-seven from beyond the arc.

TSU forced 19 turnovers in the game and shot 47.8 percent from the field (22-of-46).

Tennessee State won the tip, but didn’t score a point for the first 3:20 of the game. Cyphers ended the drought with a three-pointer, but TSU still trailed the Spartans, 3-6.

Over the next four minutes, USC-Upstate had a pair of rim-rocking dunks, but two threes from Kellen Thornton tied the game for the first time at 11 each.

Thornton led all scorers during the opening stanza with 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting. He finished with 14 points and was five-of-thirteen from the field.

The teams traded blows for the better part of the half and the lead changed six times. Neither side was able to gain more than a one-possession advantage until the Spartans went up 29-25 with a layup off of a TSU inbound pass. The score would be the last of the period.

TSU forced 10 turnovers in the first half, but USC-Upstate outscored the Tigers 20-8 in the paint during the first 20 minutes.

The Spartans opened the second half on a 6-2 run, prompting TSU head coach Travis Williams to burn a timeout. The pep-talked worked, as the Tigers scored seven straight to pull within one at 34-35 with 15 minutes left in the game.

Tashan Fredrick led the charge with an assisted three-pointer and a floater inside the lane.

The Tigers still trailed by two at the 12:35 mark until Cyphers hit his third three of the game, and the second in the past two minutes, to take the lead at 42-41.

Again, the teams went back-and-forth until Pat Miller hit TSU’s eighth and ninth threes in quick succession to put the Tigers up 55-49 with 7:54 left in the game.

The Tigers kept the lead for the remainder of the contest and eventually went up by eight when Miller found Michael Green down low for an easy lay-in with two minutes left.

Miller finished the game with 12 points, six assists and a team-high five rebounds.

A buzzer-beater by the Spartans would have sent the game to overtime, but the shot went wide and TSU walked away with a 67-64 victory.

Tennessee State is off for eight days before hosting Eastern Illinois on Dec. 29 at 7:30 p.m.

 

 

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TSU's Rod Reed Signs Two Year Contract Extension

HEAD COACH ROD REED
Tennessee State University Tigers

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  -- Tennessee State University head football coach Rod Reed has signed a two year contract extension that runs through the 2016 season.

During the 2012 season TSU went 8-3, the most wins in an 11 game schedule since 2001. The Tigers placed fifth in the OVC with a 4-3 record and were ranked as high as 17th in The Sports Network FCS Poll.

TSU landed 11 players and 12 total selections on the 2012 All-Ohio Valley Conference Football Team and led the conference with six first-team selections, including five on the offensive side of the ball. They also had three All-American selections in tight end A.C. Leonard, cornerback Steven Godbolt III and offensive lineman Rogers Gaines.

"We feel like we have the program going in a great direction," said athletic director Teresa Phillips, “and we want to continue the improvements that TSU football has shown in recent years. With the way that the team has performance under coach Reed and with the team that’s returning next year, we felt like a contract extension was deserved."

“I am happy to be able to stay at TSU,” said Reed. “It’s always good to know that you are appreciated for the work and time that you put into your job. This is the place that I want to be. This is my home. I was raised here. After what we accomplished during the 2012 season, I’m excited for the future of TSU football."

Reed was named head coach on December 18, 2009 to guide the TSU program. He served as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator during the 2009 season.

Reed began coaching at TSU in 2003 and served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. At the conclusion of the season in which Reed returned to the TSU sideline, the Tigers led the OVC in total defense for the first time in school history. The defense accomplished the same feat in 2008 finishing at the top of the OVC in total defense.

A four-year letter winner for the TSU Tigers from 1984 to 1988, he capped off his career by being named Sheridan All-America his senior season. He set the Tiger record for career tackles from his linebacker slot and in 1987, he set the single season record for tackles with 197. He helped lead the Tigers to the second round of the 1986 Division I-AA playoffs and was selected as Defensive MVP in 1987 and 1988.

Follow TSU Athletics on Facebook.com/TSUTigers, Twitter @TSU_Tigers and YouTube


COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION