Xavier Rush add scholarship tennis player

Benjamin Brading

NEW ORLEANS — Benjamin Brading, winner of approximately 30 junior tennis singles tournaments in Great Britain, has signed an athletic scholarship with Xavier University of Louisiana.

Brading is a right-hander from Ryde, England — about 70 miles southwest of London — and a 2011 graduate of Sandown High School. He arrived at XU this week for the spring semester and will be in the lineup when the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets play city rival Loyola at 2 p.m. Friday at the new XU Tennis Center. It will be the first intercollegiate competition at the $2.5 million facility, which was dedicated Oct. 26. Fans will receive free hot dogs during the dual matches.

Brading has represented the Isle of Wight, where his hometown is located, four times in the Island Games. He was the Isle of Wight men's singles champion in 2010 and 2011, and Brading has victories against six of the top 50 18-and-younger singles players in Great Britain, including the seventh-ranked player.

Brading is majoring in business management and adminstration at Xavier. He is a freshman academically and athletically.

Returning players for the XU men — who were 18-8 in 2012 and reached the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Championship and ranked seventh in the final poll — include All-America Loic Didavi, a senior. Top returning players for the Gold Nuggets, who were 7-22 but ranked 19th in the final poll, include All-America Kourtney Howell, a junior, and sophomore Amanda Materre, who was 36th in the final ITA NAIA singles rankings.

NOTES: This will be the first competition for both XU teams since the USTA / ITA NAIA South Regional at Gainesville, Ga., in late September . . . In the preseason ITA NAIA individual rankings, XU junior Viktor Svoboda is 39th and sophomore Nikita Soifer is 41st in men's singles. They're ranked 19th and 20th, respectively, in the South . . . In women's singles Howell is 10th nationally and eighth in the South, and freshman Brion Flowers is 36th nationally and 16th in the South. The doubles team of Howell and Flowers is 11th nationally and fourth in the South . . . The first of nine NAIA team rankings will be announced Tuesday . . . Friday's dual will be the opener for Loyola's men and women, too. In 2012 the Gold Rush defeated Loyola 8-1, and the Gold Nuggets won 9-0 . . . Coach Alan Green has added Idaho to the Nuggets' schedule. They'll meet at 2 p.m. March 12 at the XU Tennis Center. Idaho is one of nine NCAA Division I opponents for the XU women and one of four which will visit XU.

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

NSU and Hampton Face off on Saturday at Echols Hall

NORFOLK, Viriginia  --  The Norfolk State women's basketball team is looking for its first win over Hampton in six years when they take on the Lady Pirates in the Battle of the Bay on Saturday, Jan. 26 in Joseph Echols Hall. Tip-off is at 4 p.m. This is the third of three consecutive home games for the Spartans.

Media Coverage: The game against Hampton will be broadcast live on WNSB Hot 91.1 with Ross Gordon on the call. Live stats will be available here. Live audio can be found here. You can also listen to the game on the Heritage Sports Network on Sirius XM 128.

Last Time Out: The Spartans (3-14, 1-5) snapped a six-game losing streak with an 81-68 victory over Morgan State on Jan. 21 at Joseph Echols Hall. Junior Aivah Parham had a career-high 34 points and 12 rebounds to lead NSU. It was Parham's first double-double of the season. Junior Rachel Gordon also tied her career-best with 25 points and 12 rebounds to notch her third double-double of the season.

The Spartans shot 40.0 (26-of-65) percent from the floor on the night while the Lady Bears were held to 30.8 (20-of-65) percent shooting. NSU outrebounded Morgan State 50-38 and outscored the Lady Bears in the paint 30-10.

Three players scored in double-figures for Morgan State. Brianna Coardes led the Lady Bears with 18 points. Bianca Jarrett added 13 points and five rebounds while Whitney Southerland posted 11 points, respectively.

All-Time Series: Hampton leads the series with NSU, 48-35. The Spartans have not won against Hampton since Dec. 2, 2006.

About Hampton: The Lady Pirates (14-5, 5-0) are coming off of a 58-50 win over Coppin State on Jan. 21 at the Convocation Center in Hampton, Va. Hampton shot 34.4 (22-of-64) percent from the floor and held the Lady Eagles to just 30.5 (18-of-59) percent shooting. Olivia Allen led the Lady Pirates with 22 points and three rebounds. Aside from Allen, two other Hampton players scored in double-figures. Keiara Avant recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds while Nicole Hamilton added 12 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

Last Year Against Hampton: The Spartans were 0-3 last season against Hampton. On Jan.21 the Lady Pirates came out with a 92-43 victory over NSU at the Convocation Center in Hampton, Va. Hampton shot 44.0 (33-of-75) percent from the floor while the Spartans only shot 25.0 (12-of-48) percent. Rae Corbo led NSU with 19 points and was the only Spartan to score in double-figures. Choicetta McMillian and Nicole Hamilton led the Lady Pirates with 16 points each. Two other Hampton players reached double-figures including Keiara Avant, who had 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Alyssa Bennett, who tallied 13 points and seven rebounds.

On Feb. 11 NSU suffered a 68-46 loss to the Lady Pirates at Joseph Echols Hall. The Spartans shot 43.9 (18-of-41) percent from the floor and held Hampton to 36.9 (24-of-65) percent shooting. Tyisha Bridges led NSU with 11 points and three steals. Choicetta McMillian led Hampton with 28 points and five rebounds. Teammate Melanie Warner picked up a double-double as she finished the game with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

The Spartans fell to Hampton, 61-40, in the quarterfinal round of the 2012 MEAC Tournament held at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C. NSU shot 32.7 (17-of-52) from the field while Hampton only shot 31.1 (19-of-61) percent. Tyisha Bridges led NSU with 12 points. Jericka Jenkins led the Lady Pirates with 20 points. Teammates Keiara Avant (13 pts.) and Alyssa Bennett (12 pts.) had seven rebounds each, respectively.

Scoring Leaders: Rachel Gordon leads NSU in scoring averaging 10.1 points per game followed by Kashay Barnes, who is averaging 9.8 points per game. Barnes scored a career-high 25 points in the Spartans overtime loss to UMES on Jan. 12.

Parham Stepping Up: Aivah Parham posted a career-high 34 points and 12 rebounds in the Spartans 81-68 victory over Morgan State on Jan. 21. Parham led NSU in scoring and tied with Rachel Gordon in rebounds on the night. The game against Morgan State marked her first double-double and her fifth game that she finished scoring in double-figures.

Gordon Named MEAC Player of the Week: Forward Rachel Gordon earned Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors, the league office announced on Jan 21.

Gordon came away with 19 rebounds, blocked three shots and recorded two steals in two games for the Spartans. She nearly had a double-double against Howard on Jan. 14 as she finished the night with 11 rebounds and eight points. Gordon was also just shy of a double-double against Coppin State on Jan. 19 where she scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds

This is the second time this season that Gordon was named Defensive Player of the Week. She earned Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors alongside Savannah State's Erin Hogue on Nov. 27.

MEAC, NCAA Leaderboard: As a team NSU currently ranks in the top 5 in six different categories in the MEAC, while NSU players rank in the top 5 in five different categories, including Rachel Gordon, who leads the league in rebounding at 11.3 boards per game. Gordon also currently ranks 12th in the NCAA in rebounding. Recca Trice is tied for first in the league for assists and is ranked 30th in the nation in assists per games.

Cracking the top 10: Recca Trice's seven assists in the game against Appalachian State on Nov. 25 moved her into sixth place all-time in the NSU record book for career assists. Trice has 94 assists on the season and her 426 career assists puts her two away from tying Dekisha Thompson for fifth all-time.

 Rachel Gordon's eight rebounds in the game against Coppin State on Jan. 19 moved her into 11th place all-time in the NSU record book for career rebounds. Gordon has 158 rebounds on the season and her 625 career rebounds puts her 86 away from tying Andrea Watts for 10th all-time.

Owning the Paint: NSU outscored Morgan State in the paint, 30-10, on Jan. 21. Last season NSU dominated the inside scoring, averaging 6.8 more points in the paint per game. Only Monmouth, Howard, Hampton (first meeting) and Bethune-Cookman (first meeting) scored more points in the paint than NSU in a game last year.

Winning the Rebounding Battle: NSU outrebounded Morgan State, 50-38, on Jan. 21, with Rachel Gordon and Aivah Parham leading the way with 12 rebounds each.

Defensive Minded: Rachel Gordon and Aivah Parham tallied 12 rebounds each in the Spartans 81-68 win over Morgan State on Jan. 21 Gordon currently leads the MEAC in rebounding, averaging 11.3 rebounds per game.

By Chaundrea Lee, Media Relations Assistant
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY
NSUSPARTANS.COM

2013 Norfolk State Football Schedule is a Blockbuster

NORFOLK, Virginia  –  A school record-tying seven home games, including three Division I FCS non-conference matchups, highlight the 12-game 2013 Norfolk State University football schedule, which was released Friday.

Maine of the Colonial Athletic Association, Charleston Southern of the Big South Conference and FCS independent Old Dominion will all visit William “Dick” Price Stadium this upcoming season. The non-conference slate also includes a third all-time trip to Rutgers, the Spartans' fourth straight year playing a Division I FBS team which advanced to a bowl game the previous season.

The home conference schedule includes games with Savannah State, Hampton, Florida A&M and South Carolina State.

“I feel like this could be the most competitive schedule we've ever played,” NSU head coach Pete Adrian said. “In addition, our home schedule is outstanding and has to be one of the most attractive we've ever had for our fans. The schedule is quite a challenge, but our players are excited about it and I think they will be up to the challenge.”

Division I FCS schools are permitted to play 12 regular-season games the next two years since there are 13 Saturdays between the Labor Day and Thanksgiving weekends. NSU's 12 regular-season contests this upcoming season match the 2003 and 2008 squads for the most in school annals, and the seven home games will match the 2006 and 2009 seasons for the most ever in one year at Dick Price Stadium.

The schedule kicks off with a first-ever matchup between NSU and Maine on Saturday, Aug. 31. The Black Bears went 5-6 overall last season, 4-4 in the CAA. This marks the start of a two-year, home-and-home series between the schools, with NSU returning to Maine to kick off the 2014 schedule.
Maine replaces long-time NSU rival Virginia State on the Spartans' schedule, as NCAA bylaws preclude VSU from facing the Spartans on Labor Day weekend.

The following week (Sept. 7), NSU will travel to Piscataway, N.J., to face the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers for a third time. The teams also squared off in 2007 and 2010, with Rutgers winning both matchups. Rutgers went 9-4 in 2012 and was one of four Big East teams to tie for first place with 5-2 conference records. The Scarlet Knights lost to Virginia Tech 20-17 in the Russell Athletic Bowl last month.

NSU will enjoy a bye week on Sept. 14 before hosting Charleston Southern on Saturday, Sept. 21 in the Fish Bowl Classic. The teams have met once before, with the Spartans earning a 33-3 victory in Charleston in 2011. The Buccaneers went 5-6 overall, 3-3 to take fourth place in the Big South this past season.

MEAC play opens for NSU on Sept. 28 as the Spartans travel to Baltimore, Md., to face Morgan State. The Spartans have won the last six meetings in the series.

The October slate gets underway on Oct. 5 as NSU will host Savannah State for a second consecutive year. Following a road contest at Delaware State on Oct. 12, the Spartans will then host three straight games at Dick Price Stadium. Hampton visits Norfolk for the annual Battle of the Bay game on Oct. 19. The following week, NSU will play host to cross-town foe ODU on Saturday, Oct. 26. The teams have met once previously, a 35-18 ODU victory in the first round of the 2011 FCS playoffs. The Monarchs are playing as an FCS independent in 2013 before joining the Division I FBS ranks in Conference USA in 2014. They advanced to the FCS quarterfinals this past season.

The three-game homestand concludes on Nov. 2 as Florida A&M travels to Norfolk for NSU's 2013 homecoming. The teams have not played the last two seasons in the MEAC's unbalanced schedule.

November's schedule continues with road games at 2012 MEAC champion Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 9 and at North Carolina Central on Nov. 16.  Like FAMU, NCCU rotates onto the Spartans' schedule for the next two years, while Howard and North Carolina A&T rotate off. NSU and NCCU have not met since the Eagles transitioned to the Division I level in 2011. Their last meeting came in 1995 when both played in the Division II CIAA.

The regular-season schedule wraps up on Nov. 23 as the Spartans host South Carolina State for Senior Day.

Season ticket information will be released in the coming months.



NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY 2013 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date		Opponent	Location	Time
8/31		Maine	Norfolk, Va.	6 pm
9/7		Rutgers	Piscataway, N.J.	TBA
9/21		Charleston Southern (Fish Bowl Classic)	Norfolk, Va.	4 pm
9/28	*	Morgan State	Baltimore, Md.	TBA
10/5	*	Savannah State	Norfolk, Va.	1 pm
10/12	*	Delaware State	Dover, Del.	TBA
10/19	*	Hampton (Battle of the Bay)	Norfolk, Va.	1 pm
10/26		Old Dominion	Norfolk, Va.	1 pm
11/2	*	Florida A&M (Homecoming)	Norfolk, Va.	2 pm
11/9	*	Bethune-Cookman	Daytona Beach, Fla.	TBA
11/16	*	North Carolina Central	Durham, N.C.	TBA
11/23	*	South Carolina State (Senior Day)	Norfolk, Va.	1 pm

11/30 FCS Division I Playoffs                                 TBD                         TBD

BOLD - Home Game
* MEAC Games




By Matt Michalec, Sports Information Director
VISIT: NSUSPARTANS.COM
VISIT: NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY

Southern baseball practice gets under way

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  With the playing surface at Lee-Hines Field receiving a much-needed makeover, the Southern University baseball team opened practice Friday with position players hitting balls in the batting cages and pitchers testing their arms with bullpen work.

This will be the scene for coach Roger Cador’s team the next two weeks.

“We’re going to be a little set back for a couple weeks where we won’t have use of the field,” Cador said. “But that’s OK. The money was available, so we’re taking a chance and making (the improvements) happen.”

Cador said when the $150,000 project is complete, Southern will have a new drainage system and a whole new infield.

The timing of the work will leave the Jaguars little opportunity to work on fielding grounders or turning double plays, and could leave their defense a bit shaky early in the year.

The ping of aluminum bats resonated from the batting cages as SU practiced Friday.


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Xavier Gold Nuggets open their new home with a 9-0 victory

Spring 2013 opener at the new XU Tennis Center

NEW ORLEANS -- The women of Xavier University of Louisiana, in the first intercollegiate match at the new XU Tennis Center, rolled to a 9-0 victory Friday against city rival Loyola. It was the spring season opener for both teams.

The $2.5 million facility opened in late October. It's the first time since 1959-60 that XU can compete outdoors regularly on its campus.

Results     Facebook photos

All-American Kourtney Howell, a junior, led the Gold Nuggets. Howell teamed with freshman Brion Flowers for an 8-0 victory against Frances Bonnin and Meghan de Baroncelli at No. 1 doubles, then defeated de Baroncelli 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1 singles. Flowers also won her singles match, and Amanda Materre won in singles and doubles.

Nine players, including three freshmen, contributed to a victory in which the Gold Nuggets did not drop a set. Xavier attracted approximately 100 fans and treated them with free hot dogs.

"It's so nice to have a true home-court advantage. I didn't know what kind of turnout we would have, but I thought the support was amazing," 10th-year XU coach Alan Green said. "I was very pleased with the crowd, and I think we're going to attract more fans as the season progresses.

"I was very satisfied with the way we came out and played. We used more women than we probably will in most of our matches, but I wanted everyone who could play to have a piece of this one."

Freshman Vashi Balleste clinched the dual with her 6-0, 6-0 decision against Wesley Dejoie at No. 6 singles. Amber Brown and Nicole DeLoach also earned singles victories, as did Simone-Alyce Ewell at No. 2 doubles with Materre and Jordyn Goody and Olivia West at No. 3 doubles.

The Gold Nuggets won their spring season opener for the first time since 2007. It was the first of eight home duals for the XU women; the next one will start at 2 p.m. Feb. 23 against NCAA Division I McNeese State. The next dual will be Feb. 2 at 4 p.m. against another D-I opponent, Nicholls State, in Houma, La.

The XU-Loyola men's dual was postponed.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA ATHLETICS ON FACEBOOK

GSU Releases 2013 Football Schedule

GRAMBLING, Louisiana  -  The Grambling State University Football Team will have four games and a trip to Kansas City as a part of the 2013 schedule.

The Tigers will begin the 2013 season at home this year as they will welcome Alabama A&M University. Game time for the home opener is at 6 p.m. Following the home opener the Tigers will hit the road.

September will be busy month for the G-men as they will be on the road for three consecutive weeks before returning to Robinson Stadium. The month will begin on September 7^th at 6 p.m. as the Tigers will take a short drive on I-20 to Monroe as they will take on the University of Louisiana at Monroe Warhawks at Malone Stadium.  Grambling will take their longest trip of the season on September 14^th when they will travel to take on Lincoln University at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City Missouri. The G-Men will step back into conference action on September 21^st and play their final game of the three game road swing against Alabama State in Montgomery.  Rounding out the month the Tigers will return home to the confines of Robinson Stadium as they face Lamar University on September 28^th at 6 p.m.

October will start off at a familiar destination for Tiger fans at the G-Men will face Prairie View A&M in the State Fair Classic in Dallas on October 5^th at 6 p.m. Grambling will travel to Lorman, Mississippi on October 12^th to take on the Braves on Alcorn State University. The Tigers will travel back to the Magnolia State on October 19^th to face Jackson State University.

Following another long road trip the Tigers will have two consecutive games in Grambling. High School Day will be observed on October 26^th at 2 p.m. against Texas Southern and then Homecoming will be celebrated on November 2^nd against Mississippi Valley. The regular season will conclude on November 30^th when Grambling and Southern will play in the Bayou Classic.

For more information on the 2013 football season, please contact the GSU ticket office at 318-274-2625.
 

 

2013 GSU FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
 
August 
8/31, *Alabama A&M,  Robinson Stadium, Grambling, LA  7 p.m.

September
9/7, @ Louisiana-Monroe, Monroe, LA, 7 p.m.
9/14, @Lincoln University of Mo. (Gateway Classic, Kansas City, Mo.), 5 p.m.
9/21, @ *Alabama State, ASU Hornets Stadium, Montgomery, AL  TBA
9/28, Lamar University, Robinson Stadium, Grambling, LA, 7 p.m.

October
10/5, *Prairie View A&M  (State Fair Classic),  Dallas, TX, 7 p.m.
10/12, @*Alcorn State,  Lorman, MS, 3 p.m.
10/19, @*Jackson State,  Jackson, MS, 3 p.m.
10/26, *Texas Southern,  Robinson Stadium, Grambling, LA, 3 p.m.

November
11/2, *Mississippi Valley State (Homecoming), Robinson Stadium, Grambling, 3 p.m.
11/9,  @*Arkansas-Pine Bluff, TBA
11/30, *Southern,Bayou Classic, New Orleans, LA, 2:30 p.m.

BOLD - Home Game
*   SWAC Game


COURTESY GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

WSSU Rams wary of hungry FSU Broncos

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina   --  No rest for the weary.

That’s the reality for Winston-Salem State as it travels to take on Fayetteville State tonight in a crucial CIAA Southern Division game. WSSU, ranked No. 19 in NCAA Division II, is coming off a big 69-66 win over Shaw — but life on the road is never an easy one.
 
“We know it’s going to be a tough game, so we can’t celebrate too long,” Coach Bobby Collins of the Rams said. “He (Alphonzo Kee) coaches his team very well and we know each other pretty well, so we’ll be prepared. We have to be ready to go down there against Fayetteville State.”

The Broncos (8-9, 0-2 Southern Division) are on a four-game losing streak. Kee said that since a loss to Bowie State on Jan. 14, it’s been a struggle.

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