Gold Nuggets win wire-to-wire on the road again

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi — Xavier University of Louisiana women's basketball earned its second straight wire-to-wire road victory when it defeated William Carey 62-43 Tuesday.

The Gold Nuggets (2-2) made 4-of-5 3-pointers — two by freshman Taylor Jones, one apiece by Ireyon Keith and Maya Trench — to build a 19-0 lead in the eighth minute. The Lady Crusaders (0-2) got as close as seven points in the 15th minute, but XULA pulled away with an 8-1 run and maintained a double-digit lead for the final 24:51.

Jones, scoring in double figures for the second consecutive game, finished with 10 points. Keith and Trench scored nine points apiece, and freshman Taylor Jacob had eight.

Tamia Stinson, with 10 points, was the only player from William Carey with more than five.
XULA tied two school records for scoring defense in a quarter: five points allowed in the first and four points allowed in the third.

The Gold Nuggets shot a season-best 41.3 percent from the floor, and their 19 free throws and 33 attempts were season highs. They produced 20 steals, three apiece by Jones, Trench and Gina Smith.

William Carey shot 29.4 percent from the floor and committed 29 turnovers, 18 in the first half. The Lady Crusaders have lost nine straight dating to last season.

XULA's next game will start at 7 p.m. EST Nov. 22 — the day before Thanksgiving — at Florida Memorial in Miami Gardens. The next Nuggets home game will start at 5 p.m. Nov. 29 against LSU-Alexandria at the Convocation Center.

BOX SCORE

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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No. 7 Langston Draws No. 10 Northwestern (Iowa) in NAIA Football Playoffs

KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) officially announced the teams and first round pairings for the 2017 NAIA Football Championship Series (FCS). The 16-team event kicks off Saturday, November 18, at eight campus host sites.

The No. 7 ranked Langston Lions host No. 10 Northwestern (Iowa); the Lions received an automatic postseason berth after clinching the Central States Football League title and by finishing the regular season undefeated were granted an opening round home playoff game. The Lions make their seventh postseason appearance during the time in the NAIA and their first playoff trip since 2014. Langston holds a 2-6 postseason record in the NAIA.

The Red Raiders were granted the first At-Large bid after finishing 9-1 overall; Northwestern will be making their 19th overall postseason appearance and hold a 20-16 mark in the postseason.

This year's field includes 12 automatic qualifiers – one from each conference – and four at-large selections. Automatic berths were given to teams that won their conference regular-season title and were ranked within the top 20 of the final regular-season NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Poll announced Sunday. To access the Top 25 poll, click here. At-large bids were given to the next highest ranked teams that did not claim an automatic spot.

The 62nd annual NAIA Football National Championship is scheduled for Saturday, December 16 in Daytona Beach, Fla. The City of Daytona Beach hosts the event at Municipal Stadium for the fourth-straight season. For fan and visitor information, click here.

Tickets to Saturday's playoff game are now on sale click here.

2017 NAIA Football Championship Series – First Round Schedule
Saturday, November 18 | Campus Sites
Game 1 – Benedictine (Kan.) (9-2) at Saint Francis (Ind.) (10-0)
Game 2 – Concordia (Mich.) (9-1) at Reinhardt (Ga.) (9-0)
Game 3 – Sterling (Kan.) (9-2) at Morningside (Iowa) (11-0)
Game 4 – Southeastern (Fla.) (8-1) at Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (10-0)
Game 5 – Dickinson State (N.D.) (9-1) at Southern Oregon (10-0)
Game 6 – Georgetown (Ky.) (8-1) at Baker (Kan.) (10-1)
Game 7 – Northwestern (Iowa) (9-1) at Langston (Okla.) (10-0)
Game 8 – Grand View (Iowa) (9-2) at Saint Xavier (Ill.) (9-1)

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

4 Langston Lady Lions Selected to RRAC Volleyball All-Conference Team

WACO, Texas - The Red River Athletic Conference announced the 2017 Volleyball All-Conference selections with four athletes receiving honors.

Quiara Barbee was selected to the RRAC second team after tallying 151 kills, 119 digs 17 assisted blocks and three solo blocks

Courtlyn Harris, Ashley Michalski and Kori Williams were all selected to the RRAC Honorable Mention list.

Harris finished the season with 121 kills, 285 digs, 17 service aces and 14 total blocks, Michalski racked up 132 kills, 214 digs, 18 service aces, 28 assisted blocks and 13 solo blocks; Williams tallied 384 assists, 197 digs and 13 service aces.

The RRAC All-Conference awards wrap up the playing careers of Michalski and Williams; Michalski finished her Langston career with 401 kills, 49 service aces, 632 digs, 40 solo blocks and 112 assisted blocks. Michalski was also selected to the RRAC Champions of Character team.

Williams tallied 1,195 assists, 107 kills, 846 digs, four solo blocks and 18 assisted blocks.

For the complete RRAC Volleyball All-Conference list, click here.

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Fayetteville State failed to monitor its athletics program

Download the Nov. 2017 Fayetteville State Public Infractions Decision

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- Fayetteville State failed to monitor its women's basketball program and both the former women’s basketball head coach and her husband, the former director of intramurals, acted unethically, according to a decision by the NCAA Division II Committee on Infractions. The former head women’s basketball coach recruited two transfer student-athletes who were academically ineligible to compete, practice and receive financial aid.

Though the two student-athletes were ineligible, the former women's basketball head coach sought special admissions exceptions, allowed them to practice with the team despite warnings from the compliance director, and knowingly arranged impermissible tuition payments by a booster for both student-athletes. By requesting the booster make these payments, the former head coach engaged in unethical conduct. She also acted unethically when she provided false or misleading information to the institution when questioned about these payments.

The committee noted in it decision, “This case demonstrates the hazards of recruiting prospective student-athletes who do not meet eligibility requirements.”

Penalties prescribed by the committee include two years of probation for the university; a three-year show cause order for the former women’s basketball head coach; a two-year show cause order for the former director of intramural athletics; a vacation of records in which an ineligible student-athlete competed; and disassociation from the booster for two years.

The former women’s basketball head coach recruited and offered scholarships to two ineligible prospects who had previously attended two-year schools. Neither student met Fayetteville State’s admissions standards, but the former head coach convinced admissions officials to allow the students to enroll in classes through the university’s special visiting student program.

Shortly after the student-athletes enrolled, one incurred more than $4,000 in university charges. The head coach called a booster and requested assistance in paying the outstanding student fees. The former director of intramural athletics accompanied the booster to the financial aid office to complete the transaction. Approximately one month later, the head coach contacted the same booster to request assistance in paying fees for the second student-athlete. The booster was again accompanied by the former director of intramural athletics to pay the outstanding fees, resulting in more than $12,500 in impermissible benefits for the two student-athletes.

The two student-athletes also participated in practice after enrolling at the university, despite the former head coach’s knowledge that they were not eligible to participate in practice due to their status as special visiting students. The compliance director twice notified the former head coach that the student-athletes could not participate in practice, but did not follow up with the head coach to ensure that rules were followed moving forward.

Penalties include the following:

• Public reprimand and censure for the university.
• Two years of probation from Nov. 14, 2017, through Nov. 13, 2019.
• A $2,500 fine.
• Disassociation of the booster during the probationary period.
• A three-year show cause period for the former women’s basketball head coach, from Nov. 14, 2017, through Nov. 13, 2020. During that period, any NCAA member school employing her must show cause why she should not have restrictions on athletically related activity.
• A two-year show cause period for the former director of intramural athletics from Nov. 14, 2017, through Nov. 13, 2019. During that period, any NCAA member school employing him must show cause why he should not have restrictions on athletically related activity.
• A vacation of all records in which ineligible student-athletes competed.

Members of the Committee on Infractions are drawn from NCAA membership and members of the public. The members of the panel who reviewed this case are John David Lackey, attorney; Julie A. Rochester, committee chair, faculty athletics representative and associate professor, Northern Michigan; Carey Snyder, associate director of athletics at East Stroudsburg; Harry Stinson, athletics director at Lincoln (Pennsylvania); Christie L. Ward, senior woman administrator and associate athletics director for compliance at Georgia Southwestern.

NCAA MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Hampton University Joins the Big South Conference As Full Member

HAMPTON, Virginia – Hampton University is joining the Big South Conference, effective July 1, 2018, after a 22-year relationship with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

The announcement will be made at an 11 a.m. joint Hampton University/Big South press conference at Hampton University's Student Center Theater.

"The move to the Big South Conference is just another part of an exciting year at Hampton University," Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey said. "Institutions in the Big South are located in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, which means that our student athletes will spend less time traveling and more time in classes on campus. This keeps the proper focus on academics, which is our chief reason for being. The smaller geographic footprint will also reduce travel expenses. Another important consideration is the large number of alumni located in the Big South region. We have enjoyed our 22-year relationship with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and hope to continue competing against some of its teams."



Big South Commissioner Kyle Kallander couldn't be more pleased for the conference and for Hampton University.

"This is a big day for the Big South! We are so pleased that Hampton University is joining the Big South family," Kallander said. "We have always been impressed by Hampton's academics and athletics accomplishments under President Harvey's visionary leadership. We appreciate his interest and support of the Big South and look forward to working with him and the rest of Hampton's leadership to support our student-athletes. The Big South is a better conference with Hampton – athletically, academically, and in providing outstanding opportunities for our student-athletes."

The Big South's president is excited to add Hampton University to the conference.

"On behalf of the entire membership of the Big South Conference -- student/athletes, coaches and presidents, we are pleased and very excited to welcome the community of Hampton University to the conference," said Mary Grant, Big South President and UNC Asheville Chancellor. "Hampton University's rich history and tradition both athletically and academically aligns perfectly with the ideals and core values of the Big South Conference."

The Pirates sponsor 17 sports at the Division I level, 16 of which are sponsored by the Big South: football, men's and women's basketball, women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track & field, softball, men's and women's golf, and women's volleyball. Only men's lacrosse will not compete in the Big South.

Hampton's athletics history dates back to the mid-1970s and includes memorable NCAA Tournament moments in 2001 when the No. 15-seeded Pirates upset No. 2-seeded Iowa State, as well as in 2014-15 making consecutive NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament appearances. The women's basketball team has won five Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championships in a row and six in the last eight years.

On the football field, the Pirates have made five FCS Championship postseason appearances, as well as making five trips to post-season play as a NCAA Division II member.

With the addition of Hampton, the Big South Conference will now have four members based in Virginia (Hampton, Liberty, Longwood, Radford), South Carolina (Charleston Southern, Presbyterian College, USC Upstate, Winthrop), and in North Carolina (Campbell, Gardner-Webb, High Point, UNC Asheville). The conference membership will begin exploring different scheduling models and championship formats for the upcoming 2018-19 season.



ABOUT HAMPTON UNIVERSITY


For 150 years Hampton University has been THE Standard of Excellence in higher education. Founded in 1868 by Brig. Gen. Samuel Chapman Armstrong, Hampton University has a long successful history of offering a strong academic program of educating the "head, heart and hand," and emphasizing the development of character. This foundation has been built upon by Dr. William R. Harvey, who has served as Hampton's president for 40 years, during which time the university has experienced accelerated growth and achieved notable accomplishments.

WHAT'S THE BIG SOUTH?

Founded in 1983, the Big South Conference is an exemplary leader in college athletics, dedicated to developing student-athletes through the pursuit of excellence in the classroom, community and field of play. The league's growing presence as an NCAA Division I athletic conference is made evident by its multitude of athletic accomplishments, innovative marketing and media partnerships, increased television packages and most importantly, its commitment to fostering the academic, personal, social, athletic and leadership development of its student-athletes.

Currently comprised of 10 member institutions (Campbell University, Charleston Southern University, Gardner-Webb University, High Point University, Liberty University, Longwood University, Presbyterian College, Radford University, UNC Asheville and Winthrop University, plus football members Kennesaw State University, Monmouth University and the University of North Alabama) sharing a common geographic region and similar academic values and purposes, the Big South's remarkable history of achievement is characterized by the league's 19 championship sports and the profound academic and life successes of its nearly 3,500 student-athletes. The Big South Conference: Where Winners Are Made.

BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE ADDS HAMPTON UNIVERSITY AS FULL MEMBER

SPARTANBURG, South Carolina  --  (www.BigSouthSports.com)  – The Big South Conference has added Hampton University as a full member effective with the 2018-19 academic year, it was announced this morning at a press conference in the Student Center Theater on Hampton’s campus. Hampton’s membership begins July 1, 2018 and increases the Big South membership to 12 next fall with the addition of USC Upstate yesterday.“On behalf of the entire membership of the Big South Conference -- student/athletes, coaches and presidents, we are pleased and very excited to welcome the community of Hampton University to the conference,” said Mary Grant, Big South President and UNC Asheville Chancellor. “Hampton’s rich history and tradition both athletically and academically aligns perfectly with the ideals and core values of the Big South Conference.”

The Pirates sponsor 17 varsity sports at the Division I level, 16 of which are sponsored by the Big South: football, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s soccer, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track & field, softball, men’s and women’s golf, and women’s volleyball. Only men’s lacrosse will not compete in the Big South.

Hampton will be immediately eligible for conference championships, while its football program will officially start its Big South association no later than 2019.

A total of 162 student-athletes achieved a 3.0 grade-point average in 2016-17, and notable Hampton alumni include Rick Mahorn (NBA), Francena McCorory (Track and Field – 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist), Yvette Lewis (Track and Field – Olympics), Justin Durant (NFL) and Chris Baker (NFL).

HAMPTON UNIVERSITY MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Texas 5A standout at 400 meters signs with Nuggets

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana has signed sprinter Ariel Ford of Mansfield, Texas, and Lake Ridge High School to an athletic scholarship for women's track and field.

Ford finished second as a junior in the 400-meter dash at the University Interscholastic League Class 5A state meet in May. Her best time is 55.30 seconds at the 2017 District 10-5A meet, which she won. That time is faster than the XULA record.

Also at last season's state meet, Ford helped Lake Ridge finish second in the 400 relay and fourth in the 1,600 relay. Lake Ridge placed second in team scoring.

At the 2016 UIL state meet, Ford was third in 400 and helped the 1,600 relay team finish fourth. Also that year she was the District 14-5A champion in the 400.

Ford's best time in the 200 is 24.39. That 2016 time also is faster than the XULA record.

Ford has made her school's honor roll multiple times. She will graduate from Lake Ridge in the spring, then major in biochemistry at XULA.

Mansfield is a suburb south of Fort Worth.

XULA competes in the NAIA and has won five Gulf Coast Athletic Conference women's outdoor team championships in the last seven seasons, including 2017.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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6-2 California player is Gold Nuggets' first signee

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana has signed 6-foot-2 forward/center
Shae Johnson of Riverside, Calif., and Martin Luther King High School to an athletic scholarship for women's basketball.

Johnson is the Gold Nuggets' first signee for the 2018-19 season. She signed this past Wednesday.

Johnson helped King win its first 19 games and finish the 2016-17 season 28-2 after reaching the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Division 1A semifinals. King coach Jesus Martinez said Johnson averaged five points, four rebounds and six minutes per game for that team.

"Shae is an amazing young lady," Martinez said. "She comes from a great family. She's a leader and extremely coachable. She will be an asset to your program."

Johnson is a team captain this season and the student body class historian. She has yet to declare her XULA major. Johnson's father, Dedrick, is a New Orleans native.

Riverside is about 60 miles east of Los Angeles.

XULA competes in the NAIA and has won six Gulf Coast Athletic Conference tournaments in the last 10 seasons. The Gold Nuggets qualified for the NAIA Division I National Championship 19 times in the last 23 seasons.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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