TSU Track & Field Stays in Nashville for Vanderbilt Invitational

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- It's an easy trip for the Tennessee State University track & field teams this weekend. The Flying Tigers and Tigerbelles travel just a couple of miles down the road for the Vanderbilt Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

This is the final weekend where most of the TSU athletes will compete for marks before the Ohio Valley Conference Championships in two weeks.

Events start on Friday at 3pm with numerous field events, including the men's long jump. The 200-meter dash starts at 5pm followed by the 1,500-meter run, the Steeplechase and the 5,000-meter run. Saturday's field events start at 10am with the relays beginning at Noon.

Redshirt freshman Ashontae Jackson has a couple of the Tigerbelles' top marks in the OVC. Jackson is third in the 200-meter dash with her time of 24.25. She ranks fifth with a logged time of 12.05 in the 100-meter dash.

Gabrielle Todd is fifth in the OVC after her clearance of 5-3 ¼ (1.61m) in the women's high jump at the Florida A&M Relays.

In the triple jump, Ja'Lyn Burr is third, leaping 38-0 ¾ (11.60m) at the 41st Annual Morehouse Relays. Senior Daniecce Ward follows in fifth with her distance of 37-9 ½ (11.52m) at the Boston-Moon Classic.

In the women's shot put, Brittani Logan's throw of 43-10 ¾ (13.38m) at the Boston-Moon Classic puts her in fifth in the OVC.

Michael Johnson is fourth after pacing a time of 48.94 in the men's 400-meter dash. In the 110-meter hurdles, senior Flying Tiger Arthur Combest's time of 14.72 in the 110-meter hurdles is third. Freshman Jahleel Michael is currently positioned fifth with his time of 54.78.

In the high jump, Combest is third after clearing 6-8 (2.03m) at the Boston-Moon Classic. Senior Avian Hughes' triple jump distance of 46-4 (14.12m) is fourth in the conference.

All four TSU relay teams in the 4x100m and the 4x400m rank in the OVC's top-5. Both of the 4x4 relays are third with times of 3:16.75 for the Flying Tigers and 3:47.31 for the Tigerbelles.

Live results and recap of this weekend's Vanderbilt Invitational will be posted online at TSUTigers.com.

Vanderbilt Track & Field Invitational
Heat Sheets -  Day 1
Heat Sheets -  Day 2


COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Kickoff times set for Southern University's 2012 football season

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Southern University has finalized the start times for its 2012 football home schedule, the Athletics Department announced Friday.

The Jaguars also confirmed the scheduled kickoff times for five of its six road games. Southern's Sept. 1 season opener at New Mexico remains as the only game time to be determined.

Southern's home opener against Mississippi Valley, which is slated for a ESPNU live telecast on Thursday, Sept. 13, is scheduled for a 6 p.m. kickoff.

Homecoming 2012 will feature the Jaguars hosting Texas Southern in A.W. Mumford Stadium at 5:30 p.m. Southern's final two home games against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Oct. 20 and Alabama State on Nov. 10 are both schedule for 6 p.m. kickoffs.

For more details regarding season ticket applications and season book renewals, fans are encouraged to contact the SU ticket office at 225.771.3171.

For a copy of the 2012 Southern football schedule click on the link below. A printable PDF version is also included.

2012 Southern U. Football Schedule (Printable PDF)

September
1 at New Mexico (Albuquerque, N.M. | University Stadium) - TBA
13 Miss. Valley State | A.W. Mumford Stadium - 6 p.m.
22 at Jackson State (Jackson, Miss. | Veterans Memorial) - 4 p.m.
29 vs. Florida A&M (Atlanta Football Classic | Atlanta, Ga. | Georgia Dome) - 3:30 EST

October

6 at Alcorn State (Lorman, Miss. | Jack Spinks Stadium) - 2 p.m.

13 Texas Southern (Homecoming 2012) | A.W. Mumford Stadium - 5:30 p.m.

20 Arkansas-Pine Bluff | A.W. Mumford Stadium- 6 p.m.

27 at Prairie View A&M (Shreveport, La. | Independence Stadium) - 4 p.m.

November

Nov. 3 at Alabama A&M (Huntsville, Ala. | Louis Crews Stadium) - 1 p.m.

Nov. 10 Alabama State (Senior Night) | A.W. Mumford Stadium - 6 p.m.

Nov. 24 vs. Grambling State (State Farm Bayou Classic | New Orleans, La. | Mercedes-Benz Superdome) - 1:30 p.m.

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Fayetteville State Broncos wins 26th CIAA Golf Championship

FORT LEE, Virginia - Like a seasoned group of card players sitting around the same table, the Fayetteville State Broncos golfers had their reads, their signals - and their games - completely down cold.

Through the twisting fairways of Cardinal Golf Course, the Broncos passed each other often, giving each other unofficial updates on where they stood against the other players in their respective groups. Using this kind of links math, the Broncos knew they were in good shape.

"I'd pass my teammates in groups behind me, and I knew I was keeping pace in my group," said Jacob Barge. "I'd signal that I was doing OK, and I was greeted with a lot of smiles and thumbs up."

The math held up.

The class of the CIAA since the start of the season several months ago, Fayetteville State captured its 26th league championship and the 11th CIAA title in the last 15 years after winning the CIAA Golf Tournament by six strokes over Virginia State on Friday at Cardinal Golf Course. It is the 16th golf championship under legendary Fayetteville State coach Raymond McDougal.

The Broncos, who led after the first round, finished with four players among the top 11, with Brandon Jobe finishing third alone after a second 72 for a two-day total of even-par 144. Barge was tied for fourth at 1 over after a 72 on Friday while Jedidiah Frazier was seventh at 3 over (72-75-147) and Lincoln Jackson (73-77-150) was tied for 11th.

"This shows just how complete of a team we were this year," Jackson said. "We have five guys who can really post a good score, and that makes it so much easier on everyone else."

Final Stats |  Photo Gallery 

Chowan's Cliff Forbes fired the low round of the tournament - and for his season - with a 4-under 68 to take medalist honors by two shots over Virginia State's Stephen Genchi, the first-round leader. Genchi carded a 72 on Friday to finish second at 2-under 142, but Forbes, who shot 72 on Thursday, opened his round with birdies on the first three holes.

"I felt like I needed to get off to a good start because I had some shots I had to make up," Forbes said.

He never let up, going as low as 5 under before a bogey on the 17th hole.

"I got a little nervous coming in," Forbes admitted. "This is the biggest win of my life."

Fayetteville State shot a two-day total of 10-over 586 after a 296 on Friday, clipping defending league champion Virginia State, which entered Friday just four shots back of the Broncos, the closest any CIAA team had been to Fayetteville State entering the final round of a league tournament this season. The Trojans shot 298 on Friday for a 592 total.

Chowan was third at 594 after a 5-under 283, the low team round of the tournament.

The Broncos won both regular season CIAA tournaments with relative ease, winning the Northern Division tournament by a staggering 27 strokes. Virginia State was never a factor in either tournament, but was in the hunt throughout the championship, closing with three shots late in the round.

"There was a lot of pressure," said Jobe. "This was the closest any team had been to us coming into the final day in a CIAA tournament. We knew it would be close at Virginia State's home course."

"Coming down the stretch we knew it was tight," said Barge. "But we knew we just had to play our game."

The Broncos did just that, adding to the long tradition of Fayetteville State golf.

"It's unbelievable," said Barge. "It's not a dream anymore, it's a dream season come true."

The Rams' Wesley Griswold scored a double eagle on the par-5 seventh hole on Friday, a day after he eagled the hole in the first round. Griswold finished tied for eighth at 4 over. Teammate Glendon Mabe was the Rams' highest finisher at 1 over to tie for fourth.

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Prothro signs with Florida A&M

TIERRA PROTHRO
(Photo Courtesy Northwest Florida State
College Athletics)

CARROLLTON, Georgia -- When it came time to make a decision on the potential end to her playing days, Tierra Prothro opted to defy the odds one more time.

Facing the dilemma of a third knee surgery within a two-year span, the former Carrollton High School basketball standout ultimately decided she wasn’t going to let it derail her hoop dreams.

“The last surgery, the doctors told her that they were going to leave it up to her whether or not she’d play again. You know, most kids couldn’t come back from having that surgery twice. But after that third one, they said they wouldn’t try to take her dream away from her. So they left it up to her. And I knew if it was up to her, she’s going to die trying to play basketball. That’s all she knows and she just loves the game,” noted Shon Thomaston, Prothro’s former coach at CHS.

And not only did Prothro continue her basketball career, she shined during her sophomore season at Northwest Florida State College, averaging 10.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per contest en route to First Team All-Panhandle Conference honors this past season for the Lady Raiders.

Prothro is now taking her game to the Division I level after signing with Florida A&M this past Friday, choosing the Lady Rattlers over the University of New Orleans, Memphis and Cincinnati.

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N.C. A&T set to hire Cy Alexander as men's basketball coach

COACH CY ALEXANDER

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- Cy Alexander, the former South Carolina State coach, will be the new men’s basketball coach at North Carolina A&T State University after the school’s Board of Trustees meets this afternoon.

Alexander, a Winston-Salem native, was the S.C. State coach for 16 years before moving to Tennessee State University. He was fired from the TSU job in 2009 after coaching there for six years.

While at S.C. State, which plays in the MEAC along with A&T, Alexander won five conference titles and played in the NCAA tournament five times. He is the winningest coach in the program’s history. Alexander could not be reached for comment.

Coppin State coach Ron “Fang” Mitchell said Alexander’s teams are tough and defense-minded.

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Wallace, Fargas leads Southern Past UNO

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Stephen Wallace recorded four hits and drove in six runs while Pedro Fargas pitched three innings of perfect baseball as the Jaguars defeated UNO 9-4 Wednesday night at Lee-Hines Field.

Southern (22-14) extended its current win streak to seven games as the Jaguars move closer to next month's SWAC baseball tournament in Baton Rouge.

"We did a lot of things right, right off the bat," said head baseball coach Roger Cador. "And when that happens it gives you a tremendous advantage so you can coast a little, which you never like to, but invariably it's going to happen."

The Jaguars posted three runs in the first two innings powered by solid at bats. After Taylor Roy's lead- off double, Brian Rowry reached first after being hit by the pitch. Derrick Hopkins singled; scoring Roy before Cameron McGriff singled loaded the bases for Wallace.

Wallace blasted Alex Smith pitch into the wall in right- centerfield for a two RBI double to give the Jaguars a 3-0 lead at the end of the first inning. Wallace's double down the left field line in the second inning scored two more runs after Cameron McGriff singled to score Roy.

"He had a really good approach to the ball and he had really good success," said Cador." Without those six runs he knocked in, we would be in trouble."

Wallace finished 4-for -5 at the plate with six RBI's, including a solo home run that towered over the left field wall in the bottom of the sixth inning.

As the Jaguars built a 6-0 cushion, starting pitcher Danny Garcia held UNO scoreless for the first three innings but eventually gave up four runs and eight hits in six innings on the mound. Freshman Pedro Fargas relieved Garcia in the top of the seventh and retired the final nine batters for the Privateers.

(Pedro) did more than ok, I thought he had really good life on his fastball," said Cador. "He threw two or three good changeups so it really is a good momentum and confidence builder for him."

Of the nine batters Fargas faced in the final three innings, the 6-3, left-handed pitcher struck out four.

Southern prepares for a pivotal division series on the road at Prairie View which may decide the SWAC western division race and the division's No.1 seed in the SWAC baseball tournament.

COURTESY Britany Brown, Media Relations Student Assistant, SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF SPORTS INFORMATION

Stillman dominates SIAC season awards

ATLANTA, Georgia - At 31-13 overall and 23-3 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the Stillman College softball team is enjoying the best season in school history. Wednesday, the team’s success was recognized when the all-conference team was announced.

Stillman’s Bailey Braughton is the SIAC Player of the Year.

Braughton, a graduate of Tuscaloosa County High, ranked second in the SIAC with 11 home runs, 51 runs batted in, 54 runs scored and 62 hits during the regular season.

The 5-foot-3 junior shortstop finished with a .431 batting average and a .799 slugging percentage, which rank eight and fifth in the conference, respectively. Braughton finished fourth with 25 stolen bases and 10th with a .506 on-base percentage and a .942 fielding percentage, helping the Lady Tigers win the SIAC West Division title.

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Kentucky State Golf Finishes Fourth at the Bluegrass Spring Classic

GEORGETOWN, Kentucky – Kentucky State University's Golf squad finished competition at the 2012 Bluegrass Spring Classic tied for fourth place. The Breds finished day two with a score of 354, giving them a two-round score of 741, tied with West Virginia Tech.

For Kentucky State, George “Righter” Dundon finished with a team-best 169 and tied for 17th overall. Dundon shot an 86 in the first round and an 83 in round two, tying with Jordan Bell of Georgetown College, who also shot an 86 and 83 in the first and second rounds, respectively.

Josh Jackson, who shot an 89 in the first round, improved his score by seven strokes in the second round (82), finishing with a 171 and rounding out the Top-20 in this year's classic.

Daniel Neeley finished the Classic with a 183, while Carlton Foreman rounded out play for the Breds with a 218.

KSU heads to Augusta, Georgia on Sunday to compete in the 2012 SIAC Championship, which will be held at the Jones Creek Golf Course.

For more information on the Championship, visit http://www.thesiac.com./

COURTESY KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Alabama splits a doubleheader with Mississippi Valley State

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Three Mississippi Valley State pitchers held Alabama to four hits as the Delta Devils defeated the Crimson Tide 8-3 Wednesday to split a doubleheader at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

It was the first victory for any Mississippi Valley State men's team over an SEC team, according to David Brandt of The Associated Press. Alabama won the first game 8-0 as senior center fielder Taylor Dugas set another school record.

The Tide's record fell to 14-24. Mississippi Valley State improved to 9-29.

In the second game, the Delta Devils scored six runs in the fifth inning to take an 8-1 lead.

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Alabama State football: Riley normally lets play do the talking

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Kejuan Riley has proven there isn’t too much he’s unable to do on the football field.

He has established himself as perhaps the premiere defensive back in the SWAC. He’s earned countless honors and awards over his three-year career at Alabama State and is an interception away from rewriting the Hornets’ history books. And the list could go on and on.

But there’s one vital piece missing from Riley’s arsenal that remains in the developmental stages — vocal leadership skills.

“Lately, I’ve been trying to get out and talk to everybody a little bit more,” said Riley, the Wetumpka native. “I am a laid back guy, but I know that being one of the leaders on this team I need to talk a little bit more.”

There’s no secret amongst teammates and coaches that the senior free safety’s voice has to become a regular presence on the sideline and in the locker room.

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Alabama A&M AD finalist: Weidner sees A&M potential

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- William Weidner has spent more than half of his life in athletics. When he noticed Alabama A&M was looking for an athletic director, he jumped at the chance to get back in the game.

"I have a strong passion to return to intercollegiate athletics as a director of athletics," Weidner said Wednesday. "In my evaluation, I see a great fit here with where the program is and where they would like to go. I would like to be a part of a team effort to help them get there and build on the foundation that they have."

Weidner and Melvin Hines, who currently serves as the senior associate athletic director at Alabama State, interviewed for the job Wednesday. Bryan Hicks, the associate athletic director at Missouri State University, will be in town today to interview.

School officials have indicated they hope to name a new athletic director next month.

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TSU's Williams Announces Dates for Boys Basketball Camp

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Tennessee State University men's basketball coach Travis Williams announced the dates of his inaugural boys basketball camp on Wednesday afternoon. The Travis Williams Boys Basketball Camp will be held June 4-7 from 9am until Noon each day at the Gentry Center.

The four-day camp focuses on the fundamentals of basketball through station work, competition, with a strong emphasis on shooting, ball-handling and individual offensive/defensive skills. The camp stresses the fundamentals of smart decision making and hard work, while having fun along the way. Campers will be divided by age groups and skill level to ensure that each camper has a meaningful experience.

The camp is $100 for those who pay before June 1 and $115 for any registration after June 1. Parents can review the brochure here, which includes a registration form and instructions on what items to bring.

For any questions regarding the Travis Williams Basketball Camps, call the TSU Men's Basketball office at 615-963-4931.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Huggins is XU's second straight NAIA Player of the Week

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Corey Huggins, who won 5-of-6 times in three dual matches, is the NAIA Men's Tennis Player of the Week for April 9-15.

It's the second consecutive week that the Gold Rush won the national award.

Huggins, a junior from Brooklyn, N.Y., and a graduate of Bedford Stuyvesant High School and Seminole State (Okla.) College, was 2-1 in singles and 3-0 in doubles, with two of the doubles victories against Tulane and Alcorn State of NCAA Division I. Huggins clinched the Gold Rush's 4-0 victory against Alcorn State with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) singles decision against Maxim Tkachenko.

Xavier, ranked eighth, lost its dual at Tulane but won Saturday at Tougaloo and Alcorn to finish the regular season 14-7.

Teammate Loic Didavi was the national winner for April 2-8. Since the NAIA instituted this award a year ago, no school has won it more than Xavier. The Gold Rush and Embry-Riddle (Fla.) have been honored three times apiece. Another XU teammate, Zach Taylor, received the award for April 25-May 1, 2011.

Both XU teams will compete April 27-28 in an NAIA unaffiliated group qualifying tournament at Racquet Club of the South in Norcross, Georgia.


By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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WSSU's Jones is CIAA baseball player of the year

AARON JONES

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - First baseman Aaron Jones of Winston-Salem State, one of the most consistent hitters in the CIAA, was named the conference player of the year on Wednesday.

Jones, a 22-year-old junior from Kernersville, leads the CIAA in hitting with a .479 average and in RBIs with 54 heading into this weekend's conference tournament.

"It's pretty cool to win something like this, and I was kind of surprised when I was told about it," Jones said by cell phone as the Rams traveled to Petersburg, Va., for the Thursday's start of the conference tournament. "I think this is a team-based award and really we've had such a good season and a lot of guys made all-conference, so that shows you how good we are as a team."

Jones, who graduated from Gospel Light in 2008, played one season at UNC Wilmington, then transferred and played one season at Lenoir Community College. He was at LCC last spring, but didn't play baseball and said he missed it.

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2-time state-champion point guard is XU Nuggets' first signee

WHITNEY GATHRIGHT

NEW ORLEANS — Whitney Gathright of New Orleans, the starting point guard for two state-championship teams at John Curtis Christian School, is Xavier University of Louisiana's first women's basketball signee for 2012-13.

Gathright, who is 5 feet 4 inches tall, signed a scholarship Wednesday afternoon at Curtis in suburban River Ridge, Louisiana.

Gathright averaged 8.9 points, 4.1 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.7 steals for Curtis this past season. She averaged 13 points in five playoff games and led Curtis with 14 points in the Patriots' 55-42 victory against Iota in the Class 2A championship game March 10. Curtis finished 34-1 and won its final 22 games.

As a freshman in 2009 she averaged 11.8 points in five playoff games and had 10 points and four assists in the Patriots' 51-41 victory against South Beauregard in the 2A championship game.

In each of her final three seasons she was selected to The Times-Picayune's All-Metro small schools team and earned 2A All-State honorable mention. Curtis was 115-20 during her tenure, and she recorded 1,295 points (9.8 average) and 393 assists (3.0) in 132 games. In Gathright's final two seasons she made 38.6 percent of her 3-pointers (93-of-241) and 77.4 percent of her free throws (127-of-164).

Xavier will replace five seniors from this past season. Coach Bo Browder's Gold Nuggets were 26-9 in 2011-12, won Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships and, for the second consecutive year, reached the second round of the NAIA Division I National Championship. The GCAC Tournament title was the Nuggets' third in a row.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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Florida A&M's Bass settles in as backup QB

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  During one of the more impressive drives in Saturday's Orange and Green football game, Florida A&M backup quarterback Tyler Bass methodically moved the offense down the field.

The drive culminated with a 20-yard touchdown pass. He'd made throws like that all spring – almost as if he was competing against starter Damien Fleming.

Bass is not. He understands his role but he's got to continually play as if he has a point to prove, Bass said. Quarterback coach Quinn Gray has noticed it, although Bass' role has been spelled out to him.



"That's the kind of kid he is," Gray said. "He wants to compete. He wants to be the guy, but at the same time helping him understand what his role is he's accepted it. He is beginning to move on in terms of trying to get better and helping the team in whatever ways he can."

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FAMU's offense gets job done

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Since the first day of spring camp, coach Joe Taylor has been harping on the benefit of reps. So on Saturday when the offense didn't seem to be able to find a spark — whether it was starter Damien Fleming or backup Tyler Bass under center — Taylor just let them keep trying.

"We kept putting them out there until they decided to play," Taylor said after watching the offense eventually getting a 33-18 victory in the annual Orange and Green Game at Bragg Stadium.

For the first time in Taylor's era, both units were intermingled with returning starters, with the offense in orange and the defense in green. The format this year allowed more balance, while giving fans an opportunity to track the performance of both sides — the defense was awarded points for stops, turnovers, and of course returns for touchdown.

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FSU Broncos men's golf team set to begin pursuit of 26th CIAA title

BRANDON JOBE

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina - Brandon Jobe's class schedule has him visiting Fayetteville State's Capel Arena several times a week. And when he swings through, he can't help but look up.

Hanging from the rafters above one end of the building is a row of banners, spelling out the school's athletic glories in white type on blue fabric. More than a few of those are commemorating the Broncos' men's golf team.

"If I'm in there running or doing something else, I'll usually stop," said Jobe, a junior who's in his first season with Fayetteville State's golf team. "I see them every day. I think about how good it feels to be with a group of people that produce such results."

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Vanessa Taylor Named Head Women's Basketball Coach at North Carolina Central University

DURHAM, North Carolina - After 11 seasons of continued success at Johnson C. Smith University, head women's basketball coach Vanessa Taylor announced her resignation this afternoon, effective May 31, 2012. In 18 total seasons of coaching, Taylor has an overall record of 298-207 with six seasons of 20 or more victories. Prior to joining the Golden Bulls staff, Taylor compiled an 83-95 record over seven years at Elizabeth City State University.

The three-time CIAA Coach of the Year is moving on to accept a position as head women's basketball coach at North Carolina Central University, a Division I institution in Durham, North Carolina. JCSU President Ronald L. Carter said her departure is a bittersweet moment for the University and the Department of Athletics.

“I am very sad to see Coach Taylor leave JCSU and would like her to stay,” said Carter. “We have been in talks over the past several weeks; however, the opportunity ahead of her is too great for her to turn down. I am extremely excited for her to rise to new possibilities at her growing edge and advance her career at North Carolina Central University. I always speak with our students, faculty and staff about seizing opportunities and embracing possibilities. I extend my congratulations and best wishes for a successful future to Coach Taylor.”

Johnson C. Smith University Head Basketball Coach Vanessa Taylor side-by-side with Director of Athletics Steve Joyner (L) and University President Dr. Ronald L. Carter to receive her 2011 CIAA Women's Basketball Coach of the Year Award.  Coach Taylor was selected today, as the new Women's Basketball Head Coach at Division I, North Carolina Central University of the Mid-Eastern Athletics Conference (MEAC).   (Photo Courtesy: Johnson C. Smith University Athletics)

JCSU wrapped up the 2011-12 season with a 22-7 record, a return trip to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Tournament Finals, and a repeat appearance in the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament. The Golden Bulls debuted at the No. 24 spot in the week 10 USA Today/ESPN DII Top 25 poll. This season, the team was ranked as high as No. 2 in the NCAA DII Atlantic Regional rankings.

Taylor was selected as the 2011 CIAA Women's Basketball Coach of the Year; her third time winning the honor (1998, 2000), but first time at Johnson C. Smith. She holds the mark for most wins all-time as the women's basketball coach at JCSU with a school record of 215-112; the next closest coach has 157 victories after 11 seasons. Taylor has never had a losing season at Johnson C. Smith with five seasons of more than 20 victories and no season with fewer than 16 wins.

“This has been an awesome experience. I've become a better athletic professional during my time here at Johnson C. Smith University,” said Taylor. “Opportunities such as these don't come around but so often in a lifetime. I'm confident that this is the right time for me to take the next step in my coaching career. I extend a great deal of gratitude to the University Presidents I served under, Dr. Dorothy Yancy and Dr. Ronald Carter; as well as the athletic administrators and our current Athletic Director Stephen Joyner, the alumni, the 100 Club, the outstanding assistant coaches I've worked with, the student-athletes I've coached and all other supporters of the women's basketball program.”

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NCCU to Name Lady Eagles Head Basketball Coach by LIVE Webstream Broadcast at 4:30 p.m. TODAY

DURHAM, North Carolina - (http://www.nccueaglepride.com/) – The NCCU Sports Network has announced that it will carry a live video and audio stream of Wednesday’s 4:30 p.m. press conference from the Emma Marable Conference Room, inside the William Jones Building on the campus of North Carolina Central University as the new head women’s basketball coach is announced.

Play-by-play voice of the NCCU Sports Network Chris Hooks will anchor the coverage live from the conference room giving fans an all-access pass to the naming of the eighth head coach in the Lady Eagles illustrious history.

Hooks will also interview the new head coach along with the Director of Athletics Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree.

To access the press conference video or audio live stream, fans can go to the Game Central page on the website and click on the press conference link. Both the live video stream and audio stream are free for all fans to enjoy.

Stay up-to-date with North Carolina Central University Athletics by flying over to www.NCCUEaglePride.com, the official website of NCCU Athletics.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE WEBSTREAM AT 4:30 PM EDT TODAY: NCCU Sports Network Broadcast link (Game Central)

Whatever happened to former Akron East and Lakeland standout Aslea Williams?

AKRON, Ohio - Excuse Aslea Williams if she did not mourn the elimination of Ohio University and Ohio State from the NCAA men's basketball championship chase. She had her own national championship to celebrate.

Williams, who was a two-time Akron City Series All-Star while playing for East in 2007 and 2008 and earned junior-college honors at Lakeland, was a member of the Shaw University team that defeated Ashland, 88-82, in overtime, for the women's NCAA Division II national championship last month in San Antonio.

"I still don't believe it," Williams said in a phone interview from Raleigh, N.C., where Shaw is located. "It's the greatest feeling in the world as far as accomplishments in college basketball are concerned. There's no better way to finish your senior season."

Williams, a 6-1 forward, averaged 15.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per game for Shaw, which was unranked at the start of the season but finished with a 29-6 record. Shaw had a two-year mark of 54-18 with Williams in the lineup.

Williams averaged 17 points and 12 rebounds at East and in two years at Lakeland before transferring to Shaw, where she is two semesters away from earning a degree in criminal justice. Her father, Donny, is an Akron police officer.

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Streaking Southern Jaguars to host UNO

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana - Roger Cador had been hard on his players. He saw the potential in his Southern baseball team. Sure, maybe they weren’t going to barrel through the Southwestern Athletic Conference, like some of Cador’s vintage ballclubs. Still, the Jaguars had enough talent to win. They just weren’t doing it.

A month ago, Southern was in an ugly funk, smak-dab in the middle of a seven-game losing streak, and Cador was pressing his players to work more, play smarter, concentrate a little harder.

Cador reminded his men that without tremendous pressure, some of mankind’s greatest achievements — the Great Pyramids in Egypt, the Panama Canal, the Great Wall of China — would have never happened.

“Let’s be realistic,” he said. “If nobody ever places demand on you, you’re never going to amount to a whole lot in life, because as soon as you meet up with demand, you’re going to say, ‘I don’t want to do it.’ ”

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ESPNU to televise A&T baseball game

GREENSBORO, North Carolina - The N.C. A&T baseball game against Bethune-Cookman at noon on April 27 will be televised on ESPNU.

It's the first time in five years ESPNU's done a broadcast from War Memorial Stadium, the Aggies' 86-year old home venue. ESPNU’s last broadcast from War Memorial Stadium was April 8, 2007 when the Aggies defeated Bethune-Cookman, winner of 12 MEAC titles in 13 years, 14-11.

The Aggies (15-23, 6-7 MEAC) defeated the Wildcats (25-14, 12-3) on March 25 in Daytona Beach, Fla., by a 5-3 final, marking the first time they defeated B-CU since May 20, 2007.

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WSSU Rams eyeing another CIAA baseball title

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina - Second baseman German Reyes finds it odd that not a lot of students at Winston-Salem State know the school has a baseball program.  But Reyes, one of the star players for the defending CIAA champion, keeps spreading the word around campus.

"I keep telling people about us — but some don't believe me," Reyes said earlier this week before the Rams left for Petersburg, Va., where they will open defense of their CIAA title Thursday.



The Rams don't have a permanent place to play or practice; maybe that's one reason not a lot of students know about the program, which is in its second year under coach Kevin Ritsche.

"We've had a good regular season and now we are looking forward to the CIAA tournament," said Ritsche, whose Rams are 31-17 and the top seed heading into the conference tournament after finishing the regular season in first place with a 15-3 record.

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Howell is GCAC Player of Week again; Huggins gets first

Kourtney Howell

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Kourtney Howell is the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week in women's tennis for April 9-15. XU's Corey Huggins won the GCAC men's tennis honor.

It's the third GCAC award of 2012 for Howell — she's the first to win that many in a season in women's tennis since XU's Anastesia Opata in 2009 — and her second in a row. Huggins is a first-time recipient and the fifth Gold Rush player to win it this year.

Howell, a sophomore from Cypress, Texas, and a graduate of Cypress Woods High School, was 1-0 in singles and 2-0 in doubles this past week in the Gold Nuggets' 9-0 victory at Tougaloo and 4-1 loss at Alcorn State.

Huggins, a junior from Brooklyn, N.Y., and a graduate of Bedford Stuyvesant High School and Seminole State (Okla.) College, was 2-1 in singles and 3-0 in doubles, with two of the doubles victories against Tulane and Alcorn State of NCAA Division I. Huggins clinched the Gold Rush's 4-0 victory against

Alcorn State with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) singles decision against Maxim Tkachenko.

Both XU teams will compete April 27-28 in an NAIA unaffiliated group qualifying tournament at Norcross, Georgia.

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

Gold Rush again reach highest-ever NAIA ranking, No. 8



Corey Huggins



NEW ORLEANS — Two victories against top-10 teams helped Xavier University of Louisiana climb one place to No. 8 Tuesday in the NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll.

The ranking matches the highest in the program history of the Gold Rush (14-7). The XU men initially reached No. 8 on March 8, 2011. They were eighth in three additional polls last year, including the final ranking. This year the Gold Rush were ninth in the preseason poll and remained there for four additional polls until this week.

During spring break the Gold Rush won 5-4 at then-No. 7 Point Loma Nazarene on April 2 and 6-3 at then No. 8 Westmont the following day. Xavier is 8-4 this season against ranked teams, with three victories against the top 10.

The XU men extended their streaks of consecutive appearances in the top 25 (38 polls), top 20 (29), top 15 (14) and top 10 (8). The top-25 streak began April 4, 2007. The Gold Rush appeared in the top 10 in 11 of last 12 polls.

Xavier's women are just outside the top 25 for the second consecutive poll. The Gold Nuggets (4-21) are 26th, 12 points behind No. 25 Davenport. Xavier was 24th in the March 20 ranking.

Both XU teams have concluded their regular-season schedules. Next for the Gold Rush and the Gold Nuggets will be an NAIA unaffiliated group qualifying tournament April 27-28 at Racquet Club of the South in Norcross, Ga. Based on this week's rankings, No. 16 Cumberland and No. 19 Martin Methodist will be the strongest opponents of the Rush at that tournament. The Nuggets' strongest competition will come from No. 17 Martin Methodist and No. 33 Milligan. The men's and women's champions will receive automatic bids to the NAIA National Championship May 15-19 at Mobile, Alabama.

NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, April 15)
Rank Team Record Points Last
1 Fresno Pacific (12) 19-1 312 1
2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 15-2 302 2
3 Oklahoma Christian 14-3 291 3
4 Azusa Pacific 17-2 283 4
5 Auburn Montgomery 13-7 271 5
6 Point Loma Nazarene 12-7 261 6
7 Concordia (Calif.) 8-9 248 10
8 Xavier 14-7 242 9
9 Vanguard 10-9 235 7
10 Westmont 8-8 219 8
11 William Carey 14-3 213 11
12 Lindsey Wilson 16-5 205 12
13 Aquinas 19-1 190 13
14 Bethany (Kan.) 13-3 184 14
15 Belhaven 14-2 172 15
16 Cumberland 12-1 160 16
17 Warner 11-3 152 17
18 Campbellsville 12-4 131 19
19 Martin Methodist 7-4 129 20
20 Lee (Tenn.) 8-7 113 18
21 Our Lady of the Lake 6-6 109 21
22 Northwestern Ohio 16-4 105 23
23 Webber International 14-6 104 22
24 Lewis-Clark State 8-7 74 24
25-tie Shorter 11-14 60 25
25-tie Olivet Nazarene 11-3 60 RV

Others receiving votes: McPherson 55, Spring Arbor 42, Pikeville 36, Northwood (Fla.) 17, Biola 15, Roberts Wesleyan 10, Taylor 1, Asbury 1, SCAD Savannah 1, Davenport 1.

NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, April 15)
Rank Team Record Points Last
1 Auburn Montgomery (13) 19-2 343 1
2 Fresno Pacific 18-4 332 2
3 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 18-3 321 3
4 Oklahoma Christian 14-3 310 4
5 Azusa Pacific 15-3 299 5
6 Point Loma Nazarene 13-6 286 6
7 Brenau 11-4 279 7
8 Concordia (Calif.) 10-6 266 8
9 William Carey 13-8 255 9
10 Southern Nazarene 7-4 243 10
11 Shorter 19-7 228 13
12 Lindsey Wilson 13-3 227 12
13 SCAD Savannah 9-3 210 11
14 Lewis-Clark State 7-12 199 14
15 Vanguard 8-10 190 15
16 Indiana Wesleyan 19-2 180 16
17 Martin Methodist 8-3 165 18
18 Lee (Tenn.) 9-6 148 17
19 Campbellsville 11-5 144 19
20 Westmont 6-9 127 21
21 Robert Morris (Chicago) 14-2 126 22
22 St. Thomas (Fla.) 5-4 123 20
23 Oklahoma Baptist 6-8 93 23
24 Marian (Ind.) 21-6 91 24
25 Davenport 18-5 73 25

Others receiving votes: Xavier 61, Webber International 40, Belhaven 33, Indiana Southeast 32, Bethel (Kan.) 30, Northwestern Ohio 13, Olivet Nazarene 8, Milligan 6, Nebraska Wesleyan 5, Taylor 3, Georgetown (Ky.) 1, \ Northwood (Fla.) 1.

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