Thursday, December 22, 2016

UAPB Rallies Past Morgan State for 53-44 Win

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Women's Basketball team picked up their third win of the season with the Lady Lions defeating Morgan State, 53-44 here Wednesday night at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente Arena.

UAPB jumped out to a 7-3 lead to open up the first quarter, capped off by a Destiny Brewton jumper with 4:58 remaining.

MSU used an 8-0 run to take a 11-7 lead into the second quarter of play, capped off by a Janessa Fauntroy free throw with 32 seconds left in the period.

In the second period of play, UAPB outscored MSU 11-8 to tie the contest at 19-19 on a Faith Ohanta jumper with 1:45 remaining.

The Lady Lions went into the break with 23-21 lead at the half.

MSU outscored UAPB, 13-10 to take a 34-33 lead into the fourth quarter of play.

The Lady Lions opened the fourth quarter with a 13-7 run to take a 46-41 lead with 2:50 left to go in the contest, capped off by a Brewton free throw with 2:50 to go in the contest. UAPB closed out the contest with a 7-3 run to hold on for the 53-44 win.

UAPB finished the contest shooting 40.0 percent (18-of-45), while MSU shot 30.0 percent (18-of-60).

MSU (2-8) had three Lady Bears to finish with 10 points each in Braennan Farrar, Zuri White and Tykyrah Williams. White led MSU on the boards with eight.

UAPB (3-7) had a pair of Lady Lions to finish in double-figures with Brewton scoring a team high 12 points and Niya Head adding 11. Both Malaik
Muhammad and Ohanta finished with five rebounds each to lead the Lady Lions on the boards. Also Brewton finished with a team high five assists.

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TSU Lady Tigers end 2016 on high note with 70-62 win at FIU

MIAMI, Florida – The Lady Tigers of Texas Southern University went into their Christmas break on a high note Wednesday after defeating Florida International 70-62.

Sophomore post Artavia Ford recorded her second double-double of the season, scoring 25 points and pulling in 10 rebounds to lead Texas Southern (6-5), which ended a three-game losing skid. Ford shot 10-of-17 from the field.

The Lady Tigers scored seven unanswered points late in the fourth quarter to break a 56-56 tie and pull away from their hosts. TSU had led by as many as 10 points in the first half, but saw a nine-point lead evaporate late in the third quarter.

Joyce Kennerson tallied 17 points, five assists and two steals for the Lady Tigers, who concluded the non-conference portion of their schedule with the win. TSU returns to action Jan. 2 when they visit Alcorn State to open Southwestern Athletic Conference play.

Kristian Hudson scored 18 points to lead FIU (1-8). Kiandre'a Pound chipped in 12 points for the Panthers.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Texas Southern seized control of the game early with an 11-2 run between the 8:04 and 1:48 marks of the first quarter to take a 17-7 lead. Kennerson scored the last six points of the run, while FIU collectively shot 1-of-7 and committed four turnovers during that span.

FIU cut into TSU's lead in the latter stages of the second period with a 7-2 run that cut the visitors' advantage to 32-28 with less than a minute remaining before halftime. A 3-pointer by Makenna Pouengue with 34 seconds left in the period gave the Lady Tigers a 35-28 halftime lead.

The Panthers completely erased TSU's lead with nine unanswered points between the 6:54 and 3:51 marks of the third quarter, as Amari Hawkins' fast-break layup tied the game at 42. In all, FIU would outscore Texas Southern 18-7 over the final seven minutes of the quarter, with TSU's Breasia McElrath cutting the deficit to 51-49 with 14 seconds remaining in the period.

After the teams exchanged baskets over the first portion of the final quarter, Ford helped the Lady Panthers pull away with seven unanswered points between the 5:27 and 2:17 marks of the period. Ford knocked down two jump shots and all three free throws she took; the run ended with a layup off a Kennerson assist while getting fouled.

As FIU was forced to foul as time wound down, Kennerson scored six of the team's final seven points.

KEY POINTS:
• Texas Southern improved to 2-4 all-time against FIU, and claimed their first-ever win over the Panthers in Miami; the Lady Tigers' only other win over FIU took place in Houston in 1987.
• The game marked the first time the teams had met since the 1992-93 season.
• Head coach Johnetta Hayes-Perry improved to 6-4 against Conference USA opponents in her coaching career.
• The Lady Tigers improved to 2-1 against Conference USA opponents this season; TSU opened the season with an 89-68 win at UTEP.
• Kaitlyn Palmer scored eight points for Texas Southern, while McElrath added seven points and seven rebounds.
• TSU's Chynna Ewing handed out five assists to go along with four points.

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XULA's Perry is state's top freshman; Tomasoni honored


NEW ORLEANS — Amanda Perry became the first volleyball student-athlete from Xavier University of Louisiana to earn a major state award when she was named Freshman of the Year by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association late Wednesday.

Perry and teammate Juliana Tomasoni both were chosen second-team All-Louisiana. Perry tied for second in voting for Libero of the Year, and Tomasoni was runner-up for Newcomer of the Year.

An LSWA panel of college sports publicists selected the honorees.

Perry — from Bolingbrook, Ill., a graduate of Bolingbrook High School and a former club player with Sports Performance — set XULA season records with 529 digs, 4.64 digs per set and 19 consecutive matches with double-figure digs. She reached double-figure digs in 29-of-33 matches.

Tomasoni — a junior outside hitter/defensive specialist from Nova Trento, Brazil, and a graduate of Francisco Mazzola in her home country and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M — led the Gold Nuggets with 345 kills, 27 aces and 14 double-doubles and was second with a .242 hitting percentage and 391 digs. She produced a XULA-match-record 25 kills during the opening weekend of the season.

The XULA honorees helped the Gold Nuggets win Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships and qualify for the NAIA National Championship. All three milestones were XULA's sixth in a row. Perry and Tomasoni won a slew of GCAC honors this year, including Defender of the Year for Perry and Newcomer of the Year and tournament MVP for Tomasoni.

For the fourth time in as many seasons, XULA's Hannah Lawing was runner-up for Coach of the Year. This time she lost in a 6-5 vote to Tulane's Jim Barnes. Lawing resigned earlier this month to pursue non-coaching opportunities.

2016 All-Louisiana Women's Volleyball Team
FIRST TEAM
Justine Bowers, junior, Tulane
Tiara Gibson, senior, LSU
Tea Juric, senior, Tulane
Marta Monne, junior, Louisiana Tech
Sarah Ray, junior, Tulane
Stacey Reilly, junior, Louisiana-Lafayette
Libero: Bridget Justis, senior, McNeese State

SECOND TEAM
Alexandria Aguilera, sophomore, McNeese State
Chanelle Gardner, senior, Louisiana-Lafayette
Allison Hartmann, sophomore, Loyola
Angela Papach, senior, Louisiana Tech
Gina Tillis, junior, LSU
Juliana Tomasoni, junior, XULA
Libero: (tie) Kaylie McHugh, freshman, Tulane; Amanda Perry, freshman, XULA

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Sarah Ray, Tulane
Voting: Ray 9, Reilly 2
LIBERO OF THE YEAR: Bridget Justis, McNeese State
Voting: Justis 5, McHugh 2, Perry 2, Lala Avies (Louisiana Tech) 2
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Justine Bowers, Tulane
Voting: Bowers 7, Tomasoni 4
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Amanda Perry, XULA
Voting: Perry 6, McHugh 3, Jordan Yauch (New Orleans) 1, Tyler Beckham (Loyola) 1
COACH OF THE YEAR: Jim Barnes, Tulane
Voting: Barnes 6, Hannah Lawing (XULA) 5

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Xavier's Flickinger steps down as FAR; Hammer to succeed her

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana — Sister Grace Mary Flickinger, S.B.S., who achieved National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Hall of Fame status for her service on the local, regional, and national level while serving as Xavier University of Louisiana's faculty athletics representative (FAR), is stepping down from that position after 36 years according to XU President Reynold Verret.

Flickinger, a member of the XULA biology faculty since 1968, continues as a professor in the Department of Biology. Verret has appointed Dr. Elliott Hammer, a longtime member of the Department of Psychology, as Flickinger's successor as FAR.

"Sister Grace Mary has admirably served Xavier University of Louisiana, our athletics department, the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC), and the NAIA with untiring devotion in this important position," Verret said. "We are grateful for her many decades of service, her passion and devotion to our student-athletes, and the integral role she has played in the progress of athletics at Xavier."

In the structure of the NAIA, faculty representatives oversee the welfare of the student-athlete, certify eligibility, and ensure the emphasis of academics in university athletics. In the GCAC, the vote of faculty representatives is a crucial step toward ratification of new policies and procedures. Xavier currently fields intercollegiate teams in men's and women's basketball, cross country, track and field, and tennis, as well as women's volleyball.

A New Jersey native, Flickinger has been a member of XULA's biology department since 1968 and joined XU's athletics committee in 1981. A few years later, she took on responsibilities as academic counselor for athletics at the request of former men's basketball coach Denny Alexander. She also has served the GCAC as president for two terms (1990-91 and 1995-99), vice president, faculty athletics representative, and on its eligibility and executive committees. On the national level she chaired the NAIA's Council of Faculty Athletics Representatives.

Flickinger was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1998, and in 2007 she received the NAIA's Wally Schwartz Award for her work as a faculty athletics representative. Flickinger, who also served for several years as coordinator of advising, has been a longtime proponent of one-on-one advising and nurturing of all students, not only for their smooth transition to Xavier as freshmen but also for their persistence and degree completion, as well as their spiritual growth. Having earned a reputation as tough, but fair, she remains is a favorite among alumni.

"It's time that someone else gets trained in this position," Flickinger said. "It's a good job. It takes a lot of work and a lot of time. But the rewards are better than any time you put into it."

Hammer, who has served at Xavier for 16 years (including seven as chair of the Psychology Department), will assume the duties of FAR this spring. His honors include the Visionary Leader Award and Model Institutions of Excellence mentor award, both from Xavier. Since 2006 he has been the holder of the John D. LaFarge Endowed Professorship in Social Justice.

"Advising students has always been one of my favorite parts of my job, so I'm really looking forward to working more closely with student-athletes to help them achieve their academic and athletic goals," Hammer said.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Grambling Hands Southeastern Louisiana First Home Loss

HAMMOND, Louisiana – Southeastern Louisiana junior guard Taylin Underwood scored a game-high 25 points, but it was not enough as Grambling pulled away for an 87-71 victory in non-conference women's basketball action.

Grambling (2-9) snapped an eight-game losing streak and handed SLU (2-8) its first home loss of 2016-17. The Lady Tigers finished with 18 offensive rebounds and held a 21-5 advantage on second chance points, which accounted for their margin of victory.

"Give Grambling credit for the way they crashed the offensive boards," Southeastern head coach Errol Gauff said. "Their ability to take advantage of second chance opportunities was one of the biggest differences in the game. When we get back from the break, we have to focus on executing better on offense. We shot the ball well today, but Grambling forced us into too many turnovers."

Underwood was one of three Lady Lions in double figures, along with senior forward Chey Stewart (11 points) and freshman guard Charlie Dugas (10 points). Sophomore guard Ashailee Brailey and senior guard Bre Warren led Southeastern with four assists each, while Underwood grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Sophomore Jaclyn Scholvin finished with a game-high three steals to lead SLU.

Shakyla Hill topped a balanced Grambling effort with 24 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Hill was joined in double figures by teammates Jazmin Boyd (20 points), Monisha Neal (15 points) and Jazmine Torian (13 points). Torian also led GSU with four assists, while Boyd and Takerra Parsons recorded three steals apiece as Grambling forced 24 SLU turnovers.

A couple of free throws by Underwood gave Southeastern a 15-9 lead with 4:23 left in the opening quarter. Grambling answered with a 10-0 run, but a three by freshman guard Courtney Dawsey helped SLU knot the game up at 19-19 at the end of the quarter.

The game was tied for the final time with 5:10 remaining in the second quarter after a Dugas layup. Grambling would then hold the Lady Lions scoreless for the next four minutes and went into halftime with a 38-33 lead.

Grambling scored the first five points of the third quarter to stretch the lead to 10. Southeastern gradually chipped away at the lead and pulled within five on a pair of free throws by Underwood that cut the lead to 52-47 with 4:35 left in the third quarter.

GSU answered with a 7-0 run, as a pair of Kiana Jones free throws put the Lady Tigers up, 59-47, with 2:47 left in the third quarter. Despite Underwood scoring 15 points in the period, SLU ended the third quarter with a 65-55 deficit.

After a jumper by Warren cut the lead to eight on the opening possession of the fourth quarter, Hill scored seven straight points to give GSU a 72-57 advantage with 7:21 left in the contest. SLU would get no closer than nine the rest of the way, as the lead ballooned to as many as 18 down the stretch.

Southeastern will take a week off for Christmas before closing their non-conference schedule on Wednesday, Dec. 28 with a 6 p.m. (CST) contest at Florida. The game will air on SEC Network+ and can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9), online at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the TuneIn Radio app.

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SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Howard Charge Back For 71-68 Win Over Fairleigh Dickinson

HACKENSACK, New Jersey – The Howard women's basketball team battled back from a seven-point deficit to take down Fairleigh Dickinson, 71-68, in the Rothman Center during a Thursday matinee.

With the win, HU improves to 3-8 on the season – including 3-1 against Northeast Conference opponents – while FDU drops to 2-9.

Rookie Imani Bryant poured in a career-high 19 points, just barely missing out on a double-double with nine rebounds. She was 9-of-12 on the afternoon and tallied six blocks.

Redshirt junior Erin Blaine came out with 14 points and 7 boards, while redshirt senior Te'Shya Heslip notched 11 points, seven assists and three steals. Heslip wrote her name in the program's history books as she joined the exclusive 1,000-point club.

Senior Jasmine Hill didn't miss at the charity stripe as she went a perfect 6-for-6 on her way to 10 points. Classmate Sydni Johnson added nine points and five boards.

Howard held FDU to a 37.1 field goal percentage (23-62) and connected on 48.9 percent (23-47) of its shots. The Bison also made 25 of their 34 attempts at the free throw line for a 73.5 percent rate.

HU dominated the Knights down low, outscoring the home team 44-26 in the paint. The Bison put up 25 points off of FDU's 26 turnovers and got 19 points from the bench.

The Bison got off to a quick start, leading by as many as seven points, 17-10, midway through the first quarter. FDU began to settle in as the period wore on to tie the score twice before getting a 25-23 edge at the end of one.

Howard tied the game early in the second quarter, but saw the Knights get out to their largest advantage of the matchup, 35-28, with five minutes left in the half. Thanks to a trio of tallies in the paint, the Bison were able to cut into the deficit and head into the locker room down by four, 39-35.

HU picked up right where it left off to open the second half as it dashed away on a 14-3 run to regain the lead, 49-42, at the 3:54 mark. The Knights clawed their way back as the two teams exchanged points at the free throw line, leaving Howard with a slight 55-54 edge going into the last 10 minutes.

The final period was a back and forth battle that featured three ties and six lead changes. After a three-pointer put FDU up, 64-61, Heslip sank both free throws and Bryant laid the ball in to give the upper hand back to the Bison, 65-64, with 1:41 left to play. Heslip followed that up with a steal that led to an and-one conversion for her 1,000th point and Howard was able to hold off the Knights to come away victorious, 71-68.

The Knights werBOe led by 12 points and nine rebounds from Brianna Thomas as well as 12 points from Kiana Brown. Courtney Blankenship and Peniel M'Bikata earned 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Howard will step onto the court in Burr Gymnasium for the final time in 2016 when it hosts Vermont on Friday, Dec. 30 at 2 p.m.

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Chicago State Claims 74-65 Win Over SE Missouri at Las Vegas Classic

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Chicago State men's basketball snapped a five-game losing streak here this afternoon after claiming a 74-65 victory over Southeast Missouri State in the third contest for both teams in the 2016 Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic at Orleans Arena.

The win also marked the 50th for seventh-year head coach Tracy Dildy as he surpassed former CSU bench boss Bob Hallberg as the school's all-time leader in Division I career coaching victories.

The Green and White took an early 5-0 advantage on a three-pointer from junior Montana Byrd (Chicago, Ill./Mount Carmel) at the 16:51 mark of the first half. SEMO later snapped a 16-16 tie with an 8-4 scoring drive in two minutes to gain a 24-20 lead with 5:11 to go in the stanza following a layup from Antonius Cleveland. CSU then bounced back as it posted a 16-6 run in the final four minutes that included five points from sophomore Fred Sims, Jr. (Chicago, Ill./North Lawndale) to head into halftime with a 36-30 leading margin.

In the first two-plus minutes of the second half, the Redhawks scored eight of the next 10 points to even the score at 38-38 that concluded with a three-point play by Denzel Mahoney at 17:26. After Daniel Simmons drained a three-pointer at the 11:17 mark to tie the game at 51-51, the Cougars would go on to outscore SEMO by a 23-14 margin in the final 10 minutes to earn the victory.

CSU (4-9) had three players score in double figures for the game with senior Trayvon Palmer (Milwaukee, Wis./Brown Deer) recording his fifth double-double of the season as he tallied 18 points and tied a season high with 15 rebounds. Palmer shot 7-of-11 from the field and 4-of-5 at the free throw line.

Junior Deionte Simmons (Detroit, Mich./Lewisville (Texas)) scored a season-best 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field and Sims, Jr. also finished with 17 points and posted six boards for the Green and White.

Cleveland led Southeast Missouri (4-9) with a game-high 26 points while shooting 12-of-16 from the free throw line and 6-of-11 from the field.

The Cougars will face the winner of the Troy-Cornell contest in their final contest of the Las Vegas Classic tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 p.m.

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CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS