Weekly Women’s Basketball Notes, March 3, 2008
Women's basketball notes and game recaps for week ending March 2, 2008.
BREVARD - The Brevard College women's basketball team wrapped up their 2007-08 season last week, dropping two games to strong SAC foes ... The Tornados again struggled from the floor offensively, falling to the Lady Indians of Newberry College, 82-49, on Wednesday night at Boshamer Gymnasium ... The Tornados fell behind the Lady Indians early, trailing 11-1 at the 15:25 mark of the first half ... However, BC battled back to cut the Newberry lead to six at 16-10 with a little under nine minutes to play, only to have the Lady Indians go on a run of their own over the next six minutes of play and push their lead back to 12 at 31-19 ... The Indians finished out the half with a jumper by Brennen Long to take a 33-20 lead into the halftime intermission ... Newberry shot 58.3 percent in the first 20 minutes of play, while the Tornados shot only 20 percent, connecting on 5-of-25 attempts in the first half ... In the second half, the Lady Indians continued their hot shooting, knocking down 53.6 percent of the shots from the field and outscoring the Tornados 49-29 in the final 20 minutes of play ... The Tornados could not cut into the Newberry lead in the second half, as the Lady Indians added to their lead as they game went on with their biggest lead of 33 points coming at the final buzzer with their 82-49 road win ... Senior Holly Krogman was the only BC player in double-figures, scoring in 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor for the game ... Fellow senior Courtney Brandon had eight points, while sophomore Lindsay Thrift added eight points of her own off the BC bench ... On the day in which the Brevard College women's basketball team honored its four seniors - Holly Krogman, Courtney Brandon, Jessica Whitmire and Heather Cornwell - the Tornados were defeated at home 86-61 by the Lady Indians of Catawba College ... The Tornados game out of the gates with some fight, taking an early 7-2 lead on a lay-up by sophomore Samantha Winn at the 16:28 mark ... Brevard held on to the lead over the next eight minutes of play, pushing their lead to as high as seven points again with 9:56 remaining in the first half ... However, the Lady Indians fought back to take their first lead of the game on a three-pointer by Hillary Hampton at the 5:16 mark, and did not look back, pulling ahead of the Tornados by seven at 33-26 heading into the halftime intermission ... In the second half, the Lady Indians of Catawba caught fire, as they shot 56.3 percent from the floor and 50 percent from the three-point arc in the final 20 minutes of play to outscore the Tornados 53-35 in the second half ... Although the Tornados continued to play hard, the up-tempo style of play of Catawba begin to take its toll in the second half, as the Lady Indians continued to add to their lead throughout the final 20 minutes of play ... The Lady Indians pushed their lead to 25 points at 86-61, the highest it had been, with only 18 seconds to go in the game, which would prove to be the final score ... In the last game of her collegiate career, senior Courtney Brandon had a game-high 19 points, as she connected on five three-pointers for the game ... Fellow senior Holly Krogman had eight points, as she was 2-of-3 from the three-point line and 3-of-6 from the floor overall ... Sophomore Samantha Winn had nine points, while Lindsay Thrift and Kelsey Sill had eight points apiece off the bench ... Saturday afternoon's game was the season finale for the Tornados, as they finished their second year as an NCAA Division II provisional member and their first year playing a full South Atlantic Conference slate ... The Tornados finished 8-19 on the season.
CARSON-NEWMAN - The Carson-Newman Lady Eagles fell twice during the final week of the regular season, dropping two tough road games at Catawba and Wingate…The Lady Eagles finish the regular season 14-13 over and 7-7 in SAC play, good for a tie for third place…C-N's week began with a tough, mid-week road trip to Catawba in which the Lady Eagles fell 87-73…Carson-Newman jumped out early in the Lady Indians, building a 23-14 lead midway through the first half…Junior Ashley Tipton had seven early points for C-N…She finished with 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 3-of-5 from behind the arc…Senior Emily Mason had the Lady Eagles with 16 points and six boards, but was only 6-of-16 from the floor…Sophomore Shari Buford turned in a solid night, going 6-of-8 from the floor, finishing with 14 points and 11 rebounds…Junior Tykira McDaniel had 17 points to lead C-N in scoring…She hit 6-of10 shots and all five of her free throw attempts to turn in her season high…The Lady Indians used a 16-2 first-half run to grab a seven-point halftime lead…They also had a 26-10 run in the second half to put the game away…C-N tried to close out its regular season with a win by sweeping the season series with Wingate on Saturday…C-N cut an early 13-point Wingate lead at 28-15 to four at the half, trailing 38-34, but scored only three points in the first six minutes of the second half as Wingate built a 50-37 lead...Tipton led C-N with 13 points, but committed 7 turnovers…The Lady Eagles, playing without point guard Ashley Kyle, committed 27 turnovers in the loss…The turnovers offset a tremendous rebounding effort in which the Lady Eagles had a 16-board edge, 42-27… Buford and junior Lindsey Eggleston each had 12 points in the loss…Eggleston had nine boards as well…mason finished with seven points and 10 rebounds…The Lady Eagles will host Mars Hill on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. in the SAC Tournament…Carson-Newman split the season series with the Lions, with the visiting team winning each game…C-N won at Mars Hill in January, 84-79…The Lions beat C-N last month in Jefferson City, 100-69.
CATAWBA - The Catawba women ended the regular season with a pair of wins, knocking off Carson-Newman 87-73 and winning at Brevard 86-61 ... It marked the two highest scoring games for the Lady Indians this season and was the first time Catawba had won consecutive games since December ... Senior Sicilia LoSauro made the most of her final home game, scoring a career-best 27 points in the win ... She scored 19 points in the opening half ... LoSauro canned five three-pointers and hit on 9-of-16 shots ... The ladies ended the half on a 16-2 run to erase a seven-point deficit ... Brooke Whitley followed with a career-high 17 points ... NeKeithia Howard scored 16 of her game-high 19 points in the second half against Brevard ... She added 10 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season ... LoSauro added 15 points and Whitley reached double figures for the second straight game, tossing in a dozen ... Catawba shot 56.3 percent in the second half in scoring 53 points to pull away from a 33-26 lead at the break ... The ladies also had a commanding 45-25 edge on the boards ... Catawba will travel to Wingate for its first round tournament game ... The Lady Indians lost both meeting with the Bulldogs this year.
LENOIR-RHYNE - The Lenoir-Rhyne women's basketball team (15-12, 5-9) ended the regular season with a split against league foes Wingate (89-72 at home on Wednesday) and Mars Hill (80-68 on the road Saturday) … The Bears are guaranteed their second straight winning season … Kasey Gillis tallied a career-high 30 points and the Bulldogs hit 34-of-43 free throws (.791) to complete the season sweep of the Bears … Sophomore center Jacquelyn Kremer (Sevierville, Tenn.) and sophomore guard Amber Holt (Charlotte, N.C.) led L-R with 14 points each despite the loss … Lenoir-Rhyne, however, swept the season series from Mars Hill with a 69-60 victory in the regular season finale … Lenoir-Rhyne, which jumped out to a 42-27 halftime lead, held on for the win and was led by Kremer and sophomore guard LaCourtney Rann (Charlotte, N.C.) with 12 points each … The victory over the Lions was the Bears' third straight against a SAC opponent on the road … Lenoir-Rhyne will be the fifth seed in the 2008 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament for the second straight year and will travel to Newberry, S.C., to face fourth-seeded Newberry on Wednesday at 7 p.m. … The Lady Indians defeated the Bears both times this year: 68-64 on Saturday, January 12, in Newberry, S.C., and 83-76 on Saturday, February 9, in Hickory, N.C. … Lenoir-Rhyne, however, leads the all-time series with Newberry, 19-10 … L-R will be looking to advance to the semifinals of the league tournament for the first time since the 2003-04 season.
LINCOLN MEMORIAL - The Lincoln Memorial University women's basketball team improved to 13-13 on the year Tuesday evening with a 70-45 win over the Bobcats from Lees-McRae College … While the victory wasn't the prettiest win the Lady Railsplitters have had this season, it came on the heels of Saturday's 74-67 conference loss to Carson-Newman College and only days before the Lady Splitters' regular season finale against Newberry College and should give the team some much needed confidence going into the game … LMU was led in scoring Tuesday night by freshman Megan Davis. Davis picked up three fouls in the early minutes of the game and sat on the bench most of the first half. However, late in the second half when LMU post player Andi Winney picked up her third foul, Davis entered the game and went on a tear, scoring 17 points in a little more than 12 minutes of play. Davis also went to war on the board and led Lincoln Memorial with eight rebounds … Winney contributed 10 points for the Lady Railsplitters while teammate Shawna Nicols and Stephanie Wagner chipped in 11 each … On Saturday the Lady Railsplitters made the trip to Newberry for the regular season finale and came away with a 58-47 loss. LMU was led by Andi Winney's 18 points. The advantage on the boards went to LMU by a 34-32 margin … The Lady Railsplitters end the regular season with a 13-14 record and went 3-11 in the SAC.
MARS HILL - MHC lost both of their games last week. The Lions are now 15-12 overall and 5-9 in the SAC … In the first game of the week, Stephany Neptune (Wallkill, N.Y.) recorded 10 points and 17 rebounds to lead the No. 21 Tusculum College women's basketball team to a 59-53 win at Mars Hill College, Wednesday night at Stanford Arena. Ashlil Oliver (Kokomo, Ind.) recorded 15 points, while Jasmine Gunn (Nashville, Tenn.) added 10 points and five assists in TC's ninth straight victory as the Pioneers improved to 24-3 overall and 13-1 in the league … The Pioneers end its regular season and will be the top-seed in next week's Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament … MHC's Brittini Young (Ramseur, N.C.) led all scorers with 22 points, while Lindsay Roberts (Murphy, N.C.) added a dozen points and seven rebounds in the loss. Mars Hill frustrated the SAC's top scoring offense all night, by limiting the Pioneers to its lowest point total of the season. With the score tied 35-35 with 14:17 remaining in the game, both teams went ice cold from the floor before Young broke the deadlock with a running 10-foot jumper in the paint … The Lions would take its biggest lead of the night at 43-38 at the 8:18 mark after a pair of free throws by Young. Tusculum responded with a 14-1 spurt over the next five minutes, thanks to three-pointers by Gunn and Oliver as the Pioneers led 52-48 with 3:52 left on the clock … The Lions weren't done though, as MHC used a 6-0 run, while TC missed the front end of two one-and-one bonus free throws and Young made two free throws with 1:05 left to cut the deficit to 55-53. But Oliver put the game away making her final four free throw attempts in the final minute to preserve the Tusculum win … Both teams shot below 40 percent on the night. Mars Hill shot 37 percent, while Tusculum fired 36.4 percent from the field … In the second contest of the week, Mars Hill College's women's basketball team lost their final regular season game to Lenoir-Rhyne College, 69-60 Saturday afternoon in Stanford Arena. Before the game, MHC celebrated senior day. The Lions recognized Lindsay Roberts (Murphy, NC) and Allison Schafer (Advance, NC) who played their final regular season contest in Stanford Arena … The first nine minutes of the game were closely played. Briana Stanton (Snow Hill, NC) gave the Bears a 20-18 lead after hitting a layup with 8:44 left in the first period. The Bears would never trail again … L-R closed out the first half out scoring the Lions 22-9 to take a 15-point advantage (42-27) into the locker room at the break … The Bears hit 50 percent (14-28) of their field goals in the first half. They were 12-12 at the charity stripe … MHC cut the deficit to four points on three different occasions in the second half but could never regain the lead. Roberts hit two free throws with 4:42 left in regulation to make the score 57-53 … L-R answered scoring five unanswered points to extend their lead to nine points. In the final minute of the game, MHC was forced to foul and the Bears connected on 7-8 shots at the foul line to seal the win … L-R scored 22 points in the paint and received 28 points off their bench … MHC out rebounded the Bears, 41-34, but shot the ball poorly hitting only 34.3 percent (23-67) of their shots from the floor. L-R was 24-29 (82.8 percent) at the free throw line … LaCourtney Rann (Charlotte, NC) and Jacqueline Kremer (Sevierville, TN) led L-R with 12 points apiece. Kremer had six boards. Amber Holt (Charlotte, NC) came off the bench to score 10. Jessica Blanford (Concord, NC) led MHC with 14 points and six rebounds followed by Schafer and Roberts who added 10 points apiece. Schafer tallied eight rebounds while Roberts tallied six … MHC will face Carson-Newman College n the first round of the Food Lion SAC Tournament in Jefferson City on Wednesday night. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
NEWBERRY - Newberry went 2-0 in the final week of the regular season … The Lady Indians defeated Brevard 82-49, sweeping the season series … Newberry also completed the season series sweep of Lincoln Memorial with a 58-47 win … Against Brevard, Ashley Marine shot a perfect 7-for-7; all from beyond the arc … Marine finished the game with a career high 22 points … Tonique Frasier finished the game with a game-high 25 points and 16 rebounds for her 13th double-double of the season … Point guard Janine Ward had 11 points, going 3-of-3 from long distance in the contest … Newberry never trailed in the game and allowed only five made field goals in the opening stanza … The Lincoln Memorial game was also senior night for the Lady Indians and appropriately it was the seniors who led the scoring for Newberry … Frasier scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds and earning four steals to lead the team in each of those categories … Ashlee Wright was the other Lady Indian in double digits with 10 points … It was also the final regular season home game for Carnicha Bellinger, Tosha Goodman and Ashley Marine … Newberry will host Lenoir-Rhyne in the first round of the SAC tournament … The Lady Indians beat the Bears twice this season.
TUSCULUM - The Tusculum women's basketball team (24-3, 13-1 SAC) captured it first South Atlantic Conference championship with its 59-53 road win at Mars Hill… The Pioneers have won their last nine games and 21 of their last 22… Sophomore Stephany Neptune recorded 10 points and 17 rebounds in the win over Mars Hill… Ashli Oliver recorded 15 points, while Jasmine Gunn added 10 points and five assists… Mars Hill frustrated the SAC's top scoring offense all night, by limiting the Pioneers to its lowest point total of the season… With the score tied 35-35 with 14:17 remaining in the game, both teams went ice cold from the floor before MHC broke the deadlock... The Lions would take its biggest lead of the night at 43-38 at the 8:18 mark after a pair of free throws… Tusculum responded with a 14-1 spurt over the next five minutes, thanks to three-pointers by Gunn and Oliver as the Pioneers led 52-48 with 3:52 left on the clock… The Lions weren't done though, as MHC used a 6-0 run, while TC missed the front end of two one-and-one bonus free throws and two MHC free throws with 1:05 left to cut the deficit to 55-53… But Oliver put the game away making her final four free throw attempts in the final minute to preserve the Tusculum win… Both teams shot below 40 percent on the night… Mars Hill shot 37 percent, while Tusculum fired 36.4 percent from the field… Tusculum moved up to No. 21 in last week's USA Today/ESPN Division II Coaches' Poll… Oliver has made 274 career three-pointers, which are the most in both Tusculum and SAC history and are currently 18th all-time in the NCAA II record book… Tusculum has blocked a shot in 40 straight games… Junior Nikki Van Dine has made a three-point field goal in 22 straight games… Shantae Shank has recorded a steal in 18 straight games… Neptune leads the SAC with 15 double-doubles... Tusculum will be the top seed in this year's Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament… TC will host Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
WINGATE - The Wingate University women's team went 2-0 on the week, picking up two big league wins. On Wednesday night, the Bulldogs topped Lenoir-Rhyne College 89-72 on the road. On Saturday afternoon in Cuddy Arena, Wingate defeated Carson-Newman College 80-64 to avenge an earlier SAC road loss … On Saturday afternoon, Wingate extended its home court winning streak to 18 games with the victory over Carson-Newman. The Bulldogs improve to 20-7 overall and 12-2 in the SAC. Wingate is now 15-1 when scoring at least 80 points this season … With Saturday's victory, the Bulldogs and first-year head coach Barbara Nelson posted their 21st 20-win season in the program's illustrious senior college history. The number two seed Bulldogs host number seven seed Catawba College Wednesday night at 6 p.m. in the first round of the 2008 Food Lion SAC tournament … Wingate junior point guard Anna Atkinson led the Bulldogs with 19 points, six assists, six rebounds and three steals. Senior forward/guard Kasey Gillis added 16 points, while senior guard Kate Edwards contributed 15 points and four steals … Wingate jumped out to a quick 10-point lead (17-7) on a lay-up from CC Brooks at the 15:39 mark. The teams would trade baskets over the next several minutes until a pair of C-N throws cut the lead to five at 31-26 with 5:20 remaining in the half … Jumpers from Wingate's Stefani Shuey and Stacie Rhodes stretched the lead back to nine points at 35-26. The Eagles responded with an 8-3 run to end the half, capped by a three-point field goal from Ashley Tipton to make it 38-34 at intermission … Edwards started the second half with a three-pointer to put Wingate up 41-34. The Bulldogs would use an 11-2 run to take a 66-48 advantage at the 9:04 mark. Brooks had the last five points of the flurry. The lead would never go below 13 the rest of the way. The Bulldogs extended the advantage as high as 21 (76-55) on a jumper from Rhodes with 4:19 remaining. The Bulldogs did not trail in the entire contest … Wingate was 29-of-63 (46 percent) from the field, while hitting six-of-12 (50 percent) three-point field goals. The Eagles were 22-of-54 (40.7 percent) from the field, while hitting four-of-13 (30.8 percent) from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs converted 27 Carson-Newman turnovers into 35 points. Wingate racked up 16 steals on the day, while committing only 11 turnovers … The Eagles held a 43-27 advantage in rebounding, but Wingate outscored Carson-Newman 14-12 in second-chance points. The Bulldogs also had a 32-24 advantage in points in the paint … Gillis poured in a career-high 30 points to lead the Bulldogs past the Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne 89-72 Wednesday night in SAC action at Shuford Gymnasium. Gillis was 11-for-17 from the field, while hitting eight-of-11 from the free throw line. She also had six rebounds on the night … Atkinson added 18 points and seven assists Wednesday. The 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® first team member was four-for-four from the field, while hitting both of her shots from beyond the arc. She was also eight-for-10 from the foul line … The Bulldogs would score the first seven points of the game and never trail. A jumper from Shuey gave Wingate a 26-16 lead at the 9:14 mark. A three-point field goal by the Bears cut the deficit to 27-22 at the 6:42 mark … The Bulldogs pushed the lead back to 13. Two Gillis free throws following a Lenoir-Rhyne technical put Wingate up 40-27 at the 2:39 plateau. Wingate led 44-33 at intermission … Wingate scored eight unanswered points to take a 57-37 advantage with 14:28 to play in the contest. Gillis scored the first four points of the run while Rhodes finished the flurry with a jumper. The lead would not go below 17 the rest of the way … The Bulldogs were 26-for-48 (54.2 percent) from the field, while hitting 34-of-43 (79.1 percent) from the free throw line. The Bears were 26-for-41 (39.3 percent) from the field, while hitting 22-of-31 (71 percent) from the line. The visiting Bulldogs held a decisive 42-26 rebounding advantage, led by sophomore forward Erica Crumlin (Irmo, S.C.) and her 10 boards.