We were happy - although not surprised to see James Madison's Dawn Evans, the nation's leading scorer (25.2 ppg) and one-woman Virginia vanquisher - on the Wooden Award midseason Top 20 list.
But what about VCU's Courtney Hurt? We don't want to start coming off like Hurt's press agent - VCU sports information does a fine job with that - but the Rams junior only leads the nation in rebounding (13.2 ppg) and double-doubles (12) while ranking second to Evans nationally in scoring (24.3 ppg). Sounds like a Wooden Award candidate to us.
The Wooden Award folks did note that whittling their list to 20 was especially difficult this time and that there were 6-7 others who were deserving beyond the 20 selected. Gotta believe Hurt was in that group.
So just keep ballin', Courtney. The folks at Fanhouse.com have recognized. One of these days, maybe the Wooden voters will, too.
RICHMOND: Those of you that can get the CBS College Sports channel will be able to watch tonight's 8 p.m. game between UMass (5-11, 1-0) and the Spiders (10-5, 1-0) at the Robins Center. Richmond is 4-0 at home but hasn't played in their own building since they crushed Old Dominion 65-43 on Dec. 12. Tonight's game could be a long-range shooter's delight as UMass began the week ranking 7th in Division I in 3-point percentage (39.6) while the Spiders drained 12 triples in Saturday's 68-55 victory over George Washington. The Minutewomen turn it over a lot, though, and the Spiders feast on turnovers. We think that'll be the difference. Richmond 72, UMass 60
LIBERTY: Speaking of games, we missed on Sunday when the Lady Flames moved their scheduled Monday game against UNC Asheville up a day because of weather concerns. At first we were just going to pretend it didn't happen, but that's silly. Then we thought, let's write something now and "predict" the actual score, then post it and say, "Wow, we nailed that one!'' Of course, that's even sillier.
So, three days after the fact....
Liberty 61, UNC Asheville 44: A vintage Liberty victory, featuring balanced scoring, rebounding superiority - at least in the second half - and some suffocating defense. Avery Warley led the way with 11 points and 11 rebounds, but four other Lady Flames scored between 8 and 11 points as Liberty (8-7, 3-0 Big South) won its fourth straight and moved above .500 for the first time this season.
HONOR ROLL
Da'Naria Erwin Spencer, Radford: Sophomore led Radford to victories over Gardner-Webb and High Point by averaging 20.5 ppg, 6 rpg and 3 spg. The surprising Highlanders are tied with Liberty atop the Big South.
Tia Lewis, Old Dominion: Named CAA Co-Player of the Week after averaging 17 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 52.4 percent from the field in a pair of CAA victories.
Courtney Hurt, VCU: Named CAA Co-Player of the Week for the third time this season after averaging 26 ppg and 10 rpg in two games.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
UConn shouldn't be flattered by comparisons to UCLA
We pretty much stayed out of the UConn women vs. UCLA men "debate", in part because we think the whole thing is silly. But we also think the comparison is unfair to UConn, because it's hardly flattering to be compared to one of the biggest rule-breaking programs in NCAA history.
Ever hear of Sam Gilbert? UCLA's players during the 1960s and 70s certainly knew who he was. That Gilbert was funneling money, gifts and favors to the Bruins was one of the worst-kept secrets in sports during the Bruins' so-called glory years.
The NCAA apparently had no stomach to launch an investigation. The Los Angeles Times did, though,
The Times established that Gilbert, during (John) Wooden's heyday, helped players get cars, clothes, airline tickets and scalpers' prices for UCLA season tickets. Gilbert allegedly even arranged abortions for players' girlfriends. One former UCLA All-American told The Times: "What do you want me to say? That's my school. I don't want to see them take away all those championships." Gilbert considered many NCAA rules arcane and silly.
Wooden says he didn't know. So the coach who was so meticulous he instructed his players how to wear their socks in practice didn't know those same players were in bed with Gilbert? Strange.
But let's say he really didn't. Well, Pete Carroll said he didn't know Reggie Bush was on the take from an agent. Cam Newton said he didn't know his father was trying to shake down Mississippi State. We usually roll our eyes at these claims of ignorance. But in the eyes of many, Wooden's legacy - and those of his teams - remains pristine.
Look, Wooden was no doubt a great coach, and his methods and wisdom inspired generations. But whether he was party to it or not, Wooden's greatest teams were underwritten by the biggest sugar daddy of his era.
So the next time someone puts UConn in a class with UCLA, Geno Auriemma ought to tell 'em thanks, but no thanks.
Ever hear of Sam Gilbert? UCLA's players during the 1960s and 70s certainly knew who he was. That Gilbert was funneling money, gifts and favors to the Bruins was one of the worst-kept secrets in sports during the Bruins' so-called glory years.
The NCAA apparently had no stomach to launch an investigation. The Los Angeles Times did, though,
The Times established that Gilbert, during (John) Wooden's heyday, helped players get cars, clothes, airline tickets and scalpers' prices for UCLA season tickets. Gilbert allegedly even arranged abortions for players' girlfriends. One former UCLA All-American told The Times: "What do you want me to say? That's my school. I don't want to see them take away all those championships." Gilbert considered many NCAA rules arcane and silly.
Wooden says he didn't know. So the coach who was so meticulous he instructed his players how to wear their socks in practice didn't know those same players were in bed with Gilbert? Strange.
But let's say he really didn't. Well, Pete Carroll said he didn't know Reggie Bush was on the take from an agent. Cam Newton said he didn't know his father was trying to shake down Mississippi State. We usually roll our eyes at these claims of ignorance. But in the eyes of many, Wooden's legacy - and those of his teams - remains pristine.
Look, Wooden was no doubt a great coach, and his methods and wisdom inspired generations. But whether he was party to it or not, Wooden's greatest teams were underwritten by the biggest sugar daddy of his era.
So the next time someone puts UConn in a class with UCLA, Geno Auriemma ought to tell 'em thanks, but no thanks.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Silent Majority rankings #10
Click here for the latest rankings (through Jan. 19)
Previous weeks
Week 8
Week 7
Week 6
Week 5
Week 4
Week 3
Week 2
Week 1
Preseason
Collegeinsider.com mid-major poll
1. Xavier (12-2)
Last week: 1
Amber Harris had been slowed by a mild concussion, which helps explain why the Musketeers offered such feeble resistance at Stanford. But she was back to her old self Sunday with a 23-point, 11-rebound effort in a 63-59 victory over Dayton. Still, a four-point victory at home suggests there may be some intrigue to the Atlantic 10 title chase after all. On deck: Wednesday at St. Joseph's; Sunday at UMass.
2. Marist (13-2)
Last week: 2
Monday's 59-43 victory at Loyola (Md.) boosted the Red Foxes' winning streak to 9 and made them 4-0 in true road games. Marist has won its four MAAC games by an average of 21 points, which speaks to both the Red Foxes' quality and the fact that this looks like a down year for the rest of the conference. No wonder Marist is eager to re-schedule that game with Arizona State. On deck: Friday at Canisius; Sunday at Niagara.
3. Bowling Green (14-1)
Last week: 3
The Falcons' 14-game winning streak is the fourth-longest in the nation, behind West Virginia (16), Duke (15) and Miami (15). Bowling Green has also won 21 straight at Anderson Arena and are unbeaten in their last 37 regular-season home games. On deck: Wednesday vs. Akron; Saturday at Kent State.
4. Green Bay (15-1)
Last week: 4
Nice to see Green Bay back in the AP Top 25 poll (they're No. 23); we believe Marist, Bowling Green and Duquesne should be there as well. But the Phoenix will have to make do without starting guard Adrian Ritchie (10.6 ppg), who will be sidelined at least two weeks after injuring her knee during Saturday's victory over Wright State. On deck: Wednesday vs. Loyola; Saturday vs. Illinois-Chicago.
5. Duquesne (14-2)
Last week: 5
Solid 60-54 win over a good St. Bonaventure team - ask Marist how good - especially when you consider the Dukes trailed by 16 in the second half before roaring back. And Duquesne made its great escape without getting a lot from star freshman Wumi Agunbiade, who scored just 3 points in 12 minutes. On deck: Saturday at Dayton.
6. Florida Gulf Coast (12-0)
Last week: 6
Think these guys can go undefeated? Of the 18 games remaining on the Eagles' regular-season schedule, 15 are against teams with losing records, and one of the remaining three is against 7-7 Jacksonville. Of course, this doesn't mean FGCU should start printing 30-0 T-shirts yet. Let's just say we like their run-the-table chances a bit better than those of Duke or West Virginia. On deck: Saturday vs. Kennesaw State; Monday vs. Mercer.
7. Princeton (12-3)
Last week: 7
How many teams can lose their best player and keep on keepin' on? So far these Tigers have - Saturday's 56-45 victory over Penn - Princeton's 20th straight against Ivy League foes - made them 3-0 since star sophomore Niveen Rasheed went down with a knee injury. Among those taking up Rasheed's slack is Addie Micir, who earned conference player of the week honors after scoring her 1,000th point against LaSalle and dropping 20 on Penn. Because of Princeton's uniquely timed finals/semester break, the Tigers won't return to action until Jan. 28. On deck: Nothing 'til the 28th (at Brown).
8. Gonzaga (13-4)
Last week: 8
No surprise to see Courtney Vandersloot (17.2 ppg and a Division I-leading 9.4 apg) on the Wooden Award midseason Top 20 list. And if Saturday's 81-55 victory at a pretty good Portland team is any indication, the Zags are poised to run roughshod through the West Coast Conference. On deck: Thursday at Pepperdine.
9. Middle Tennessee State (12-4)
Last week: 9
Freshman Eboni Rowe isn't just scoring a lot (17.5), she's also doing it efficiently as her 59.3 FG percentage ranks 9th in Division I. MTSU is hardly just the Rowe Show, though, as four others scored in double figures and the Blue Raiders dished out 22 assists in Saturday's 84-62 win over Louisiana Monroe. On deck: Wednesday vs. Florida Atlantic; Saturday at Arkansas State.
10. Louisiana Tech (10-5)
Last week: 10
Honolulu is a long way from Ruston, so we're not shocked that the Lady Techsters got taken to overtime by Hawaii for the third time in six years. Tech coach Teresa Weatherspoon wasn't buying it, though. "I find it hard to find any good out of this game," she said. "I take nothing away from (Hawaii's) effort. I do find a lot of fault in ours across the board." Bet practice was fun the next day. On deck: Thursday at Fresno State.
11. Tulane (13-2)
Last week: 11
Senior forward Tiffany Aidoo, who earned MVP honors during the Tulane DoubleTree Classic in late December, continued her stellar play and is the reigning Conference USA Player of the Week after averaging 18.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 3.0 spg in leading the Green Wave to a 3-0 week. Aidoo set a school record with 9 3-pointers Sunday against UAB. "I think she's playing as well as she has ever played in her career right now," Tulane coach Lisa Stockton said. On deck: Wednesday vs. East Carolina; Saturday at Marshall.
12. Dayton (9-6)
Last week: 12
There are more moral victories in D-I hoops, but Flyers coach Jim Jabir believes his team made a statement with Sunday's 63-59 near-miss at then-No. 9 Xavier. "I think this is representative of how we play and how good we are," Jabir told the Dayton Daily News. On deck: Wednesday at St. Louis; Saturday vs. Duquesne.
13. TCU (10-6)
Last week: 13
Saturday's 68-60 decision over UNLV was the Horned Frogs' fourth straight since their heartbreaking 3-point loss to Georgia on Dec. 22. Helena Sverrisdottir became the school's all-time leader in assists against the Lady Rebels, just one of her highlights in a game in which she also had 24 points on 7-of-7 shooting and a career-high 7 steals. On deck: Wednesday at Wyoming; Saturday vs. Colorado State.
14. Old Dominion (9-5)
Last week: 14
The Lady Monarchs are coming off an impressive 71-55 dismantling of James Madison. Big props to junior forward Tia Lewis, a Colonial Athletic Association Co-Player of the Week who over her past six games has tied her career-high in scoring in one game (24 points), matched her career high in rebounding in another (17 boards) and posted four double-doubles. On deck: Thursday at Georgia State; Sunday at Delaware.
15. Richmond (10-5)
Last week: 17
Spiders star Brittani Shells moved into second place on Richmond's all-time scoring list during her 30-point assault on George Washington in a 68-55 victory. Shells, who now has 1,789 points, passed Katie Flavin, who scored 1,770 points from 2001-05. Number one on the list remains Karen Elsner, who racked up 2,367 points from 1981-85. On deck: Wednesday vs. UMass; Sunday at Rhode Island.
17. Hampton (10-5)
Last week: 18
Freshman guard Nicole Hamilton has made a big impact for the depth-starved Lady Pirates, who until her arrival four games ago were essentially playing their starters until they dropped. The reigning MEAC Rookie of the Week, Hamilton celebrated her first start by scoring a game-high 17 points Monday night in Hampton's 68-37 pummeling of Morgan State. On deck: Saturday vs. Norfolk State; Monday vs. North Carolina A&T.
20. Fresno State (11-5)
Last week: NR
23. Temple (9-6)
Last week: NR
Surviving last week's 60-57 war at Charlotte suggests the Owls have found their hard-nosed, defense-first style form just in time to be a factor in the Atlantic 10 race. On deck: Wednesday vs. Rhode Island; Saturday at Fordham.
24. James Madison (9-6)
Last week: 20
The Dukes sorely missed senior forward Lauren Jimenez in Sunday's 71-55 loss at Old Dominion. Jimenez, who ranks second to Dawn Evans in scoring (13.4 ppg) and leads all Dukes with 9.3 rpg, sat out after experiencing concussion-like symptoms the night before the game. The loss snapped JMU's four-game winning streak. On deck: Thursday vs. Drexel; Sunday at George Mason.
Lamar (12-3) - Winners of seven straight including a 69-60 upset of Houston.
UC Davis (12-4) - Fell at Cal Poly 74-65; the Aggies' 2nd loss in 4 games.
Missouri State (12-4) - Split two games last week, losing at Northern Iowa and winning at Bradley.
St. Bonaventure (10-6) - Bonnies had Duquesne right where they wanted 'em, but....
Illinois State (10-4) - Dropped a 74-55 decision Saturday at Indiana State.
Arkansas Little-Rock (9-5) - The Trojans have won six straight since a loss to Memphis and have held four of those opponents under 50 points.
UNC Wilmington (10-4) - Picked to finish 8th in the CAA, the Seahawks continue to play like a title contender.
San Diego State (6-8) - A career-high 29-point night from sophomore Courtney Clements wasn't enough in an overtime loss to Utah.
UC Irvine (11-4) - Notched their 5th straight victory with a 77-59 decision over Long Beach State.
VCU (8-5) - The Rams are 4-0 since transfer guard Andrea Barbour established eligibility. Junior forward Courtney Hurt is one of the nation's breakout stars.
Previous weeks
Week 8
Week 7
Week 6
Week 5
Week 4
Week 3
Week 2
Week 1
Preseason
Collegeinsider.com mid-major poll
1. Xavier (12-2)
Last week: 1
Amber Harris had been slowed by a mild concussion, which helps explain why the Musketeers offered such feeble resistance at Stanford. But she was back to her old self Sunday with a 23-point, 11-rebound effort in a 63-59 victory over Dayton. Still, a four-point victory at home suggests there may be some intrigue to the Atlantic 10 title chase after all. On deck: Wednesday at St. Joseph's; Sunday at UMass.
2. Marist (13-2)
Last week: 2
Monday's 59-43 victory at Loyola (Md.) boosted the Red Foxes' winning streak to 9 and made them 4-0 in true road games. Marist has won its four MAAC games by an average of 21 points, which speaks to both the Red Foxes' quality and the fact that this looks like a down year for the rest of the conference. No wonder Marist is eager to re-schedule that game with Arizona State. On deck: Friday at Canisius; Sunday at Niagara.
3. Bowling Green (14-1)
Last week: 3
The Falcons' 14-game winning streak is the fourth-longest in the nation, behind West Virginia (16), Duke (15) and Miami (15). Bowling Green has also won 21 straight at Anderson Arena and are unbeaten in their last 37 regular-season home games. On deck: Wednesday vs. Akron; Saturday at Kent State.
4. Green Bay (15-1)
Last week: 4
Nice to see Green Bay back in the AP Top 25 poll (they're No. 23); we believe Marist, Bowling Green and Duquesne should be there as well. But the Phoenix will have to make do without starting guard Adrian Ritchie (10.6 ppg), who will be sidelined at least two weeks after injuring her knee during Saturday's victory over Wright State. On deck: Wednesday vs. Loyola; Saturday vs. Illinois-Chicago.
5. Duquesne (14-2)
Last week: 5
Solid 60-54 win over a good St. Bonaventure team - ask Marist how good - especially when you consider the Dukes trailed by 16 in the second half before roaring back. And Duquesne made its great escape without getting a lot from star freshman Wumi Agunbiade, who scored just 3 points in 12 minutes. On deck: Saturday at Dayton.
6. Florida Gulf Coast (12-0)
Last week: 6
Think these guys can go undefeated? Of the 18 games remaining on the Eagles' regular-season schedule, 15 are against teams with losing records, and one of the remaining three is against 7-7 Jacksonville. Of course, this doesn't mean FGCU should start printing 30-0 T-shirts yet. Let's just say we like their run-the-table chances a bit better than those of Duke or West Virginia. On deck: Saturday vs. Kennesaw State; Monday vs. Mercer.
7. Princeton (12-3)
Last week: 7
How many teams can lose their best player and keep on keepin' on? So far these Tigers have - Saturday's 56-45 victory over Penn - Princeton's 20th straight against Ivy League foes - made them 3-0 since star sophomore Niveen Rasheed went down with a knee injury. Among those taking up Rasheed's slack is Addie Micir, who earned conference player of the week honors after scoring her 1,000th point against LaSalle and dropping 20 on Penn. Because of Princeton's uniquely timed finals/semester break, the Tigers won't return to action until Jan. 28. On deck: Nothing 'til the 28th (at Brown).
8. Gonzaga (13-4)
Last week: 8
No surprise to see Courtney Vandersloot (17.2 ppg and a Division I-leading 9.4 apg) on the Wooden Award midseason Top 20 list. And if Saturday's 81-55 victory at a pretty good Portland team is any indication, the Zags are poised to run roughshod through the West Coast Conference. On deck: Thursday at Pepperdine.
9. Middle Tennessee State (12-4)
Last week: 9
Freshman Eboni Rowe isn't just scoring a lot (17.5), she's also doing it efficiently as her 59.3 FG percentage ranks 9th in Division I. MTSU is hardly just the Rowe Show, though, as four others scored in double figures and the Blue Raiders dished out 22 assists in Saturday's 84-62 win over Louisiana Monroe. On deck: Wednesday vs. Florida Atlantic; Saturday at Arkansas State.
10. Louisiana Tech (10-5)
Last week: 10
Honolulu is a long way from Ruston, so we're not shocked that the Lady Techsters got taken to overtime by Hawaii for the third time in six years. Tech coach Teresa Weatherspoon wasn't buying it, though. "I find it hard to find any good out of this game," she said. "I take nothing away from (Hawaii's) effort. I do find a lot of fault in ours across the board." Bet practice was fun the next day. On deck: Thursday at Fresno State.
11. Tulane (13-2)
Last week: 11
Senior forward Tiffany Aidoo, who earned MVP honors during the Tulane DoubleTree Classic in late December, continued her stellar play and is the reigning Conference USA Player of the Week after averaging 18.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 3.0 spg in leading the Green Wave to a 3-0 week. Aidoo set a school record with 9 3-pointers Sunday against UAB. "I think she's playing as well as she has ever played in her career right now," Tulane coach Lisa Stockton said. On deck: Wednesday vs. East Carolina; Saturday at Marshall.
12. Dayton (9-6)
Last week: 12
There are more moral victories in D-I hoops, but Flyers coach Jim Jabir believes his team made a statement with Sunday's 63-59 near-miss at then-No. 9 Xavier. "I think this is representative of how we play and how good we are," Jabir told the Dayton Daily News. On deck: Wednesday at St. Louis; Saturday vs. Duquesne.
13. TCU (10-6)
Last week: 13
Saturday's 68-60 decision over UNLV was the Horned Frogs' fourth straight since their heartbreaking 3-point loss to Georgia on Dec. 22. Helena Sverrisdottir became the school's all-time leader in assists against the Lady Rebels, just one of her highlights in a game in which she also had 24 points on 7-of-7 shooting and a career-high 7 steals. On deck: Wednesday at Wyoming; Saturday vs. Colorado State.
14. Old Dominion (9-5)
Last week: 14
The Lady Monarchs are coming off an impressive 71-55 dismantling of James Madison. Big props to junior forward Tia Lewis, a Colonial Athletic Association Co-Player of the Week who over her past six games has tied her career-high in scoring in one game (24 points), matched her career high in rebounding in another (17 boards) and posted four double-doubles. On deck: Thursday at Georgia State; Sunday at Delaware.
15. Richmond (10-5)
Last week: 17
Spiders star Brittani Shells moved into second place on Richmond's all-time scoring list during her 30-point assault on George Washington in a 68-55 victory. Shells, who now has 1,789 points, passed Katie Flavin, who scored 1,770 points from 2001-05. Number one on the list remains Karen Elsner, who racked up 2,367 points from 1981-85. On deck: Wednesday vs. UMass; Sunday at Rhode Island.
16. Charlotte (12-4)
Last week: 15
The 49ers came out on the short end in one of what figures to be several nip-and-tuck games among the 4-6 Atlantic-10 contenders, a 60-57 loss to Temple. This one had to hurt, too - the 49ers led by a point until Qwedia Wallace put the Owls ahead with 5 seconds left. On deck: Wednesday vs. Fordham; Saturday at St. Joseph's.17. Hampton (10-5)
Last week: 18
Freshman guard Nicole Hamilton has made a big impact for the depth-starved Lady Pirates, who until her arrival four games ago were essentially playing their starters until they dropped. The reigning MEAC Rookie of the Week, Hamilton celebrated her first start by scoring a game-high 17 points Monday night in Hampton's 68-37 pummeling of Morgan State. On deck: Saturday vs. Norfolk State; Monday vs. North Carolina A&T.
18. Houston (11-4)
Last week: 16
How important is Courtney Taylor to the Cougars? Well, Houston went 1-2 in the three games an injured Taylor sat out. Upon her return, she scored 16 points in the first half of a 30-point rout of Tulsa, then registered 18 points and 13 rebounds - her school-record 49th career double-double - as the Cougars outdueled SMU. On deck: Thursday vs. Southern Mississippi; Sunday at UTEP.
19. Central Michigan (10-4)
Last week: 21
The Chippewas may have surprised some non-conference teams with their high-octane style, but MAC opponents know better and will look to take some air out of the ball and slow CMU down. It worked - to a point - for Northern Illinois, which on Saturday held the Chippewas under 70 points for the first time this season. But CMU managed just enough firepower to pull out a 67-61 victory. The Chippewas are off to their best start in 20 years, since their 1990-91 team won 12 of its first 14 games. On deck: Wednesday at Eastern Michigan; Saturday at Ball State.20. Fresno State (11-5)
Last week: NR
Bulldogs' third straight straight victory, Monday's 84-67 decision at Idaho, was a wild one as it featured bang-bang technical fouls and the ejection of Fresno State coach Adrian Wiggins for arguing a call late in the first half and a school-record 18 3-pointers. On deck: Thursday vs. Louisiana Tech; Saturday vs. New Mexico State.
21. Drexel (10-4)
Last week: 23
Injuries have taken their toll on the Dragons, who have lost point guard Marisa Crane to an ACL tear and lost Tyler Hale last week to a concussion. It says a lot for Drexel's overall roster - and coach Denise Dillon - that the Dragons were still able to pull things together Sunday and outlast Delaware. On deck: Thursday at James Madison; Sunday at William and Mary.
22. St. Joseph's (11-4)
Last week: 24
Huge opportunity for the Hawks when they host Xavier in a Wednesday matinee. A good day from the 3-point line could help, and the Hawks have had a lot of those lately. After being a subpar shooting team from distance through their first 10 games, the Hawks have made 35 of 77 from long range over their last five games. On deck: Wednesday vs. Xavier; Saturday vs. Charlotte.23. Temple (9-6)
Last week: NR
Surviving last week's 60-57 war at Charlotte suggests the Owls have found their hard-nosed, defense-first style form just in time to be a factor in the Atlantic 10 race. On deck: Wednesday vs. Rhode Island; Saturday at Fordham.
24. James Madison (9-6)
Last week: 20
The Dukes sorely missed senior forward Lauren Jimenez in Sunday's 71-55 loss at Old Dominion. Jimenez, who ranks second to Dawn Evans in scoring (13.4 ppg) and leads all Dukes with 9.3 rpg, sat out after experiencing concussion-like symptoms the night before the game. The loss snapped JMU's four-game winning streak. On deck: Thursday vs. Drexel; Sunday at George Mason.
25. Memphis (13-3)
Sunday's 87-75 victory over East Carolina was the Tigers' 10th straight since a loss to Kansas on Nov. 27. On deck: Thursday vs. UTEP; Sunday at UAB.
Hey, what about us?
Nevada (12-3) - Even being in the midst of the best start in program history couldn't prevent the Wolf Pack from falling to Idaho for the third straight time, this one at home in a nationally televised (ESPNU) contest. The good news is the senior Tahnee Robinson returned to the lineup. Robinson missed two games due to the death of her grandfather.
Lamar (12-3) - Winners of seven straight including a 69-60 upset of Houston.
UC Davis (12-4) - Fell at Cal Poly 74-65; the Aggies' 2nd loss in 4 games.
Missouri State (12-4) - Split two games last week, losing at Northern Iowa and winning at Bradley.
St. Bonaventure (10-6) - Bonnies had Duquesne right where they wanted 'em, but....
Illinois State (10-4) - Dropped a 74-55 decision Saturday at Indiana State.
Arkansas Little-Rock (9-5) - The Trojans have won six straight since a loss to Memphis and have held four of those opponents under 50 points.
UNC Wilmington (10-4) - Picked to finish 8th in the CAA, the Seahawks continue to play like a title contender.
San Diego State (6-8) - A career-high 29-point night from sophomore Courtney Clements wasn't enough in an overtime loss to Utah.
UC Irvine (11-4) - Notched their 5th straight victory with a 77-59 decision over Long Beach State.
VCU (8-5) - The Rams are 4-0 since transfer guard Andrea Barbour established eligibility. Junior forward Courtney Hurt is one of the nation's breakout stars.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Radford survives thriller; Hampton wins
Monday's games:
Radford 68, High Point 63 OT:
Don't look now but the Highlanders are 3-0 in the Big South (and while we didn't say overtime, we predicted a 66-62 Radford win). What we didn't predict was Radford bolting to a 23-6 lead and High Point shooting 18 percent in the first half. Nor did we figure the Panthers would claw their way back, tying the score at the buzzer after an inbound pass with 0.6 seconds on the clock led to a tip-in. High Point (7-9, 1-2) led by five in the OT, but that rare thing called a five-point play lifted the Highlanders after Erica Rivera connected on a 3 and a foul was called off ball. That started a 10-0 run, and all that's left to say is way to go Highlanders (6-10)! Da'Naria Erwin-Spencer led everybody with 24 points.
Hampton 68, Morgan State 35:
HU had the necessary points at half to win this one. Freshman guard Nicole Hamilton continued to shine with 17 points, including 3 from long range. The Bears shot 29 percent, and the Pirates (10-5, 3-0 MEAC) dominated by 19 on the boards.
Florida A&M 81, Norfolk State 72:
NSU played good enough to win this one, shooting 42 percent from the field behind Sarah Daily's 23 points. Trouble is the Rattlers were just a tiny bit better, touting a 46 percent shooting percentage and 25 points from Tameka McKelton. A more aggressive Rattler defense and a few more shots at the foul line also added to the difference, but we figure the time is drawing nearer for the Spartans.
Radford 68, High Point 63 OT:
Don't look now but the Highlanders are 3-0 in the Big South (and while we didn't say overtime, we predicted a 66-62 Radford win). What we didn't predict was Radford bolting to a 23-6 lead and High Point shooting 18 percent in the first half. Nor did we figure the Panthers would claw their way back, tying the score at the buzzer after an inbound pass with 0.6 seconds on the clock led to a tip-in. High Point (7-9, 1-2) led by five in the OT, but that rare thing called a five-point play lifted the Highlanders after Erica Rivera connected on a 3 and a foul was called off ball. That started a 10-0 run, and all that's left to say is way to go Highlanders (6-10)! Da'Naria Erwin-Spencer led everybody with 24 points.
Hampton 68, Morgan State 35:
HU had the necessary points at half to win this one. Freshman guard Nicole Hamilton continued to shine with 17 points, including 3 from long range. The Bears shot 29 percent, and the Pirates (10-5, 3-0 MEAC) dominated by 19 on the boards.
Florida A&M 81, Norfolk State 72:
NSU played good enough to win this one, shooting 42 percent from the field behind Sarah Daily's 23 points. Trouble is the Rattlers were just a tiny bit better, touting a 46 percent shooting percentage and 25 points from Tameka McKelton. A more aggressive Rattler defense and a few more shots at the foul line also added to the difference, but we figure the time is drawing nearer for the Spartans.
NSU tries to break MEAC losing streak; Hampton, Radford also in action
Monday's games
Florida A&M (5-8, 1-1) at Norfolk State (6-5, 0-2), 6 p.m.
On March 1, 2005 at the Richmond Coliseum, the Spartans upended Florida A&M 52-47 in the MEAC Tournament semifinals. Turns out that was the last major achievement for NSU, which lost the tournament final the next day and has posted win totals of 8, 6, 5, 1 and 4 in the five full seasons since. And while this year's Spartans have clearly launched a turnaround, some significant milestones still need to be achieved. Chief among them - ending a MEAC losing streak that stretched to 21 with Saturday's 52-50 loss to Bethune-Cookman. The Spartans haven't beaten the Rattlers since that 2005 game, and to do that tonight an undersized NSU must find a way to keep the MEAC's top rebounding team off the boards. We're confident NSU's conference losing streak will end soon, but we're not convinced it'll happen tonight. Florida A&M 67, Norfolk State 61
Hampton (9-5, 2-0) at Morgan State (7-6, 2-0), 6 p.m.
The addition of freshman guard Nicole Hamilton, who was added to the roster four games ago, has been a boon to a team that had gone through the first several weeks with an extremely short rotation. Although she didn't start, Hamilton logged 37 minutes in Saturday's 75-56 win at Coppin State and scored a team-high 22 points. She's also been deadly from 3-point range, draining 10 of her 18 shots from distance over her last three games. Hampton also got offensive punch from freshman Chikilra Goodman, who scored 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting in by far her most productive stint of the season. The bedrock of Hampton's game is still defense, though, so it will be interesting to see if the Hamilton and Goodman can produce at that end of the floor, too. If they can, it's all good. Hampton 74, Morgan State 58
High Point (7-8, 1-1) at Radford (5-10, 2-0), 7 p.m.
Remarkable turnaround by the Highlanders, who followed up their best offensive performance of the season against UNC Asheville with a stingy defensive effort to upend Gardner-Webb. Even when they were struggling the Highlanders had always shown the ability to turn teams over; in their two Big South wins they've also been much more efficient offensively and gotten some nice contributions from their bench. High Point has a lot of firepower, particularly from 3-point range. And Highlanders fans don't want to get too giddy too soon, as Radford started out 3-1 in the conference last year before fading badly. But at least we can now see what the Highlanders are capable of. Let's see if they can keep it up. Radford 66, High Point 62
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Old Dominion routs James Madison; VCU keeps rolling
 | ||||||||
| Kquanise Byrd, ODU |
*Our hat's off to our Player of the Day, Kquanise Byrd, who shot 4-of-6 from the field and 7-of-8 from the line for a career-high 16 points. Just as significant, she chased Dawn Evans all day, keeping the nation's leading scorer from going off.
*Hurt instills more hurt on opponents, as VCU continues to shine in conference play with a 3-0 mark.
*ACC headaches for Virginia and Tech, both of whom fell today to foes from Florida.
Sunday's results:
Old Dominion 71, James Madison 55:
OK, we admitted we didn't see this, though we were tempted to go with ODU (forty wet noodle lashes for us). In addition to scoring a career-high 16 points, Lady Monarch senior Kquanise Byrd held Dawn Evans in check. Evans, who came in averaging an NCAA-best 25.8 ppg, was held to 17 on 6-of-26 shooting. JMU post Lauren Jimenez also did not play due to illness. The Lady Monarchs took advantage with a marvelous effort on the boards that included 12 from Tia Lewis, 11 from Jackie Cook, nine from Jasmine Parker and seven from Shadasia Green. JMU shot an abysmal 28 percent, as Evans' only real help came from Tarik Hislop (10 points). Jimenez or not, you have to be impressed by this Lady Monarch effort against the team that has been the most successful against them in the CAA.
VCU 64, George Mason 46:
While we could talk about Courtney Hurt again (17 points, 7 rebounds), let's give kudos to the VCU defense. "I think we probably played one of our best games defensively today, and maybe one of our best all-around games of the season," said VCU coach Beth Cunningham. The Rams (8-5, 3-0) committed just six turnovers and scored the final 16 points of the first half. The 46 points was a season-low for Ram opponents.
Northeastern 69, William and Mary 56:
Afreyea Tolbert posted a team-best and career-high 18 points while Jamie Conroy gathered a career-best 10 rebounds to power the Huskies, who limited the Tribe (1-12, 0-3) to 18 second-half points. W&M got 20 from Taysha Pye and 14 from Emily Correal, but the Huskies won this by shooting 46 percent and draining eight treys.
Cornell 69, Longwood 65:
So close for the Lancers, who impressed us with a heckuva rally on the road. Down by as many as eight in the second half, Longwood tied things at 65 with 40 seconds left. A putback from Alyson DiMagno restored the lead for the Big Red, though Krystal Garrison had a chance to tie it but turned the ball over. Cornell sealed it with free throws, spoiling an inspired effort by Longwood (3-11), led by Garrison's 20.
Florida State 71, Virginia 61:
A tough date on the road means the Cavaliers (10-7, 0-2) are still seeking their first ACC win. FSU (14-3, 2-0) limited the Cavs to a season-low 19 points in the first half, and Virginia only closed to within five in the second. One encouraging sign was China Crosby scoring a season-best eight points. Life in the ACC is never easy, but just what Virginia needs coming up next: a road game. Cavs play Georgia Tech on Thursday.
Miami 69, Virginia Tech 56:
Speaking of tough times in the ACC, the Hokies didn't have the firepower to contend with the Hurricanes. “We were able to hold them to 15 below their average, but we were struggling to find ways to put the ball in the basket," said Tech coach Beth Dunkenberger. "We’ve got to find more points out there. You’re not going to beat anyone in the ACC scoring 56 points.” Tech trailed by one with 16:08 left, but a 9-0 Miami run put this one out of reach.
JMU, ODU meet in CAA title game rematch; Va., Tech face foes from Sunshine State
Sunday's previews:
Longwood (3-10) at Cornell (2-11), 2 p.m.
Intriguing Big Red sked (that rhymes) features this sequence: South Dakota, Longwood, Columbia, Columbia. Hmm. Ithaca and Winston-Salem State are the lone teams Cornell has beaten in a season that has seen them average just 50.9 ppg. This same like a golden chance for the Lancers to pick up a win, though their 0-5 record on the road is a concern. Still Brittani Billups and Chelsea Coward lead a much more productive offense than Cornell's and should be able to change that number for the positive. Longwood 71, Cornell 56
Virginia (10-6, 0-1 ACC) at Florida State (13-3, 1-0), 2 p.m.
Our confidence in the Cavaliers wasn't lifted by their nine-point loss at home to Miami. Now it's on the road in the ACC against a Florida State team that beat up on Virginia Tech in Blackburg. That was Sue Semrau's 100th win in the ACC, and as much as we'd like 101 to wait, it's hard to beat against a Seminole team that has won four straight and holds a 7-1 mark at home. Florida State 81, Virginia 70
Miami (15-1, 1-0 ACC) at Virginia Tech (9-6, 0-1), 2 p.m.
Do we feel like naysayers or what? But how can we helped but be impressed by the same Miami team that surprised the Cavaliers in Charlottesville? The Hurricanes are the silent storm of the ACC, having won 14 straight behind Shenise Johnson, whose line included 30 points and 11 boards versus the Cavs. Miami has forced all but one opponent into at least 20 turnovers, and we fear that trend, along with the win streak, will continue at Tech's expense. Miami 80, Virginia Tech 65
James Madison (9-5, 2-0 CAA) at Old Dominion (8-5, 2-0), 3 p.m.
This one is a rematch of the CAA title game won by the Dukes, who also got the victory last season over ODU in the Constant Center (ODU won in Harrisonburg). The Lady Monarchs weren't exactly overwhelming in beating George Mason on Thursday, a game in which they trailed 14-3.They did get a huge boost from Tia Lewis, who must factor in today against the Dukes' post game led by Lauren Jimenez. But the biggest factor: Dawn Evans. ODU has the best 3-point defense in the conference and will need it if the senior sharpshooter gets hot. And when isn't Evans hot? She leads the nation in scoring (25.8 ppg) and has amassed 175 points in the last six games. Triple team Evans and take your chances with everybody else? Dangerous maybe, but so is Evans. James Madison 65, Old Dominion 61
George Mason (7-6, 1-1 CAA) at Virginia Commonwealth (7-5, 2-0), 2 p.m.
The Rams have owned this series since 2006, the last time the Patriots won. On one hand, the Patriots were able to come within four on the road against Old Dominion on Thursday. On the other, VCU has this kid named Courtney Hurt, coming off a 35-point effort over Wilmington. "We've got to do a good job trying to contain her," said GMU coach Jeri Porter. Our over-under on Hurt for this one is 25. VCU 78, George Mason 69
William and Mary (1-11, 0-2) at Northeastern (5-8, 0-2), 2 p.m.
This much we know. Taysha Pye will score her 1,000th career point today (she needs 1). We're also certain one of these teams will get its first CAA win of the season on Sunday. We'd like it to be W&M. We're unsure if Northeastern will having leading scorer Rachael Pecota, who has missed the last three games. If this one were in Williamsburg, we'd go with Tribe. Since it's in Boston .....Northeastern 67, William and Mary 61
Longwood (3-10) at Cornell (2-11), 2 p.m.
Intriguing Big Red sked (that rhymes) features this sequence: South Dakota, Longwood, Columbia, Columbia. Hmm. Ithaca and Winston-Salem State are the lone teams Cornell has beaten in a season that has seen them average just 50.9 ppg. This same like a golden chance for the Lancers to pick up a win, though their 0-5 record on the road is a concern. Still Brittani Billups and Chelsea Coward lead a much more productive offense than Cornell's and should be able to change that number for the positive. Longwood 71, Cornell 56
Virginia (10-6, 0-1 ACC) at Florida State (13-3, 1-0), 2 p.m.
Our confidence in the Cavaliers wasn't lifted by their nine-point loss at home to Miami. Now it's on the road in the ACC against a Florida State team that beat up on Virginia Tech in Blackburg. That was Sue Semrau's 100th win in the ACC, and as much as we'd like 101 to wait, it's hard to beat against a Seminole team that has won four straight and holds a 7-1 mark at home. Florida State 81, Virginia 70
Miami (15-1, 1-0 ACC) at Virginia Tech (9-6, 0-1), 2 p.m.
Do we feel like naysayers or what? But how can we helped but be impressed by the same Miami team that surprised the Cavaliers in Charlottesville? The Hurricanes are the silent storm of the ACC, having won 14 straight behind Shenise Johnson, whose line included 30 points and 11 boards versus the Cavs. Miami has forced all but one opponent into at least 20 turnovers, and we fear that trend, along with the win streak, will continue at Tech's expense. Miami 80, Virginia Tech 65
James Madison (9-5, 2-0 CAA) at Old Dominion (8-5, 2-0), 3 p.m.
This one is a rematch of the CAA title game won by the Dukes, who also got the victory last season over ODU in the Constant Center (ODU won in Harrisonburg). The Lady Monarchs weren't exactly overwhelming in beating George Mason on Thursday, a game in which they trailed 14-3.They did get a huge boost from Tia Lewis, who must factor in today against the Dukes' post game led by Lauren Jimenez. But the biggest factor: Dawn Evans. ODU has the best 3-point defense in the conference and will need it if the senior sharpshooter gets hot. And when isn't Evans hot? She leads the nation in scoring (25.8 ppg) and has amassed 175 points in the last six games. Triple team Evans and take your chances with everybody else? Dangerous maybe, but so is Evans. James Madison 65, Old Dominion 61
George Mason (7-6, 1-1 CAA) at Virginia Commonwealth (7-5, 2-0), 2 p.m.
The Rams have owned this series since 2006, the last time the Patriots won. On one hand, the Patriots were able to come within four on the road against Old Dominion on Thursday. On the other, VCU has this kid named Courtney Hurt, coming off a 35-point effort over Wilmington. "We've got to do a good job trying to contain her," said GMU coach Jeri Porter. Our over-under on Hurt for this one is 25. VCU 78, George Mason 69
William and Mary (1-11, 0-2) at Northeastern (5-8, 0-2), 2 p.m.
This much we know. Taysha Pye will score her 1,000th career point today (she needs 1). We're also certain one of these teams will get its first CAA win of the season on Sunday. We'd like it to be W&M. We're unsure if Northeastern will having leading scorer Rachael Pecota, who has missed the last three games. If this one were in Williamsburg, we'd go with Tribe. Since it's in Boston .....Northeastern 67, William and Mary 61
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Even at 70-75 percent, Evans still amazes
NCAA.com offers up another interesting story on JMU star Dawn Evans, the Division I scoring leader (25.8 ppg). Read how JMU coach Kenny Brooks talks about her and it's easy to imagine this year's Senior Night being perhaps the most emotional in the program's history.
We were particularly interested how, given her kidney disease, the Dukes manage Evans' practice schedule during a typical week:
“We played (Sunday), we had individual instruction (Monday),” said Brooks. “Dawn didn’t do any. We watched film then the kids lifted. [Dawn] won’t lift. Tomorrow, she and I will come in for individual workouts and I might let her get a couple reps with the team just so that everyone is still used to playing with her. Wednesday we’ll probably limit her again to just shooting, and have her play on Thursday. Friday we’ll limit her reps in practice, she probably won’t do anything, then a couple reps in practice on Saturday before we play on Sunday. That’s probably the way it’s going to be from here on out. Maintain her rhythm and conditioning. Other than that, we’re going to really sit her so she can really rest.”
We were particularly interested how, given her kidney disease, the Dukes manage Evans' practice schedule during a typical week:
“We played (Sunday), we had individual instruction (Monday),” said Brooks. “Dawn didn’t do any. We watched film then the kids lifted. [Dawn] won’t lift. Tomorrow, she and I will come in for individual workouts and I might let her get a couple reps with the team just so that everyone is still used to playing with her. Wednesday we’ll probably limit her again to just shooting, and have her play on Thursday. Friday we’ll limit her reps in practice, she probably won’t do anything, then a couple reps in practice on Saturday before we play on Sunday. That’s probably the way it’s going to be from here on out. Maintain her rhythm and conditioning. Other than that, we’re going to really sit her so she can really rest.”
Richmond, Hampton, Radford, Liberty come up big
Saturday's games:
Radford 57, Gardner-Webb 50:
We erred in our pick and our hat is off to the Highlanders (5-10, 2-0), who had the edge in shooting from the field and at the line and three fewer turnovers. Da'Naria Erwin Spencer set the tone with 17 points and 7 rebounds, and for the Bulldogs, ex-Lady Monarch Sierra Little got the start along with 15 points and seven assists. The Bulldogs were picked second in the Big South, but just like last year, Radford has a regular-season win over them.
Richmond 68, George Washington 55:
Let's see. Brittani Shells scores 30; Abby Oliver, 16. The pair of them combined for nine of the Spiders' 12 3-pointers to take this A-10 opener for both teams. Richmond (10-5, 1-0) wins sixth straight, while Colonials lose sixth straight. Shells moves into second on Richmond's all-time scoring list, surpassing Kate Flavin, who was in attendance.
Hampton 76, Coppin State 56:
Sometimes we worry about how much David Six rides his starters, but in this one, we give credit to the bench for Hampton's seventh victory in eight games. Freshman Nicole Hamilton scored a career-best 22, going 5-of-9 beyond the arc (in fact HU shot better from long distance, touting a 54 percent mark). Freshman Chikilra Goodman accounted for 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting. Give starter Quanneisha Perry some credit, too, for an 11-point, 11 rebound afternoon that made up, at least a little, for her seven turnovers. Pirates improve to 10-5, 3-0 in the MEAC.
Bethune-Cookman 52, Norfolk State 50:
Spartans (6-5, 0-2) had a chance in a game they trailed in by as many as 17 in the second half, but Sarah Daily's layup didn't fall in the waning seconds. NSU forced 17 turnovers in the second half alone, but the Wildcats shot 58 percent with Jasmine Elum scoring 22. Nice game from Rae Corbo (16 points, 5 steals, 4 assists). This one wasn't meant to be, but we believe NSU will pick up that first conference win soon.
Liberty 51, Presbyterian 40:
Offense wasn't exactly aplenty in this one obviously (Liberty shot just 32 percent), but here's something we love to say. The Flames are tied with Radford for first in the Big South, a boost for our state. Devon Brown led Liberty (7-7, 2-0) with 13, and the Flames held the Blue Hose to six field goals in the second half.
Radford 57, Gardner-Webb 50:
We erred in our pick and our hat is off to the Highlanders (5-10, 2-0), who had the edge in shooting from the field and at the line and three fewer turnovers. Da'Naria Erwin Spencer set the tone with 17 points and 7 rebounds, and for the Bulldogs, ex-Lady Monarch Sierra Little got the start along with 15 points and seven assists. The Bulldogs were picked second in the Big South, but just like last year, Radford has a regular-season win over them.
Richmond 68, George Washington 55:
Let's see. Brittani Shells scores 30; Abby Oliver, 16. The pair of them combined for nine of the Spiders' 12 3-pointers to take this A-10 opener for both teams. Richmond (10-5, 1-0) wins sixth straight, while Colonials lose sixth straight. Shells moves into second on Richmond's all-time scoring list, surpassing Kate Flavin, who was in attendance.
Hampton 76, Coppin State 56:
Sometimes we worry about how much David Six rides his starters, but in this one, we give credit to the bench for Hampton's seventh victory in eight games. Freshman Nicole Hamilton scored a career-best 22, going 5-of-9 beyond the arc (in fact HU shot better from long distance, touting a 54 percent mark). Freshman Chikilra Goodman accounted for 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting. Give starter Quanneisha Perry some credit, too, for an 11-point, 11 rebound afternoon that made up, at least a little, for her seven turnovers. Pirates improve to 10-5, 3-0 in the MEAC.
Bethune-Cookman 52, Norfolk State 50:
Spartans (6-5, 0-2) had a chance in a game they trailed in by as many as 17 in the second half, but Sarah Daily's layup didn't fall in the waning seconds. NSU forced 17 turnovers in the second half alone, but the Wildcats shot 58 percent with Jasmine Elum scoring 22. Nice game from Rae Corbo (16 points, 5 steals, 4 assists). This one wasn't meant to be, but we believe NSU will pick up that first conference win soon.
Liberty 51, Presbyterian 40:
Offense wasn't exactly aplenty in this one obviously (Liberty shot just 32 percent), but here's something we love to say. The Flames are tied with Radford for first in the Big South, a boost for our state. Devon Brown led Liberty (7-7, 2-0) with 13, and the Flames held the Blue Hose to six field goals in the second half.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Saturday special: HU, NSU, Richmond, Liberty, Radford in action
Saturday's games:
Richmond (9-5) at George Washington (5-9), 2 p.m.
We imagine the Spiders are anxious to get back on the floor after suffering the only loss to a state team (Virginia) last time out. The loss interrupted a string of five consecutive wins; the Colonials, meanwhile, have five consecutive losses. GWU has not beaten the Spiders since 2008. That trend isn't likely to reverse itself behind Brittani Shells (20.9 ppg) and Abby Oliver (13.1 ppg). We'd be remiss not to point out GWU is 5-1 at home and played Rutgers to within 10 in their last game. Still......Richmond 77, George Washington 55
Hampton (8-5, 1-0 MEAC) at Coppin State (2-9, 0-1), 2 p.m.
How about if we write see above on this one? Just like Richmond, Hampton had its win streak interrupted last time out by Wake Forest. The Pirates had won seven straight before falling 62-49. Coppin State, meanwhile, has dropped its last six, but the Lady Eagles own this series of late, having won 11 of 13. We don't expect it to be 12 of 14. Hampton 61, Coppin State 49
Gardner-Webb (9-5, 1-0 Big South) at Radford (4-10, 1-0), 3 p.m.
If there's something to be gained from momentum, the Highlanders have it, having won their Big South opener over UNC Ashville behind all kinds of season highs. Senior Kaylyn Crosier, who averages 5 ppg, dropped a career-best 20 in that one; Radford shot a season-best 53 percent and 12 Highlander turnovers was a season low. The Bulldogs were 8-0 on the road in conference play last season, though their one regular-season conference loss was to the Highlanders in double OT. We like their chances here for Gardner-Webb, which is getting a boost from former ODU forward Sierra Little. The junior, who had a double-double 13 points, 11 boards last time out, is averaging 10 points, 7 rebounds. Gardner-Webb 70, Radford 59
Bethune-Cookman (6-6, 0-1 MEAC) at Norfolk State (6-4, 0-1), 4 p.m.
The Wildcats have won three of their last four, but don't be too daunted. One victory was an 80-17 whipping of tiny Catholic Marygrove College, an NAIA school in Detroit. Bethune-Cookman didn't fare too well against Ohio State (86-38 loss) earlier this week, though we don't know of too many MEAC schools that would. Jasmine Elum, out for the first five games, had led the team in scoring five of the last six times. The series is tied at 11 between these two, but the Wildcats have won four straight. NSU can make a statement today because as good as their nonconference slate is, the Spartans need to start racking up some wins in their conference to gain some respect. We're not picking them, but we're rooting like crazy for them. Bethune-Cookman 66, Norfolk State 62
Liberty (6-7, 1-0 Big South) at Presbyterian (4-8, 1-0), 5 p.m.
The state of South Carolina is home sweet home for Liberty, which has dropped two of its 41 games there since the 1997-98 season. None has come to the Blue Hose, among our favorite nicknames in basketball, which boosts the top defense in the conference, holding opponents to 57.2 ppg. We suspect Liberty's size and trio of Jelena Antic, Avery Warley and Devon Brown will be too much for Presbyterian to handle. Liberty 63, Presbyterian 47
Richmond (9-5) at George Washington (5-9), 2 p.m.
We imagine the Spiders are anxious to get back on the floor after suffering the only loss to a state team (Virginia) last time out. The loss interrupted a string of five consecutive wins; the Colonials, meanwhile, have five consecutive losses. GWU has not beaten the Spiders since 2008. That trend isn't likely to reverse itself behind Brittani Shells (20.9 ppg) and Abby Oliver (13.1 ppg). We'd be remiss not to point out GWU is 5-1 at home and played Rutgers to within 10 in their last game. Still......Richmond 77, George Washington 55
Hampton (8-5, 1-0 MEAC) at Coppin State (2-9, 0-1), 2 p.m.
How about if we write see above on this one? Just like Richmond, Hampton had its win streak interrupted last time out by Wake Forest. The Pirates had won seven straight before falling 62-49. Coppin State, meanwhile, has dropped its last six, but the Lady Eagles own this series of late, having won 11 of 13. We don't expect it to be 12 of 14. Hampton 61, Coppin State 49
Gardner-Webb (9-5, 1-0 Big South) at Radford (4-10, 1-0), 3 p.m.
If there's something to be gained from momentum, the Highlanders have it, having won their Big South opener over UNC Ashville behind all kinds of season highs. Senior Kaylyn Crosier, who averages 5 ppg, dropped a career-best 20 in that one; Radford shot a season-best 53 percent and 12 Highlander turnovers was a season low. The Bulldogs were 8-0 on the road in conference play last season, though their one regular-season conference loss was to the Highlanders in double OT. We like their chances here for Gardner-Webb, which is getting a boost from former ODU forward Sierra Little. The junior, who had a double-double 13 points, 11 boards last time out, is averaging 10 points, 7 rebounds. Gardner-Webb 70, Radford 59
Bethune-Cookman (6-6, 0-1 MEAC) at Norfolk State (6-4, 0-1), 4 p.m.
The Wildcats have won three of their last four, but don't be too daunted. One victory was an 80-17 whipping of tiny Catholic Marygrove College, an NAIA school in Detroit. Bethune-Cookman didn't fare too well against Ohio State (86-38 loss) earlier this week, though we don't know of too many MEAC schools that would. Jasmine Elum, out for the first five games, had led the team in scoring five of the last six times. The series is tied at 11 between these two, but the Wildcats have won four straight. NSU can make a statement today because as good as their nonconference slate is, the Spartans need to start racking up some wins in their conference to gain some respect. We're not picking them, but we're rooting like crazy for them. Bethune-Cookman 66, Norfolk State 62
Liberty (6-7, 1-0 Big South) at Presbyterian (4-8, 1-0), 5 p.m.
The state of South Carolina is home sweet home for Liberty, which has dropped two of its 41 games there since the 1997-98 season. None has come to the Blue Hose, among our favorite nicknames in basketball, which boosts the top defense in the conference, holding opponents to 57.2 ppg. We suspect Liberty's size and trio of Jelena Antic, Avery Warley and Devon Brown will be too much for Presbyterian to handle. Liberty 63, Presbyterian 47
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