A fresh new voice!

3/1/2010

Last Week's Games

Thursday, February 25

@ CBU 64, SAU 61 (OT)
#7 ATU 67, @ UAM 55
#9 DSU 79, @ HU 65
OBU 79, @ HSU 77
@ UNA 101, UAH 47

Saturday, February 27

@ UNA 87, Lambuth 61
@ #7 ATU 81, CBU 59
@ #9 DSU 100, HSU 69
@ VSU 57, UWG 40
UAM 70, @ SAU 55
UWA 87, UAH 65

TOURNAMENT CAPSULES

QUARTERFINALS - THURSDAY, MARCH 4GAME 1 - Christian Brothers (15-11 overall, 6-8 GSC West) vs. Valdosta State (18-7 overall, 10-0 GSC East), 12:30 p.m.

     Valdosta State in the East Division champion and No.1 seed from the division. Christian Brothers finished tied for fourth in the West Division and earned spot via tiebreaker.
     The Lady Blazers are the hottest team in the GSC, winners of 14 consecutive games entering the tournament. after being picked in the preseason to win the East, Valdosta State did not disappoint and also, for the first time in school history, went undefeated in GSC play. The Lady Bucs have been up-and-down all season, with two winning streaks of at least four games and a losing streak that lasted five games. They lost six of their last 10 but handed West No. 1 seed Arkansas Tech its first loss of the season - win that ultimately earned them a spot in the Tournament.
     For the eighth consecutive time, and 18th time overall, Valdosta State has earned a spot in the GSC Tournament. This is the fifth time since the GSC went to Divisional play that VSU has won the East Division. This trip marks only the third time that Christian Brothers has made the tournament, adding to its appearances in 2004 and 2008.

KEY PLAYERS - Christian Brothers senior guard Tameka Wooten is in the top-10 in the GSC in scoring (15.8), made 3-pointers (56), assists (3.6) and minutes played (36.31). Jasmine Ellis (10.1 points) leads the league in rebounds (9.7) and is second in blocked shots (2.17), both among the top-30 in the nation. Sheena Dubose is second on the team in scoring (12.2) and among the top-10 in the league in rebounds (7.0) and blocked shots (1.12) while Normanique Johnson is second in the GSC in assists (5.1) and fourth in steals (2.35). Valdosta State is paced by senior guard Leschelle Matthews, who is in the top-5 in the conference in steals (2.68, 2nd), assists (3.88, 5th) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.62, 3rd); senior guard Michelle Thompson (team-leading 11.5 points per game), who is among the GSC leaders in 3-point shooting (53-of-141, .371 pct.) and senior forward Sierra Nixon (third in rebounds, 8.5, and fourth in blocked shots, 1.6).

GAME 2 - West Florida (14-13 overall, 4-6 GSC East) vs. Arkansas Tech (25-2 overall, 12-2 GSC West), 2:45 p.m.

     Arkansas Tech is the No. 7 team in Division II, co-champions of the GSC West Division and, after winning the tiebreaker, No. 1 seed from the division. West Florida is the No. 4 seed from the East Division.
     The Golden Suns have been hot for most of the 2009-10 campaign, opening the season with 18 consecutive victories and winning eight of its last 10. After being chosen to finish fourth in the preseason poll, Arkansas Tech hopes to advance to the semifinals for the third time in four seasons. West Florida never had a winning streak longer than four games this season but also never dropped more than three straight. Still, the Argonauts enter the tournament with seven losses in their last 10 contests.
     This game marks the first time West Florida and Arkansas Tech have matched up in the GSC tournament since 1999, when the Golden Suns took a 53-51 decision in the semifinals. The Argos are making their 10th overall appearance but first since 2007. They have not advanced past the quarterfinals since 2006 and have made only one finals appearance, a loss to Arkansas Tech in 1998. the Golden Suns are also in the GSC Tournament for the 10th time (fourth straight, looking to win their third title, first since 2003.

KEY PLAYERS - West Florida senior guard Amy Drake is top-10 in the nation in free throw percentage (88.3), while also among the top-10 in the GSC in scoring (16.4, 6th), assists (4.8, 3rd), steals (1.96, 9th) and 3-point field goal percentage (.410, 3rd). Arkansas Tech is led by junior guard Jenny Vining, who is third in the GSC in scoring (18.7), first in made 3-pointers, (103), second in 3-point field goal percentage (.420), and seventh in assists (3.81) and steals (2.15). Sophomore forward Natalia Santos is ninth in scoring, fourth in rebounds, third in field goal percentage and eighth in blocked shots. Freshman Jessica Weatherford (11.3 points, 5.8 rebounds) is also a big contributor.

GAME 3 - Harding (16-11 overall, 8-6 GSC West) vs. North Alabama (17-13 overall, 8-2 GSC East), 5:30 p.m.

     The battle between North Alabama, No. 2 seed from the East Division, and Harding, No. 3 seed from the West Division, will pit two teams who finished strong down the stretch in conference play. Both the Lions and the Lady Bisons won five of their last six. North Alabama's lone loss came at Harding, 61-53, on Feb. 22.
     Harding started 1-5 in conference play but finished with a torrid 7-1 finish. The lone loss was a one-point thriller at Arkansas Tech on Feb. 13. Against the bottom four teams in the East Division, North Alabama went 8-0. it's only two losses in GSC play came at the hands of Valdosta State, which went undefeated in league action to claim the division title.
     North Alabama is looking to end a significant GSC title drought, having won its only league title in 1985. This is the Lions 13th overall appearance, and fourth consecutive, in the GSC Tournament. But UNA has not won a tournament game since 2003 and dropped six of its last seven. Harding is making only its fourth straight appearance in the tourney but has never made it into the semifinals. This is the first tournament matchup between the two squads.

KEY PLAYERS - Harding junior guard Bailey St. Clair is among the top-15 in the nation in steals per game (3.1) and is ninth in the conference in scoring (13.9). Senior forward Stacey Owens is 10th in the GSC in scoring (13.7) while sophomore guard Sierra Rollins (9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds) is 10th is field goal percentage (.505) and sixth in steals (2.2). North Alabama junior forward Niala Harris is the only player on the team to average double figures in scoring (12.2). She also is among the top-10 in the GSC in field goal percentage (.523, 5th), free throw percentage(.793, 5th), and rebounds (6.3, 10th).

GAME 4 - West Alabama (9-18 overall, 5-5 GSC East) vs. Delta State (23-2 overall, 12-2 GSC West), 7:30 p.m.

     West Alabama is the only team to get into the GSC Tournament with a sub-.500 overall record but won five of its final seven conference games to claim the No. 3 seed in the GSC East. Delta State is the No. 9 team in the country and co-champion of the GSC West but are the No. 2 seed from the division after losing a tiebreaking coin flip.
     After a couple of stumbles in late January, the Lady Statesmen were a perfect 7-0 in February to gain a share of the Division title. All of the victories were by at least 10 points, four of them by at least 28 points. West Alabama had a stretch of 16 losses in 17 games but got in a groove in late January. Still, the Tigers margin of victory was only two points per game down the stretch.
     Delta State has been the crown jewel of the GSC Tournament, winning the last four and 16 overall. The Lady Statesmen have lost only seven times in 22 appearances. West Alabama is making its 16th trip to the tourney - fifth straight - but has only won one game (2006 Opening Round) since its 30-point loss to Delta State in the 1987 championship game.

KEY PLAYERS - West Alabama junior forward Latashia Greer did not start playing until mid-December but still leads the team in scoring (17.6), rebounds (7.7) and blocked shots (18 total). Delta State is led by national assist leader, junior guard Bug Cooper (8.6), who set the GSC record for most assist in a career this season. Sophomore forward Veronica Walker leads the country in field goal percentage (.669), is second in the league and among the top-15 in scoring (20.7), while also among the national leaders in rebounds (9.6) and blocked shots (2.64).

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

EAST DIVISION

North Alabama guard Sanqueeta Meardith
(Jr., 5-5, Shannon, Miss.)

     Meardith was nearly perfect shooting the basketball as North Alabama closed out its regular season with a pair of impressive wins. Her performance earned her Player of the Week honors for the first time this season.

     The junior guard came off the bench to average 17.5 points, 2.5 assists and two rebounds in wins over Alabama-Huntsville and Lambuth. She only missed three shots from the field in 15 attempts and one from the free throw line in nine tries. After dropping 15 points in 15 minutes against UAH, she followed with 20 points in 24 minutes against Lambuth.

WEST DIVISION

Ouachita Baptist guard A'Laeshia Adams
(So., 5-8, Little Rock, Ark.)

     The Lady Tigers' run to the GSC Tournament came up a bit short, but Adams' prolific scoring kept Ouachita Baptist in the hunt until the end and earned her Player of the Week honors.

   The sophomore guard pumped in a career-high 32 points on the road at Henderson State to help OBU to a 79-77 win. Her point total was the most by a Lady Tiger since the 2003-04 season. She followed that effort with 24 points, three rebounds and three steals in a 10-point loss to Harding. For the week, she averaged 28 points, three rebounds and three steals.