Page 6
The Banner
February 13,1997
Sports
Men snap losing streak
Kristin Scobie
staff Writer
After losing three games in a
row, the UNCA Bulldogs regained
first place in the Big South Con
ference and guaranteed a winning
season with a double-overtime vic
tory over Liberty.
The win occured in Lynchburg,
where Liberty wins 85 percent of
their games. Josh Pittman hit a
shot to send the game into the
first overtime, and guard Kevin
Martin hit a baseline jumper to
send the match into a second over
time period.
Coach Eddie Biedenbach ad
mitted that the team’s perfor
mance could have been better,
but was pleased with the victory.
“It’s hard to win at Liberty,”
said Biedenbach. “It was a team
attitude victory. We stuck to
gether and won a team game.”
Dirk Lommerse hit a shot with
11 seconds remaining in the sec
ond overtime to seal the victory
for the Bulldogs.
Earlier in the week, the Justice
Center was packed with 1,800
spectators Saturday afternoon for
partofUNCA’s homecoming cel
ebration. The Bulldogs hosted
Radford University for a Big
South Conference match-up. The
Bulldogs, however, came up short,
and were knocked out of first place
in the conference.
The Highlanders started off
strong in the first half, going 8-
of-12 from 3-point range and lead
ing the Bulldogs 42-31 at half-
time. The Bulldogs turned the
ball over eleven times in the first
half
UNCA’s Josh Pittman had a ca
reer high 34 points, but double
digits would not be enough. The
Bulldog’s Kevin Martin, Robert
Stevenson and Dirk Lommerse
went O-for-8 in the first 20 min
utes of play.
UNCA seemed to recover dur
ing half-time. In the first 5:17 of
the second half, Stevenson had a
16-4 run and the Bulldog’s finally
had the lead, 47-46.
An official time-out was called
with 14:32 left in the match and
Radford’s Corey Reed entered the
game. Reed, known for his 3-
pointers, hit four straight in two
minutes and three seconds. Reed
ended up with seven 3-pointers in
all, a career high for him, and 23
r
PHOTOS BY DEL DeLORM
Robert Stevenson (top) slams one home for the Bulldogs
against Radford. Below, members of Pi Lambda Phi show
their support for forward David Dehaan.
pomts.
Radford was l4-for-22 in 3-
point attempts and UNCA was 6-
for-l6.
The Bulldogs had lost three
straight after being on an eleven
game win streak.
Kevin Martin and Mike
Matthews had 12 points each for
the Bulldogs and Robert
Stevenson also had double-digits
with 13 points.
Balance key for Brewer
Kristin Scobie
Staff Writer
Balancing school, basketball, and
free time is often a difficult task,
but Amanda Brewer seems to be
doing a good job. Brewer, a jun
ior who plays for the Lady Bull
dogs, seems to have her daily
schedule on a routine.
“I get up in the morning, go to
class, go to practice and then go to
bed,” said Brewer. She does this
five days a week. Do not think
her weekends are open for rest,
because although she allows her
self to sleep late, she also goes to
the gym and works out on her
own.
Brewer is originally from
Marion, N.C. and is a graduate of
McDowell High School. She is
majoring in healthcare manage
ment with a minor in health pro
motions. Brewer came to UNCA
on a full scholarship to play bas
ketball. She comes from a family
who is very basketball oriented.
“My mom played for Western
Carolina a long time ago and my
sister went to Wingate to play
ball,” said Brewer. Brewer can re
member becoming interested in
basketball when she was about
eight years old.
“I always
played around
the house and
the first time I
really played
was in the
third grade. I
played on a
little league
team,” said
Brewer.
Brewer also
played volley
ball, softball,
and ran track
while at
McDowell
High. As for
her relation
ship with the
rest of the
Lady Bull
dogs, she says
it is great.
“My relationship with the rest
of the team is really good. We’re
all really close. We all hang out
together and we get along great,”
said Brewer. Brewer says her role
model is her sister.
“It’s just the way she is and the
way she handles things,"said
Brewer. “I grew up looking up to
her and following in her foot
steps.”
Brewer says her school work and
the basketball team are very im-
PHOTO COURTESY OF UNCA ATHLETICS
Amanda Brewer
portant to her, but there is some
thing else she makes sure not to
leave out.
“I’m a Christian and my dad is a
Baptist preacher, so I grew up
around the church,” said Brewer.
“That has always been very im
portant in my life.”
“During the season my week
ends are pretty strict. We’re trav
eling a lot and when we’re not on
the road I try to go and see my
family and go to church,” said
Brewer.
Tennis season begins
Robert Hardin
staff Writer
First-year coach Dan Silverstein
and the UNCA tennis teams are
ready to swing into action and be
gin the spring season. The men
began their season Sunday with a
visit from The Citadel. Unfortu
nately the visit ended in a 4-1 loss
for the Bulldogs. The only victory
came from senior Leo Leonardi.
However, Silverstein did see some
bright spots in the Bulldogs perfor
mance.
“Chris Starnes lost a tough match
and our top two doubles teams
played real well,” said Silverstein.
The only way for the team to im
prove and win some watches this
season will be with more practice,
said Silverstein.
Heading into the spring season,
Silverstein will be looking towards
a trio of seniors to provide leader
ship and consistency to the men’s
tennis team. Senior tri-captains
Leonardi, Ed Blee, and Starnes will
be the anchors of a Bulldog squad
that only has five scholarship play
ers.
“The team will depend upon these
guys for their leadership and their
consistency on the court,” said
Silverstein. The consistency of the
other players and the ability of the
team to stay healthy are also keys to
the team’s success this season.
The top seed on this year’s team
will be Leonardi. “Leo is a very
consistent player from the baseline
and he has a strong mental game,”
said Silverstein. Another key to
Leonardi’s success is that he does
not commit many unforced errors.
Leonardi v/ill team up with Starnes
to be the Bulldog’s number one
team in doubles play.
Blee will play in the number two
slot for the Bulldogs. Silverstein
said Blee has a very strong serve and
volley game. Blee will join CaseyO’
Shea, the team’s third seed, to form
the number two doubles team. O’
Shea transferred to UNCA from
Weber College and should have a
strong season.
“Casey has unseen potential due
to injuries that he has suffered, but
he has talent and will be relied upon
heavily,” said Silverstein. The team’s
fourth seed belongs to Starnes. The
senior from Florida is a consistent
player with a lot of power. Sopho
more Rob Flink will see playing
tim? at the fifth position and in
doubles with Kale Olson. Finish
ing out the rotation at the sixth seed
is junior walk-on Brad Rucker.
Silverstein expects UNCG,
Charleston Southern, and Coastal
Carolina to be the dominant teams
in the conference this season. Fin
ishing in the top half of the confer
ence would mean a successful sea
son for the team. “If we get consis
tent play from the bottom of the
lineup and the team stays healthy
we can compete with anyone,” said
Silverstein.
The UNCA women’s team begin
the spring season Feb. 22 against
East Carolina. Leading the way this
year for the Lady Bulldogs will be
Karine Bouis. “Karine is a strong
baseline player and has worked very
hard on her conditioning,” said
Silverstein, who also said that Bouis
is one of the best players in the Big
South Conference.
Sophomore Jennifer Smith will
play in the second position. A hard
worker on and off the court, her
game improved throughout the fall
Dogs drop to 0-3
with weekend loss
By Robert Hardin
staff Writer
The UNCA Bulldogs played
their third game of the season on
Feb. 9 in Spartanburg, South
Carolina, against the Wofford
Terriers. •
The starting pitcher for the Bull
dogs was Nate Gardner. Coming
on Feb. 2,Gardner pitched well
for the Bulldogs in his second
start of the season. The Bulldogs
had a no-hitter against Wofford
going into the fifth inning.
Heading into the eighth inning
the Bulldogs were down 1-0,
The Bulldogs were up to bat in
the top of the eighth and pro
duced a run on an RBI double by
senior Chad Faircloth. Going into
the bottom of the ninth UNCA
and Wofford were tied at one
apiece. However, Wofford ex
ploded for five runs and took a 6-
1 lead. That would prove to be
the final score for the game.
Sophomore Shon Norris picked
up the loss for the Bulldogs who
drop to 0-3 for the season. The
Feb. 1 as well but the game was
canceled.
The Bulldogs will travel to Ath
ens, Georgia to play the Univer
sity of Georgia Bulldogs and then
will return home for a weekend
series against Wagner College on
Feb. 15 and 16.
Dan Silverstein
and spring, said Silverstein. Junior
Laura Malanik will compete as the
third seed. “She could be a real
threat at number three if she stays
healthy,” said Silverstein.
Hard working Hy Gray is the
fourth seeded player for the Lady
Bulldogs. An intelligent baseline
player, Gray should also be a threat
from her position. Rounding out
the lineup are Heather Manley as
the fifth seed and Janey Phelps at
the sixth position. Nikki Besin could
also see some playing time during
the season for the Lady Bulldogs.
Top seed Bouis will team up with
the fifth seeded Manley to form the
Lady Bulldogs top doubles team.
Manley’s all-around game and
Bouis strong play from the baseline
should provide Coach Silverstein
with a formidable doubles team.
Playing on the second seeded
doubles team are Malanikand Gray.
The talent level on the Lady Bull
dog tennis is solid from top to bot
tom, said Silverstein. “If we stay
healthy and play to our potential
we will be able to compete for one
of the top four spots in the confer
ence,” said Silverstein.
BIG SOUTH
MEN’ STANDINGS
TEAM CONFERENCE
OVERALL
UNCA
8-3
14-9
Liberty
7-3
17-8
Charleston So.
6-4
13-9
Radford
6-4
12-lC
Coast, Carolina
5-5
10-12
UNCG
5-5
,9-16
Winthrop
UMBC
3-7
1-10
10-12
2-19
The UNCA Bulldogs
ill face UMBC In the
Justice Center on
Saturday, Feb. 15 at 4
p.m.
The UNCA
Track team will
be competing
on Friday, Feb.
14 at the UNCA
High School
Invitational.
Come out and
support Coach
Stan Ro^nthal
and our team in
the competiton.
Just because something is old doesn’t
mean it isn’t valuable.
Now that retirement is almost here. I’m grateful that I
started planning early — with U.S. Savings Bonds
through a Payroll SavJhgs Plan.
Ask your employer or banker about saving with
U.S. Savings Bonds. For all the right reasons.
Take
Stock
inAmerica
JCSAVINGSf.i^,
laBONDS
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