Newspapers / Methodist University Student Newspaper / Feb. 15, 1999, edition 1 / Page 12
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12 Monday, February 15, 1999 Pride Monarchs Back On Track By Steve Vinci Sports Editor Carl Oliinger led the Monarchs with 16 points and clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch by the entire team as Methodist ended its four-game losing streak at home against Ferrum College on February 6. The 75-72 victory improved the Monarchs record to 5-3 and Second Place behind CNU in the DIAC Conference. In the first half, the Monarchs broke an early 5-5 tie with back-to-back three-point ers by Johnny Wilson and Adam McGuire. They held that lead for the entire half thanks mainly to pressure defense and sloppy play by Ferrum. Ferrum actually shot better than the Monarchs at 52% for the half, but the Monarch “D” forced 13 turnovers com pared to Methodist having just eight turn sm * Clayton Stewart scores for the Monarchs. overs. Methodist had nine steals in the half. Eight of the eleven Monarchs scored in the half with Montrell McNair leading the way with nine points. The halftime score was 36-30 in favor of Methodist. The second half was back and forth with the two teams combining for 12 lead changes and seven ties. The Monarchs came out slow in the half. Methodist scored the opening basket to take an eight-point lead. Ferrum then erased that deficit by holding Methodist to just six points in the next eight minutes. In that time. Coach McEvoy saw McNair and Clayton Stewart pick up their third fouls. With 12:18 remaining, Ferrum took their first lead of the game on two free- throws by Rodney Ponzo to make the score 45-44. Ponzo had a game-high 21 points. Kodi Justice then an swered for the Monarchs. Justice completed a three-point play and then after a Ferrum free-throw. Justice hit a jumper to put the Monarchs up three with just under twelve minutes remaining. The teams then went on to trade baskets for about six minutes with no team having more than a three-point lead. With the Monarchs down three with six min utes to play, they picked up the defensive pres sure. McGuire hit a jumper and then Stewart got a steal and fed Oliinger for two of his team-high sixteen points. Ferrum hit two more free- throws to stay up one, but then McNair drove to the basket for two of his 14 points. Ferrum then Kodi Justice with the ball as Coach McEvoy looks on. turned the ball over which led to two Oliinger free-throws and a Justice lay-up. Methodist had a one-point lead with 2;34 remaining when McGuire hit a three- pointer to go up four. Michael Hunter then hit two free-throws for Ferrum which were answered by Ollinger’s free-throws. With the Monarchs up two with just thirty seconds remaining, Shane Pierren got a rebound but was undercut and crashed to the floor. Ponzo picked up the loose ball with a chance to tie but was forced into a travel by a tight Monarch “D.” With the Monarchs up four, Ponzo hit a three with six seconds to play to cut it back to one. McNair was then fouled and he hit both free-throws to end the game with a 75-72 hard-fought win for the Monarchs. “We tried not to think about our losing streak,” said McEvoy. “Today we got our confidence back.” The Monarchs have been the smaller team against every team they have played this year. Pierren continues to play excep tionally well against much bigger players. Oliinger stepped up for the Monarchs against a much bigger Curtis Lipscomb. Oliinger helped in holding Lipscomb to just ten points which is below his average. “All I have to do is front my man,” said Oliinger, “the help-side defense takes care of the rest.” Oliinger says he enjoys the tough physi cal play of the low post. He was knocked down many times but continued to get up and make the big play. Oliinger was 9 of 11 from the free-throw line'with most of those down the stretch. “When we play balanced we are tough to beat,” said McEvoy. “During out losing streak we were getting big games by some players, but today our balance returned and we made our free-throws down the stretch. We didn’t shoot well today but we still won.” The Monarchs shot 47% from the field but held Ferrum to just 46% and 22 turn overs. Mullin Named New Men's Tennis Coach By Steve Vinci Sports Editor Methodist has selected Christina Mullin as its head men’s tennis coach for the 1999 spring season. She inherits three of the Jvlonarch’s top six players, including All- American Nick Saltmarsh, from last season’s 11-6 DIAC runner-up squad. For the past year, Mullin has been teaching private lessons, specializing in college-level tennis preparation, at the Fort Bragg Tennis Center. Last fall, she was also a volunteer girls’ tennis coach at E. E. Smith High School. The 1981 California State University at Fresno graduate and four-year scholar ship tennis player earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology. She then gained ten years of technical and person nel management experience as a captain in the U.S. Air Force, from 1981-1991. Mullin continiTed playing tennis while in the armed forces and went on to play in USTA-sanctioned and satellite tourna ments for three years (1992-95). In the state of Washington, from 1995-98, she served the Lakewood Racquet Club as its director of junior tennis while working at Steilacoom High School as its head boys’ and girls’ varsity tennis coach. Methodist has also selected December 1998 graduate Jeremy Plumley as its as sistant tennis coach. He will assist both head women’s coach Dan Arnold and Mullin. Plumley earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Methodist in Business Admin istration with a concentration in Profes sional Tennis Management. The four-year letterman was a member of two DIAC title teams and made up half of the 1995 con ference champion unit at number two doubles.
Methodist University Student Newspaper
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Feb. 15, 1999, edition 1
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