Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / Nov. 12, 1998, edition 1 / Page 20
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Page 20 November 12,1998 m ik 2 D W' Women's basketball: 'They're gettin' after it' in 1998-99 Troy Adams The Pendulum Nikki Herron brings the ball up the court. She passes to Loretta Lawson, who dumps it down low to Tashina DeVeaux. Deveaux hits Jodie Hallet coming off a screen, who kicks the ball back out to Herron. Herron puts up a three- pointer for the game...it’s good!! Elon wins the Big South Confer ence Championship and earns a trip to the “Big Dance,” the NCAA tournament! While this scenario is still at least one year away from becom ing a reality, the Elon women’s basketball team is looking to put put an exclamation mark on their final season in transition to Divi sion L The Fightin’ Christians schedule will consist of all Divi sion I schools this season, includ ing a full Big South schedule. The season will open up with tough non-conference opponents before meeting Big South teams. “It’s a very tough schedule early,” head coach Brenda Paul said. “It’s by far the toughest schedule that an Elon team has ever had. “We’ll see what we’re made of to get ready for the Big South. We want to be tested.” The Fightin’ Christians will be tested, alright. They will meet Davidson College; picked to win the Southern Conference this year, UNC- Greensboro; winner of the Southern Conference last year, Campbell Uni versity; a top-three team every year it was in the Big South, and teams such as East Carolina, Marshall and possi bly Cincinnati in its tournament. With the loss of four letterwinners, including two-time Division II All-American Lakia Hayes, Elon will be young and small. “We’re going to be one of the smallest teams inside,” Paul said. The Fightin’ Christians, while young, are not inexperienced. And they make up for their lack of size elsewhere. “I think that we are a physi cally strong ballclub,” Paul said. “Our strength is that we are a very versatile team. Our players can play all positions on the floor. “Although we’re young, we’ve got some players who have played a lot of games.” Elon returns four starters, three of whom were freshman last year, in guards Lawson (sopho more), and Herron (sophomore), center DeVeaux (sophomore) and forward Hallet (senior). Other key returners are for ward/center Stephanie Tullet, (sophomore), forwards Shellie Johnson (junior) and Amy Hill (junior), and guards Kim Johnson (senior), Mary Parker Coleman (senior) and Jami White (junior). Coleman has been out the last two seasons due to knee in jury. Hill and White both redshirted in 1997-98. “Those are some players to watch,” Paul said, referring to Hill and White. “(Coleman) is our three- point specialist. Look for her — she has the green light,” Paul said. The Fightin’ Christians bring in three talented newcomers — Ebony Green, Mariam McLeod and Janis Hepburn. Green (Guard, Pink Hill, N.C.), a four-time all conference honoree, led her high school to a 29-0 mark and State 2A title. She averaged 18.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg and 4.0 assists per game. McLeod (Forward, Gastonia, N.C.), Gaston County 3A Player of the Year, led her school to a 25-2 record and confer ence championship. She averaged 2L4 ppg and 14 rpg. Hepburn (Center, Fayetteville, N.C.), an all-confer ence player, averaged 10 ppg and 10 rpg, while leading here school to their first-ever conference title. “I look for all three of them to get some playing time because we’re playing an up-tempo style,” Paul said. Regulating the tempo will be Elon’s guards. Herron was the sec ond-leading scorer on the team last year, averaging 10 ppg. Lawson is a three-point threat and Johnson a de fensive specialist and “hard-nosed player,” according to Paul. “No doubt our guard play is very strong,” she said. The Fightin’ Christians have suffered some preseason injuries but are battling in practice, Paul said. “They’re playing harder, more intense in practice,” she said. “They’re gettin’ after it. Their work ethic has been very impressive. “That’s the good news. The bad news is that when you push it up and are more aggressive, you have more pains here and there.” With their first five games on the road, the women will face a tough start to the season but remain confi dent. “I don ’ t think there’s a team on our schedule that, on a given night, we can’t beat,” Paul said. ^ Men's b-ball off to an undefeated start TroyAdams The Pendulum What exactly does Vasda stand for? Elon’ s performance Monday night against USA-VASDA brought various definitions to mind. How about, Victory through an Assault of Steals, Dunks and Abuse. The victory, a 111-91 win that gave Elon its second win in two exhibition games, came over a very good USA-VASDA team. “They’re good players and they’ve got a good coach,” head coach Mark Simons said. The USA-VASDA team con sists of former college players who have all played at some profes sional level. Some have played in the IB A, CBA and Europe. The assault came on both the offensive and defensive end. On offense, six players scored in double figures. Brendon Rowell led the way with 24 points. Andrew Toole added 18, Mike Thomas 17, Den nis Gaskins 16, George Dennis 12 and Clint Walker 11. Walker added 10 rebounds for a double-double and had seven steals as well. The offense shot 67 percent from the floor, 83 percent from three- point-land and 78 percent from the line. “Wecouldn’tstopthem,”USA- Vasda head coach Rick Huckaby said. “I really liked their defense.” On , defense, Elon made 18 steals and forced 25 USA-VASDA turnovers. “We get a lot from our de fense,” Simons said. Elon’s defense was relentless all game. They held USA-VASDA to 42 percent from the field and 33 per cent from three-point territory. Dunks? A George Dennis breakaway with 1:45 remaining shook the backboard, frenzied the crowd and put an exclamation mark on the win. As for abuse, Elon dealt it out all game. Two USA-VASDA players received technicals and four fouled out. “It was a good win,” Gaskins said. “It set the tone for the season.” The season really begins for Elon Sports Hall of Fame to Induct Five Saturday The ceremony will take place Saturday^ Nov. 14th at 9:30 a,m. in the Model Fine Arts Center. Thepublic is invited. This year’s inductees are: Dwayne Clark, ^89 (posthuniously) - Second leading ^rusher in school history. NAIA All-American and SAC-8 “Player of the Year,” Led country in rushing in ‘86, Brian Banson, ‘87 - 1987-BB conference “Player or Year” in basketball. First Elon GTE Academic AIl-Ameri- lean, Jonas Davis» ^87 - Seventh all-time in career rushing at Elon. All-Conference player. Ricky Sigmon, ‘86 - Led the country in rushing in ‘86 & received All-Conference and All-American honors. Gary Damell, *75 - Lettered four years in football & track. Named to All-Carolinas Conference in ‘73. Jenny Jarnecke/ The Pendulum Andrew Toole brings the ball up court in a 111>91 win over USA-Vasda. the Fightin’ Christians Nov. 14th when they travel to VMI. “We got a little bit more work to do, but after that it’ll be O.K.,” Gaskins said. This Week in Elon Athletics... Come and Support Your Fightin’ Chistians! Football Season-finale @ Home Nov. 14 vs. Samford'® 2:00 Volleyball final home games Nov. 18 vs. High Point @ 7:00 - Senior Night Nov. 20 vs. Radford @ 7:00 Nov. 21 vs. Liberty @ 10:00
Elon University Student Newspaper
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Nov. 12, 1998, edition 1
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