5C o»o SPORTS/®Iie Cfiarlottc $o«t Thursday, March 8, 2007 Rjn THE Week of Feb. 27 • March 5,2007 HOOPS HEAVEN NCCU Sports PhotQ ROBINSON; Charlote native gets her first CIM He In homeiovffi. Leads NC Central to South Atlanfic Re^ortd. NEW CHAMPS CROWNED IN CIAA; BENEDICT, ALBANY STATE TAKE StAC TOURNEY FINALS RECAPS CIAA (Women) NC CENTRAL B9, ELIZABETH CITY STATE 72 Top-seeded North Carolina Central (25-3) ran out to a 49- B 21 halftime lead and barely let the lead dip below 20 in knocking off second-seeded Elisabeth City State to claim its secmd- ever CIAA Toumaaient dlle in its last year in the conference. The Lady Eagles traced four starters in doiible-rigures led by 25 from Toumamenl MVP Cassie King and ■ 23 from Laquanda Wlllianu. NCCU freshman point guard Jasmine Newkliir CASSIE KING added IT pdiUs and game-highs of seven assists and sis steals. The Lady Ea^es shot 55.6% in the first half when they all but put the game away, forcing 13 tumovem while limiting the Vikings (21-9) to 27% shooting. NCCU brntl the huge wOTklng margin in die first half as ECSU's CIAA Player of the Year, center Celeste IVahan, lan guished on the bench with two fouls. Trahan finished with 28 pdnts, 24 in the second half.'to lead three Lady Vikings in dou ble figures. NCCU. which won its other title in 1984, ended Shaw's four-year stranglehold ott the title and gave head coach Joli Robinson her Hist Tournament chmpionship. CIAA (Men) ELIZABETH CITY STATE 63, VIRGINIA UNION 60 Seventh-seeded Elizabeth City State (16-15) completed a four-day run to its first CIAA Tournament title in 26 years as they ' Ihc glass in dethrraiing three- j[HRk ' time defending champion and top-seed .^K hII ‘ Virginia Union (21-5). The Vikings were ! led by. their two all-CIAA players, forward ' Anthony Hilliard who totalled 21 points • and 14 rebounds arid center Cj> Pigford I who had 33 points and 14 boards. Back-up ’ center Jabyron Wilson added six points and another 12 rebounds helping ECSU to HILLIARD ^ decided 53-33 edge on the glass. Hilliard was named the Touroameni's MVP, That rebounding edge enabled the Vikings to make up a 34-31 half time deficit and avenge two close losses to the Panthers during the regular season. VUU had won the last three CIAA Tournament titles. The win was also the first for ECSU ccach Shawn Walker over VUU and 29-year veteran coach Dave Robbins who was seeking his fourth straight and 14th overall Tournament title. The Panthers got 19 pdnts from Chris Greene and i5 points and 12 rebounds from Brad Byerson. 8IAC (Women) BENEDICT 75, FORT VALLEY STATE 50 Second-seeded Benedkl (19-9) shot a blistering 63,6% (14 of 22) in the second half to pull away from a 32-29 tiainime lead and subdue top-seed Eort Valley State (21-9) and earn head coach Felecla Jenkins her second SIAC women's title since the school joined the conference in 2003, Tbumament MVP. senior Natasha Gray, turned in a game-high 27 points and 11 rebounds for the TlgereUcs, whose five starters ail scored in double figures. Valarle McQueen added 14 points, while Christy Yusuf had 12 points and nine rebotmds and Aja iVotter had 10 points and 11 boards. The Lady Wildcats were led by lyacle Glawson and Deborah Jones who finished with 16 and 14 points, respective ly. SIAC (Men) ALBANY STATE 54, FORT VALLEY STATE 60 Fifth-seed Albany State won four games in five days, knocking off second-seeded Fort Valley Stale toHvin the seventh Tournament title in school history and the first under interim head coach Chris Cameron. The Golden Rams (15-16). who led 34-33 at the half, battled the Wildcats (18-12) thru II ties and 14 lead changes and held on in the low-scoring second half for the victory, Senior guard Frank Pinson, who named Tournament MVP led the way with a 15-point, five rebound perfwmance. Fellow senior Travon McGruder chipped in eight points and seven rebounds and sophomore guard Sean Glenn added anoth er eight points, The Wildcats were led by Milton Meadows who finished with 13 points and five assists. Chauncey Hall added nine points and nine rebounds, WVIAC (Men) W, VIRGINIA STATE 80, ALDER80N-BROADUS 79 WVIAC Player of the Year ltd Scott's two foul shots with 16 seconds remaining lifted third-seed West Virginia State (25- 6) to a dramatic win over top-seed Alderson-Broaddus (24-5) and gave the Yellow Jackets their second straight WVIAC men's Tournament title. Tournament MVPlbny Cornett hud 24 points, 15 rebouitds, and eight assisU while Scott poured in a game-high 29 points to lead WVSU, who had lost twice to A-B during the regular.season.The tight contest saw 13 lead changes and 10 ties. Scott played only U minutes of the first half after he picked up three fouls but the Jackets still led 4342 at the break. 2007 CIAA AND SIAC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT RESULTS CIAA TOURNAMENT SIAC TOVIOIAIIENT WOMEN MEN W08EN MEN Or^MNGROUhC OPEMNG ROUND OPQWaG ROUND 'OPEMNG ROUND Vtgirta State S7. Virgirw Unton 43 Efe. Cly SL 71, LiwUplurte 54 LaMoynwOwan 85. Oartt Manta 90 Atavy State 87. Ctartr AMtei 43 SL PaTs 98, Umgstote SB Boane State S2, Shaw 85 SMnan 7S. Lane 71 Kanlu^ State 191. TuMagaa as J. C. Sm» 58, SL A«us*ne%45 N.C. CenM 73, Si PauTs 74 Paine 63. Kertool? State 99 Lana 80. LaMoymOww 87 Mtaa 75,. Moitehouaa 73 QUATHRFINN^ QUATERFNN^ QUARTERFINALS Bmte Stab 76. Fayettetee Stab 88 BIZ. O^ State 57. VkgWa SHa 56 Fort VWtey Stale 79. Steman « QUMKTERFMMLS Be. 0173177, a PaU% 61 81. AuguaitM 81. FayeInMa SL 80 AtbanyStateStMtaaM Maany State 84. SWmar S N.C. Central 75. ViigiiB Slate 41 Bowie State 88, J. C Smte 62 Beradka 99, LeMoynaOian 53 Ssnaijct 84. Lteia 98 J.C.Stnlh56,8tB»47 lAgina Utlton 79, N.C. CarM 88 AteanyStataSl.TuakageeAa Fm Vtetey State 72. Mite* 99 Ktenteiciky Staite 88. I^airts 82 SEMKnhM^ SEMFVtftS SEMTOIALS H C. Central 78. Bowte State 85 Wrghia Union as. 8L AuguairWi S3 Fort Mtey State 87 Pane 48 SEMFMALS Be.C%StateS5.J.C.8mMia2 Bto State 59, Bowie Slate 54 BarvecBd 59. Atoany State 93 AtaanyStateTS. 9ana«ct4B Fart Yatay State 89. Nartacilqr StataTO FWAL FINAL FINAL N. C. (Antral 89, Be. State 72 Slz.a^SMb83.MLUrfan80 Benadid 75. Fort Vtetay State 56 FMAL A4w>y State 54. Fort VWay State 50 aLTOUHNWMEKT Aa TOURNAMENT ALLTGURNAAENT riodvela Bodte, Briany Sumpter. JCSU: Antanio Rzgenid, SAC: Gfate Qreerw. Brad Nabtava Gray. Chrtaqr YVauf. BC: ALL-TOURNAMENT Markaya Wateon, BSU; Monique Maein, V8U: ^rataon, VUU; CJ. Plgicad. Ardha^ HManL Atarany PMi,A#U: ttaaeha Rigei. Frank Ptnaerv Tnaaoiv MoGruitar. A0U: Deanna Price, Cateate Trahter. ECSU; Jterrine Jat^ion VMtoon, ECSU Tynma Betae, d Oetaortai Jonai, FVSU Omraef Itatl. Mttan Maadowa. FVSU; Nmtwk. Jot Nwadutmu, LaOuanda Wlona. Gootakh. Jotoua Johnian. BSU; Jaaon Amaa. KSU CaaateKng.NOCU Harvey, NCCU MVP HataaM Gray. BarwM WVP MOSTVMIlAa£PlArB4 CaetaeNnaNCCenM MOSTVftUi«l£ PIATBL Muny HlMd. Bteabefh Cly SIMb Frank Plnsan, AJbny state SWAC, MEAC tourneys underway LUT WILLIAMS BCSP Editor The MM-Eastera Athletic Conference bas- ketball tournaments tipped (rff Tuesday in Raidgh. while the Southwestern Athletic Crmfmsce got its tounuunenls underway Wednesday as both con- fererues start the final process of selecting thdr particip^ts to the NCAA Big Dance, the Div. I Championship Tournament. Delaware State (t6-2,19*11), with four start ing seniors led by two-time flayer of the year Jahsba Bluntt. is the MEAC men's top seed after winning its third strai^t regular season titie. The Hornets will try to avoid an upset in the tourna ment for the second year in a row. L^t season, Hamptou knocked off in the championship game and earned the confer ence's autornmic NCAA Tournament bid. By win ning the regular seasem title last year, DSU earned an automatic Ud to the NIT, where they played and won a first round game before losir^ to Louisville in the second round. DelState has earned the NIT bid again but is hoping to for a return to the NCAA. Head coach Greg Jackson, with his seniors then sophmnores, led the Hornets to their first MEAC Tournament title and NCAA bid in 2005. They played ACC champon Duke tough in the first round before los ing 5746. Cqppin Slate (18-0, 23-6), who completed its second straight undefeated regular season and has woo 47 straight MEAC contests, is the women's top seed and is looking for its third con secutive toummuerit,title and-lrip to the NCAA WEDl^SOAY, March 7 Quatlerfinals 92 Prairie View vs. #7 Southern -12 n #1 Jackson St va.MMns.'^a^ St '5:30 pm THURSDAY. March 8 #3AlabamaA&M vs #6 GramMng SI-12n #4Ar1(.4V)eBtufr vs #6 Alabama %-S.-30 pm FRIDAY, M^ 9 Semifinals -12 n, 2:30 pm SATURDAY. March 10 Cimmpionship Game - 3 p.m. MEN WEDNESDAY, 7 if2 Jackson St vs. #7 Southern - 2:30 pm #1 Miss. ValtoyStVB. #SAtob3ma8t.'8(»n THURSDAY.MarchS n Grambkno St. n. #6 Ahe-Pine Btuff - 2:30 pm #4 Alcom 81 y*. Texas Soulhem - 8 pm FRIDAY. March 2 Semifinsris - 5:30 pm. 8 pm SATURDAY, March 3 Champion^ Game - 5 pm Tournament. Head coach Derek Browi's squad is led by conference Piayn' of the Year, Rashida Suber and fellow all-conference peunt guard Shalamar Oakley. Mississippi Valley State (13-5,16-14) is the men's top seed in the SWAC Tournament Head u^h James Green's Delta Devils won their Last four and eight ^ tiieir last ten conference games to overtake Jacksoo State (12-6. 18-13) for the top spm. Stanford Speech (12.3 ppg.) is MVSU's top scoter. On the women's »de. Jackson State (20-9) and upstart Prairie View (16^13) tied for the top TUESDAY. ktaPCh 6 Opening Round #10NodcliStaisS8. 47UMES54 •8 Howard 77.10 SC State 74 W Fionla AAM w »11 B4:^wlunan - 4 prn WfiMESDAY, Match 7 Quarterfinate f1 Ceppin St va. Howard - 12n 12 Dteatram St ve. #11 ftntoi. ft.-2-JO pm TKURSOAY.Marchf #3 NC AST vs. FAMU/&4X: wiiwar -12 fl #4 Morgan ft we. 85 Hampton - 2JO pm nHDAT.MaFChS Semifinale - 12n. 2:30 pm SATURDAY. March 10 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - 3 pm TIH»DAY, Maroh 6 Opantog Rourto #10 Howard vs #7 Han^itor - 8:30 pm #8 Coppin ft vs X9 Sethune^Jookman - 9 pm I^MESDAY, March 7 m Noitotk St vs. #11 UMES - 6 pm (3uartBtfH^ #1 Delaware St vs. CSU/B-CU witvner - 8 pm #2 Florida ASM vs. MUHU winner -10 pm THUItiH3AY March 8 NC AST vs. NSUAJMES wimar 8 pm #4 SC Stats n. #5 Morgan State - 8 pm FRIDAY. March 9 Semifinals - 8 pm. 8 pm SATURDAY. March 3 Championship Game - 0 pm J. spot with identical 14-4 conference marks, l^kse 'DsykM-'s JSU squad earned (he top seed iw;{uise it swept CyntUa Coopers Fantbenmes in their two head-to-head meetings. BCSP Notes Eight HBCUs to play on In NCAA Division II basketball tournament Eight black college teams, five from the men's side aod three ladies' teams, were selected Sunday to participate in the 64-team NCAA Div. II Basketball Championship Tournament. Men's and women's CIAA and S!AC Toumamenl champions received automatic bids to the while the CIAA had one additional women's and men's team receive at-large bids. SIAC regular sea.son men's champion Benedict also received an at-large bid. West Virginia State (25-6), which won the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament title also received an automatic bid. Men's CIAA Tournament champion Elizabeth City State (16-15) is seeded eighth in the South Atlantic Regimt Tournament and will meet host and top Augusta State (23-6), Sat. (March 10) at 6 p.m in Augusta, Ga. CIAA regular seasim champ and tournament runner-up Virginia Union (21-5) is seeded second and opens play earlier Saturday at 2;30 p.m, against seventh-seeded Lander (20-10). CIAA women's Tournament champion North Carolina Central (25- 5) is seeded second in the women's South Atlantic Regional and will play seventh-seed Newberry (24-6), the South Atlantic Conference champion. Friday (March 9) at 3 p.m. at Clayton Stale in Morrow, Oa. CIAA Tournament rutmer-up Elizabeth City State (21-9) is seeded fourth in the region and faces No. 5 Columbus State (20-10) at 8 p.m. SIAC mens' Tournament champion Albany State (15-16) enters the South Regional as an eighth seed and will face top seed and host Montevailo in Montevallo, Al. at 6 p.m. CST. Benedict (254) is seeded third in the Region and will take on sixth-seed Eckerd (25-5) at 12 noon. SIAC women'5.-champion Benedict (19-9) plays in the women's South Regional as an eighth-seed and will face top seed and host Florida Gulf Coast (29-0) on their home court in Fort Myers. Fla. at 7 p.m. West Virginia Stale Ls seeded fifth in the East Regional in Wilson. N.C. and will i^n play against fourth-seed Alderson-Broaddus (24-5). its oppiment in the WVIAC fin^ game. Satiuday (March 10) lU 6 p.m. MEAC announces all-conference teams Delaware State guard Jah^ Blnntt repealed as player of the yev and Coppin State guard Rashida Suber won women's (^ayer of the year as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced its top players and award winners fOT the 2007 basketball season Mcmday. TWo other of Bluntt's teamrames, point guard Darrin Shine ruid forward Roy Bright, were named to the all- conference teams while Delaware State bead coach Greg Jacluoa won men'.s coach of the year. Moi^an State head man Donald Beasley took home the women's coach of the year award. ^ FfceWood wa, the league, j , ^ defensive player of the year vrhile Slate head coed, Orup JacMon (r.) Hampton forward Mike Fiweiniin took homo Bp player and cdacti d( was named the top nxAie. ttw year awards at MondaY* On the women's side, Howard MEAC Banquft guard Shannon Carlisle was named the fop defender while North Carolina A&T guard Ta'Wuana Cook was named the best rookie. (SEE DETAILS BELOW). FINAL STANDINGS AND SEEDING 2006-07 FOR MEAC AND SWAC BASKETBALL MEAC, MEN CONF AU W C W L 1) D«lawar« State te 2 19 ti 2) F1ortdaA&M 12 B 18 13 3) NCA&T8tate 10 8 14 18 4) 8C State 10 8 13 18 8) Morgan Slate 10 8 12 17 8) Nortolk Slate 10 8 10 18 7) Hampton 10 8 14 IS 8) Coppin State 9 0 11 19 9) Belfiune-Cookman 8 12 9 20 10) Howard 0 13 9 21 11) UMES 1 17 4 28 PUYCRBOr THETtAR JAHiHA BLUNTT, H Ir., 0. DM, Lm Angali, CA • Awiged a )Hffl-be«t 1S.S polnli, 4.8 rabounda and ihel a laagM-baal 88% irnt) the FT line ler the regte ettaon cfiaiv Hemte. DEFENSIVE AARON AEITWOOD, 14, If, C, DSU, RlWBh, NC • Amgid 81 ppg . 30 ipD and led the MEAC m btoeka (18P9.). ROOKIE MKE niEEUAN, H, ft.. R HAMRTON, h Selvalt, VA • Avenged 14.4 polnti and 8.4 rebound! and vru Ihe NCAAMder In leld goal perranlage (67.8) eattug an alteie freirrwt ncord COACH ORES JACKSON, DSU • Lad be Homte to Mr tbrd Might leg- liar eeaeon title a 182 conierence mark. MoEwtEm «£iic CoNREitaace WOMAN COM> ALL Nona>AU CONFERENCE w W L TEAMS 1} Coppin State 18 23 8 MEN 2} Delewara State 12 17 12 Jehaha Blunlt Sr. G, Dataware SL 3}NCA&T 12 17 12 Tywaki McKee, Jr., 0, Cepptn St. 4) Morgan State 11 16 12 Rome Sanden, Sc, C.FteridaAAM 9} Htanpton 11 19 12 StevenRuah, Jr.,6.NCAAT 6) Florida A&M 10 14 18 Raahad Weal Jr., 0, Hampkan 7) UMES 11 11 19 SECOND TEAM 8) Howard 11 21 Roy Srighl Jr.F, Oatewara State 9) BC State 13 21 Ronald TVnia. Sr.. F, Morgan State 10) Norfolk State 14 23 Dartin Sbirva, Sr., G. Dataware State 11) BaIhurwCookman 16 9 24 tbny Murpfiy. Jr.. Q. Norfolk State Jaaon WIta, Jr., F:NC AST nAYEMOFTHlYtAR UIMDA KHUfl H >11.0. CSV, Rateiing, M - Avenged 19.1 WOMEN ppg., laeend biM In ina laagw. and 3i 3a |W sad*. kW ti tia Raihida Suber, Jr., 0, Coppki 8L MEAC and lannd in Ifie nOkn tor me 1M rMtar laaian ohaitoa. Sttelamer Oekfay, So., 0, Coppei SL DEFENSIVE AntearBand, So.. G.NCAAT tKiUWON CANUSLI, 14, Jr., 0, HOWAM, tedtawgeta, M - Shannon Cariiata, Jr.. 0. Howard Lad tie MEAC in tteta 7 pg.) KfSa leering 19.6 peirti pw gone. Raqual Coltarjr.. Q. Dataware SL ROOlOE SECOND TEAM TA'WUANA COOK, H Ft, a, NC AtT, Payitlivlte, NC • Lad Kaimm Pakner, F. DelState MEAC affi 42 italtt par gone tad lad looNe lOEian a 145 Rachel BvOar. Jr., 6. Hampten pointe par game. Whiteay Johnaon. Sr.. G, Morgan SL COACH liltaw Tfeytor-Jafnen, 8e, Of. NC AST DONALD ISAILIY, MSU • Fktettod 104 in MEAC afSe dOUttog ovarM ita total and rawdkig M Mrtng Htaen tinea 19982000 IB-Wusna Cook. Fr, 0. NC AST SWAC Anunc Ocanmcc IIJedreonSNIa U 4 » • QPlweVceAlM U 4 IS 13 «AM!tniiUM qAtoemSHi qAlPtoeM l)Mbna9Wc TiomrOngSHa S)8oJ«m Mtetoierai 13 $ 17 12 11 7 15 13 10 S N 19 9 9 12 17 7 !1 11 18 S 13 9 21 4 14 7 » 3 15 S 22 SWAC An*fc Con lim t|MtoiVMto)(% 2)jK*!M>llte ^^anbingSMa 4) Alogm9iM8 5) taa9nte!ni QAAniaBUt 7)9afain l)AMm9Mi FiMVInAIM AWmAIN 13 9 18 H 12 I R 13 N i 12 13 10 • 11 18 9 9 13 18 I 9 11 18 9 9 10 3D I 10 10 19 I 12 s a 4 14 10 »