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Show 'BIRD SPORTS Penguins end season for SU By CHAD LAMB JOURNAL SPORTS EDITOR Playing against the team with the best record in the Mid-Con, the SU women's basketball team struggled to get its offense going, falling 83-73 to the Youngstown State Lady Penguins in Mid-Con conference tournament action Monday. l t was the third time this season that SU had lost by a margin of 10 points to YSU. Even with a better shooting percentage from tbe field, the Lady 'Birds were unable to make up an early first half deficit falling behind by 23 at one point. The defense played well for SU, holding the Lady Penguins to 39 percent shooting for the gam e, however, YSU got off 14 more shots than the 'Birds, and drilled nine three-pointers in the game as the ' Birds hit just th ree. "We hung in there pretty good,'' said Head Coach Joe Hillock. Youngstown State started the game with a strong offensive push, jumping ahead by 11 points at one point in the first half due to several turnovers by SU. The Penguins used three 3-pointers and a 15-6 run to discourage the ' Birds. Turnovers continued to plague the 'Birds into the second half, helping the Penguins increase their lead by as many as 23 · points. "In the past we've really did good not turning over the ball," Hillock said. "The turnovers threw off our offense. Despite a late 13-2 run by the ladies to cut the lead down to nine, SU was unable to make up the difference in the end as YSU used its free throws to jump ahead by 13 with less than two minutes to play. The 'Birds outrebounded the Penguins 44-28, but 26 turnovers cost the ladies on offense which helped to give YSU an insurmountable lead. Myndee Larsen finished with another strong performance scoring 27 points to lead all scorers. The ladies also received help from Sunny Myers with 16 points and Jessica Littlefield added 12. Larsen set another NCAA record in Monday's tournament gam e as she scored her 249th field'goal to become the all-time Division I field goal shooter, with an average of 72.4 pe.r cent for her career (249-344). Earlier this year she set a record for the most consecutive fi.eld goals without a miss as she hit 27 in a row over a span of three games. Larsen also set an SU single-season record for scoring with 618 points this year. Her 33 points on Saturday is the second-highest scoring game in Mid-Con tournament history. A scary m oment occurred for Myers in Monday's game, as she was apparently elbowed in the nose which caused profuse bleeding. She reentered tlie game however and played 19 o.f 20 minutes in the second half. She was sent to the hospital following the game for treatment. SU finished the season with an overall record of 16-12 and a league record of 9-9 which includes the two games played at the tournament. The 'Birds record improved from last season when the ladies went 9-16. One major difference was the fact that the ladies played just three games at home last year, while this season they played 13. Another important factor was the ability to win on the road where the ladies went 8-8. Next year most of the team will be back for another shot at the Mid-Con title, but the team loses Larsen and Mandi Shaheen to graduation. "We lose two great players," Hillock said. "We really need to step it up this spring and summer so we'll be ready." :.! z g .-i.: i: .., a i Q.'----'--= Mandi Sbabeen (13) played i n her final game as a Thunderbird Monday in an 83-73 loss to Youngstown State. Tennis ends California trip Open weekend for softb-all Carolina Ferrandez and Robyn Daynes Coach Lenny Lee said that he believes played a tough match to pick up the his team is improving in each match. only win over Lindsey Breeman and They are looking forward to returning to Ethyl Castro of the University of San Mid-Con play, where the team has Francisco in already won twice this season. Lee doubles action last weekend. also says that the The ladies, who teams in the Midare making a swing Con are more on through California the same level as suffered their' filth SU, where the loss of the season as teams they are competing against a team whh San Francisco winning in California are 8-1 in women's more experienced. tennis action on ''We need to Feb. 27. continue working SU was short two hard to improve players on the trip and correct some of and was forced to our weaknesses, default both a said Lee. "We can't singles and a let losses against doubles match in much more all of their matches. experienced teams On Saturday, the get us down. The ladies also ladies entered the meet with the same had a tough match disadvantage losing against San Jose 9-0 against Santa Carolina Ferrandez State, losing 7-0. - -- - - - - -- - - - - -- - " (The l adies) mu st Clara University. Santa Clara did not realize that in give up a single set, but Ferrandez played order to improve, you have to play at a tw o strong sets against Kristy higher level, Lee added. The ladies have Yamamoto in losing 6-3 and 7-5. Head four weeks off before playing the 11 11 The SU softball team ended another tough weekend picking up just one win at the Troy Cox Invitational in Las Cruces, New Mex., last weekend. The ladies split on the first on Friday, stopping Wichita State 1-0 before falling to Purdue 6-2. In Saturday's action, the ladies battled hard but ended up on the wrong side of three decisions Saturday against N ew Mexico 112-8), Loyola-Ch icago {S-2) and Purdue (8-7). " We were able to hang in there with New Mexico and really played quite well against both Loyola and 11 Purdue, said Head Coach Joy Peterson. · SU's softball games with LoyolaMarymount and University of San Diego, scheduled for Friday and Saturday have been canceled. Subsequent to Southern Utah's entry into the three-team tournament, host USO invited NAIA Point Loma and NCAA Division II Western N ew Mexico to participate. SU is barred by Mid-Continent Conference rule from competing against teams below the NCAA Division I level, necessitating the 'Birds' withdrawal from the tournament. Clyde newcomer of year SU _forward Kenyatta Clyde was selected second-team All-MidContinent Conference and the league's Co-Newcomer of the Year by the Mid-Con coaches announced last week. Clyde is ranked seventh in the league in scoring (14.4 ppg) and eighth in rebounding (5.8 rpg) . However, in Mid-Con games only, Clyde averaged 16.9 points and 6. 7 boards per outing. He also led the league in blocked shots. Clyde shares the newcomer award with former · Weber State guard Jermaine Hicks of Chicago State. Valparaiso's ~ryce Drew was named Mid-Con Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Youngstown State's Dan Peters, who led the Penguins to a nine-win turnaround this year, was tabbed as the Mid-Con Coach of the Year. Clyde, who is a junior form Las Vegas, N ev., came to SU as a transfer from Dixie College where he averaged 13.6 points and 7.7 boards a game. Clyde made an immediate impact in the 'Bird offense leading the team in scoring in just his first season as a Thunderbird. |