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Show BASKETBALL Cagers move to 6-9 BY MARK JONES SPORTS EDITOR The SUU women’s basketball team will be in action tonight at the Centrum Arena in a key Mid-Con game against the Valparaiso Lady Crusaders. The 'Birds, coming off a 69-54 win over Western Illinois on Saturday night, will continue their homestand tonight in a game that figures to be just as good on the court as it does on paper. The Crusaders (11-4, 2-0) come into tonight’s game having won seven straight and 11 of their last 13 games after starting the season 0-2, which included a seven-point loss to Notre Dame, the defending women'’s national champion. Valpo leads the series over SUU at 5-3. However, the 'Bird have won the last three games between the two schools, which included SUU winning both games a season ago. The season sweep of the Lady Crusaders last year was a first for SUU. The other SUU win came during the 1998-99 season in a open the second half, but the deficit too much for WIU to overcome. The key to the SUU victory was the the Thunderbirds’ guards. Lindsey Hille and Megan Woolston 37 of the "Birds’ 69 points. Hille had high 19 points on 5-of-11 shooting. Woolston added 18 points on 5-0f-8 shooting. Woolston scored her in a losing effort. On the season, the 'Birds are getting contribution from the entire team. Hille has a season high of 27 points, which came against Marshall University Nov. 22 For the season, second team all Mid-Con. Amber Schober, Suzie Hammel, and Hille is averaging 12.7 points a game. Sally Johnson is the leader in assists with 71. She has a season average of 4.7 Marlous Nieuwveen are also key members to the Lady Crusader team. On the season, Schoeber is averaging 12.6 points a game, Hammel averages 11.6 points a game and Nieuw veen is SSists per game., Z She had a st high of 11 assists =against Albertson ollege on Dec. 2 Sally Johnson leads the Thunderbird attack Saturday night in 69-54 win over Western Illinois. The 'Birds improve to 2-1 in conference play and can move into a tie for first in the conference with a victory over Valparaiso tonight. percent from the field for the season and 33 percent from behind the, three;, [ay point line. Valpo also has the ability to get to the freethrow line. In a 72-66 win over Chicago State on Jan. 5 the Crusaders hit an amazing 42-0f-47 free throws. However, on the season they are hitting just 64 percent of their free-throws. Despite the victory last Monday at IUPUI, SUU coach Joe Hillock says this is a key stretch of the season. “The most important thing is we are at home and we have to take care of business at home,” he said. “It was good to get a win last week, but home games are important to us as we fight in this league.” The Lady 'Birds took Hillock’s words to heart as they displayed a dominating performance on Saturday night in the Centrum Arena against Western Illinois. The 'Birds (69, 2-1) put the game out of reach early with a 31-9 run to open before settling for a 35-15 halftime The Westerwinds tried to rally in second half by scoring the first six SUU 1,200 career point in 14 points off the bench. Becky Tyo scored 10 points Valpo has four players scoring in double-digits, led by Jeanette Gray, who has a average of 14.3 and is a member of the are shooting 43 scored a game The Westerfinds (87, 0-2) were led by Jessica Cook, who had a career high Centrum Arena. The Crusaders play of the game on Saturday night moving her into 16th place on the Mid-Con career scoring list. She is third on the all-time SUU scoring list with 1,210 points, Caroline Heaton had another solid outing for the Thunderbirds as she scored nine points and pulled down 16 rebounds. For the game, SUU shot 40 percent from the field, while holding the Westerwinds to 35 percent shooting, well below their 46 percent average for the season. 69-68 victory at the scoring 11.1 points a game. was the game lead. the points to Johnson is also he leader in steals on the season. She is averaging one steal a game and had a season-high in steals with six also against Albertson College on Dec. 22, Heaton, the team leader in rebounds, has 139 on the season, which includs a 19- rebound game at Eastern Washington on Dec. 8. As a team the ’Birds are shooting 38 percent on the season and 33.6 percent from behind the three-point line. They have made 345-0f-:909 shots on the season and have hit 103-0f:307 three-point shots on the season. The 'Birds, with a victory tonight, will improve to 3-1 in Mid-Con play and move into a tie for first place in the conference. Tonight's game will tip off at 7:05 p.m. in the Centrum Arena. After tonight's game the "Birds will host Chicago State on Saturday at 5:15 p.m.to conclude its three-game homestand. The 'Birds are now in the heart of MidCon play as they will be at UMKC on Jan. 26 and at Oral Roberts on Jan. 28 before returning home to play IUPUI on Feb 2. and Oakland on Feb. 4. ‘Birds defeat Valpo BY JASON ERICKSON ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Southern Utah University evened its MidContinent Conference record at 2-2 on the season after defeating Valparaiso 78-62 on Thursday night and defeating Western Illinois 68-63 Saturday night in the Centrum Arena. SUU’s Dan Beus led the way for the ’Birds with a double-double. He scored a team high 13 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. Brian Gardner added 12 points to lead the Thunderbirds to the victory over the Westerwinds. Jay Collins was welcomed back into the Thunderbird lineup after missing the Valpo game because of an injury, by scoring four points in limited minutes. tough shots. intensity we throughout The 'Birds I was really proud of the maintained defensively the game.” held Valpo leading scorer Tony Falu to just two points, he had been averaging 13.5 points a game. Valparaiso, which has four players averaging in double-figure scoring, had just two players in double figures in the game on Thursday night, with Lubos Barton leading the Crusaders with 17 points. The 'Birds went on a 12-2 run midway through the first half and didn’t look back, increasing their second half. The Crusaders the second half game, but Valpo As for the game, the Western All-Stars beat the UTCO team 33-30 in double overtime. The West All-Stars rallied from a two- season The 2002 season gets under way this week for the SUU’s gymnastics team with the Intrasquad meet on Thursday night in the Centrum Arena. The Lady 'Birds are loaded with talent this year as they will be led by Harmony The team also tied the school records on the bars, floor, beam and accumulated 18 marks which rank among the school’s top10 in the all-around and the four individual event categories. , school’s record books, which included performances of last season the team missed its goal of Greene, Rachel Thomas, and Erica Burk. Last season the 'Birds rewrote the posting the first 195 all-around mark in school history in a victory over Utah State. In the victory over USU, the "Birds also set the school’s floor record and notched the top three beam scores in school g history. The team is coming off a team average of 193.005, which set a school record. the course of last season, individual gymnasts recorded the seven best all around marks. However, despite the great perimeter. The 'Birds connected for 78 percent of their three-point shots against WIU. “We have some momentum right now,” Gardner said. “We are playing well as a team and have a lot of confidence right now.” That confidence stems from finally playing in the confines of the Centrum Arena, and winning two straight Mid-Con games, evening SUU’s record to 2-2. in conference play. The 'Birds have won 26 of their last 27 at home. “It’s great to be at home,” said SUU coach Bill Evans. “It’s a big boost to our team to be playing in front of our own fans.” In addition, to the game on Saturday night, a win on Thursday over a Mid-Con rival has done wonders for the team’s confidence. In a rematch of last season’s Mid-Con championship game, SUU defeated preseason conference favorite Valparaiso on Thursday night in the Centrum Arena. The Crusaders were seeking revenge on the "Birds after last year’s 62-59 loss to the Thunderbirds in the . conference championship game. Instead, the 'Birds used high 23 points eer car his of two for es driv er Bak on Jas a pair of unsung heros to paraiso... . Val foe n -Co Mid over win 62 78ds 'Bir the in defeat Valpo by 16 points. and will be at play e enc fer con in 2-2 to es rov imp SUU With Collins on the bench cago State. Chi face to ay urd Sat on in aga e hom nursing a ankle injury, SUU relied on its bench players to victory the d ure sec SUU by ng oti sho ow thr er Bak on Jas k. slac the up pick for the Thunderbirds. scored a career-high 23 points on seven-ofthat today is e gam the r afte m tea my told lead “I to 15 ed add r dne Gar le whi ng, oti sho 14 history and tomorrow's a mystery,” Evans the ’Birds to their conference home opener. said. “This is just one game.” “Our two guards had to play most of the With the two victories over the weekend game, and they played outstanding,” Evans 2-2 in and all over 5-11 to e rov imp ds 'Bir the up it p ste to had ly real an Bri and son “Ja said. conference play. for us because Jay (Collins) and Stan again on ion act in be will ds ’Bir The y the but , ries inju h wit n dow e wer on) hns (Jo a de clu con to e Stat o cag Chi nst agai ay urd Sat .” nge lle cha the ed com wel stepped up and eduled sch is off Tip. and est hom e gam e thre an and d fiel the m fro t cen per 56 t sho SUU for 7:35 p.m. impressive 59 percent from beyond the arc, embark on will SUU e gam s ay’ urd Sat er Aft rs. nte poi eethr 17 of10on g tin connec a two game road trip. "The Birds will be at The 'Birds played well defensively, holding Oral Roberts on Feb. 24 and at UMKC on Valpo (11-6, 1-1) to 34 percent from the field Feb. 26. and just 22 percent in the first half. rd on hea be can es gam rd rbi nde Thu All do to ded nee we ngs thi the of e “On 590 AM with Art Challis doing the play-bytonight was to keep the ball out of the paint,” play. Evans said. “We made them shoot some way for the *Birds on Jan. 26 in Denton, Texas, against Texas Womans' University. The team will have four regular season meets at home with the first on Feb. 15 against Brigham Young University. Opponents this season for the Lady "Birds ificlude Arizona State, BYU, Utah State and Eastern Michigan. Bauman is in his 11th year as coach of the "Birds. He has a overall record of 64-96 in his time at SUU. Bauman has raised the level of In addition to the seniors, the 'Birds have key performers Scott Baumn returning from a season ago. Cayce Overstreet,-a junior, qualified for regionals as an all- Bowl the UTCO team to go for a two-point conversion on its final score, which it missed. Other players of note playing in the game came from the Mountain West Confernce. Derrick Lewis of San Diego State scored two touchdowns in the final period for the Western All-Stars. Dennis Smith from Utah caught two, touchdowns passes. Keith Boyea of the Air Force Academy threw one touchdown pass for the UTCO team. , Clark, an offensive lineman for SUU, played an important part in the Thunderbird offense this season. Clark came to SUU as a linebacker, but made the swich to the offensive line during his freshman year. right around the team during his tenure at SUU. Though the team has only qualified for the post season once during his tenure, he has sent at least three gymnasts to the post season nine of the previous 10 years. receiving a team bid to the regional meet. The season will get under got to within 11 points in after a 11-0 run late in the foul trouble and good free where it had left off Thursday night against Valparaiso, connecting on a plethora of shots from beyond the 16ted ple com who , wan McE t Scot A’s UCL by th four the in late touchdown deficit and three s yard 275 for es pass 4 of-2 and time over ed forc they as period touchdowns. eventually won the game on a 21game was covered by The d Davi ’s USC' by goal field yard to tain Moun y Rock ts Spor Fox Newbury. be played back at a later time Because of the competitiveness of many as hing reac ibly poss and ctor Dire l Bow dise Para , the game as 18 million homes. Darryl Alton decided to let the two ’t see much didn ers play s SUU’ a was e ther l unti play teams but other , game the in on acti winner. locals who saw action include The UTCO team was led by and s ond Edm n Aaro ’s BYU' the from sh Wel John quarterback Charlie Peterson. University of Idaho, who went 9for 72 -20 9-0f was rson Pete a and s yard 180 for of-16 yards. Kicker Edmonds was touchdown. dy Clak Ran in the game, forcing er eari red inju led were s Star Alln ter Wes The Gymnastics lead to 22 points in the Southern Utah continued e s i d a r a P n i s r e y a football pl Three members of the Southern Utah University football team played in the inaugural Paradise Bowl Saturday afternoon in St. George at Hansen Stadium. Jerry Cowan, Randy Clark and Turnball Tuliapupu were members of the UTCO team. The UTCO team consisted of players from Utah, Colorado, Nevada and Wyoming. The UTCO team played a team of all-stars from other western states. The bowl game was organized as a way for players to display their skills to the pro scouts for the up coming NFL draft in April. Throughout » MEN’S BASKETBALL ERIN MADSON/JOURNAL MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 2002 » WOMEN’S PAGE 9 UNIVERSITY JOURNAL SPORTS corner arounder in 2000 and last season on the bars. Overstreet has scored as high as 39.10 in the all-around. Another key performer is co-captain Jayme Morgan. Last season, Morgan qualified for post-season on the vault and beam. She also had an all-around average of 38.675, which was second highest on the team. Sarah Geisler tied the school record on the floor with a score of 9.90. Geisler’s strengths also include the vault and beam. Another key player to keep an eye on is Talayna Fortunato, a transfer from the University of Tennessee, where she had a stellar career in gymnastics and competed as a heptahlete. The home meets this season will take place in the Centrum Arena at 7 p.m. with admission being free. |