Thursday, February 16,1995 Lady Lions finishing by Nick Zulovich Collegian Staff The Lady Lions reached the .500 made for the first tune Jan. 7 when they beat the Theil Lady Tomcats 65-46 Monday night Behrend freshman Melanie Banas lead all scorers with 16 Outside touch: Both Megan Musante (ggofag and Beck V Reed (40) give the Lady Lions a great outside threat. Consistancy by Ron Derian earns him ATW by Brian Stadler Collegian Staff This week’s Housing and Food Services Athlete of the Week is Men’s Basketball player Ron Derian. The sophomore Mathematics major is leading the way for the Lions, who are in die midst of a six game winning streak following Monday’s win against Bethany College. The recent surge by the Lions is in part due to Derian. Not many sophmores can boast being captain of their team. But his coach, Dave Niland, knew he could count on Derian. “Ron is an intense, mature, hard-working ball player and we look to him for leadership,” remarked Niland. Derian comes to play every night and leaves nothing on the floor, literally. Dorian has logged 598 minutes so far this season. That figure is tops on the team by a good margin. With three figures that number could reach as high as 679 minutes. Many players who have played that much are beginning to tire. But not Derian, he attributes that to points, while Megan Musante was right behind with 15 points. Marlesse Schlott also scored in double figures with 11 while adding 12 rebounds. Lisa Wishart was the lone Theil scorer in double figures with 12 points in addition to having 12 rebounds. Theil’s record fell to 8-15 with CoMogmn m photo Athlete of the week: Sophomore forward Ron Dorian Coach Niland’s conditioning. Derian said, “We are prepared well for the season and work very hard to be in shape, my legs feel fine.” Sports the loss. Banas said she felt she took advantage of her opportunities to acme against Theil. “I was feeling my shot that night The defense left me open quite a bit so I took the open jump shot” explained Banas. Head Coach Roz Fomari said she was very pleased to see her team at the .500 mark once again. "(Being .500) gives us the opportunity to strive for higher goals. Reaching .500 was just one of them," she said. It was a cold shooting night for both teams. The Lady Lions shot only 38 percent from the field, while Theil shot an even more dismal 31 percent from the field. "(Being .500) gives us the opportunity to strive for higher goals. Reaching .500 was just one of them." - Head Coach Roz Fornari The shooting was not much better at the free throw line for die Lady Lions. They made only 7 at 18 free throws. Fomari said that balance is the key to the Lady Lions’ success. “When we have balanced scoring, we’re a much better team. The best situation is when both a forward and a guard score in double figures,” explained Fomari. Derian’s averages for this season are consistent. He is averaging 10.1 points per game, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. The assists are tied for the team strong The Lady Lions methodically built their lead through the first half. Then Banas’ three pointer with 29 seconds left in the half gave Behrend its biggest lead going into halftime at 33-22. In the second half, the Lady Lions used an 18-6 run to give them an insurmountable lead of 51-28 with 10:43 left in the game. Fomari said she was impressed of the play of Theil forward WisharL “She shot very well in the paint. But as we picked up the tempo she got in foul trouble and had to go to the bench. When we play Theil again next week, we’ll have to do a much better job of containing her inside,” commented Fomari. Last Saturday the Behrend women were scheduled to play Hilbert at Erie Hall, but the winter weather forced the second postponement of the contest. The game has been reschudeled for next Wednesday, Feb. 22. Tonight, the Lady Lions travel to Hiram College for their final road game of the season. Hiram College, out of the Ohio Athletic Conference, comes into tonight’s action against Behrend with a record of 4-18. Lady Terrier center Erika Willig leads the team in both sewing and rebounding. Willig averages 17 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Starting along with Willig for Hiram will be Julie Paolino and Paula Vrankovich at the guards. Shawnda Thombs, Julie Winkler will start at forward Behrend's line-up consists of Nikki Bohn and Musante at guard, Emily Marini and Becky Reed at forward with Schlott mce again at center. Tonight’s game starts at 7:30. Photo by Jennifer CcMn/Co-edtor lead, and he also leads the team in steals with 19. He is also one of the three lions that are shooting 50% or better from the floor. Coach Niland. “feels that Sports Bits by Joe Mottillo Sports Editor Glory Days: Clyde Drexler was traded Tuesday to the Houston Rockets for forward Otis Thorpe. Drexler, a Portland Trail Blazer since ‘B3, is reunited with former University of Houston teammate, Hakeem Olajuwon. The two were part of the Cougars’ Phi Slamma Jama teams that went to two NCAA Final Fours. Double the toppings: For the first time in NCAA history, both a school’s mens and womens hoop programs are at the top of the polls. Both of the University of Connecticut teams reached this milestone this past week as the men joined the women atop the polls. The White House, Indian Wells office: President Bill Clinton will become the first sitting president to play in a PGA tour event when he plays in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic at Indian Wells. His fivesome includes Hope, defending champion Scott Hoch and former presidents George Bush and Gerald Ford. Half way there: With the West’s defeat of the East in Sunday’s All-Star game, the NBA has resumed its regular season. If the top team in the East and West played for the championship today, Phoenix and Orlando would lock horns. As of yesterday, both teams had identical 38-10 records. Phoenix could be helped if they get Chicago superstar Scottie Pippen as is expected. Derian’s best attribute is that he is a very unselfish player.” Teammate, junior Lance Burgert, said of Derian, “Ron leads by example, he is not very vocal but his hustle and hard work gets us going.” Derian personally is happy that he and his teammmates are turning it around. “Early in the season we just were not winning the close games. Now that we have come together and matured as a team we are winning the close ones.” He also went on to talk about his leadership. “I try to get the guys together on the floor and get us moving,” said Derian. Coach Niland hopes that Derian keeps maturing as a player and looks for him to do much of the same next year. As for Ron he hopes to keep improving as a player and would like to “win more games at crunch time.” The 12-10 Lions look to add to their 6 game winning streak this Saturday in Erie Hall against Hilbert and then Thiel on Monday, who the Lions have split two previous meetings with this season. Page 19