FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17,2000 To The Edge Intramural Calendar DEADLINES December 8 - 5 versus 5 basketball (Men’s and Women’s divisions) Play begins in the spring semester Play is underway for 3 versus 3 basketball ffieh tend S, pat ting. Client a November 17 Women’s basketball Behrend Tournament Behrend plays at 8:00 PM November 18 Women’s basketball championship game at 3:00 PM Consolation game at 1:00 PM November 17 - 18 Men’s basketball at Franklin and Marshall Tournament November 18 Cross country at NCAA Nationals at Spokane, WA November 19 JV Men’s basketball at Allegheny 3:00 PM November 21 Women’s basketball vs Bethany 6:00 PM Men’s basketball vs. Washington and Jefferson 8:00 PM Swimming at Gannon TBA LIONS Men’s basketball has its own hard act to follow By Abigail Long Assistant sports editor With just one senior on board, Behrend’s men’s basketball team looks to continue the winning tra dition that has been established by Coach Dave Niland. Tri-captains Ashley Orris (Se nior), Matt Keith (Junior), and Bill McKinney (Junior), will be leading this young team. Orris plays the po sition of guard and started in 30 games last season. He's in the top ten all-time for three-pointers in a career, free-throw percentage in a career with 77%, three-point per centage in a career, and three-point percentage in a season. Orris en ters his senior year with 594 career points. Keith started in 28 games last season and as a mere junior has already established a reputation for his outstanding three-point capabili ties. He has the all-time record at Behrend for three-pointers in one season with 92, and is third all-time for three-point percentage with 44.8%. The final tri-captain, McKinney made an appearance in 24 contests as a sophmore. His 69% free-throw percentage along with his strong defensive skills will be a huge asset to this young team. Khalif Rhodes (Junior), a trans fer student from Penn State New Kensington, along with Steve Merrill (Sophmore) round out the short list of experienced players. Coach Niland feels all three tri-cap tains will take on the leadership role Women’s basketball in ‘growing stage’ by Jason Snyder editor-in-chief For the first time in four years, the Behrend women's basketball team will enter its season without the names of Carrie Nestor and Tiffany Buck gracing their roster. The Lions have many new faces with a mix of matured veterans that once again hope to contend for the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Championship in 2001. "We are definitely at a growing stage,” said head coach Rosalyn Fomari. “It will take longer for us to get back where we were." The Lions come off a record of 19-8 overall last season, with an 11-1 record in the AMCC. The women hosted the AMCC tournament last year where they finished second behind Frostburg State, while still qualifying for the ECAC tournament. This year’s team is led by senior captains Jen O'Lare and Lisa Sanders. “O’Lare and Sanders are great leaders," said Fomari. O'Lareis coming off a productive season that saw her average 12.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Sanders also adds a veteran presence with an accurate shooting touch which BASKETBALL ACTION... BEHREND SPIRIT Halftime Sponsored by: Max & Erma’s Friday, November 17, 2000 Women’s Basketball Tip-Off Tournament Westminster vs. William Smith 6:00 p.m. Dickinson vs. Behrend 8:00 p.m. Discounted Coupons Given At Entranceway to first 100 people “What’s In The Box” Contest Halftime Consists of: Dance Team 3-Point Shoot-Out Cheerleaders Pep Band FILE PHOTO Coach Dave Niland is looking to overcome the loss of experience this season. well. “The upperclassmen have been great. Ashley Orris, the lone senior, has been a leader from the lime he was a freshman. Matt is very vocal and plays with much enthusiasm, Bill is quiet but relent less—he has paid his dues.” A majority of the team is com prised of freshmen. Coach Niland hopes these young players take on the attitude of last year’s success ful team, “Nate Willson and John Park, who graduated last year, were great players for four years, and they did not start most of the time. All they cared about was who won.” These ten freshmen players could make up for the loss of Buck. Junior forward Erin Phillips will be in the starting line-up for the third straight year. Phillips led the Lions in scoring last season with 13.4 points per game. Replacing Nestor and Buck in the one and two guard spots to start the season will be sophomores Jessica Tanner and Danielle Bemis. Tanner secured the starting point guard spot when junior Katie Weigold recently went down to an ankle injury. Fomari says that the position is “still up for grabs.” Fornari sees this year’s team as one with a lot of depth and a lot of young talent. “This could be our best recruiting class ever,” said Fornari. "They each have a lot of talent to offer. Our posts are good, our guards are equal." The team will feature seven rookies and nine returnees. The women’s roster in 2000-2001 remains balanced with strength in all positions. Fornari sees her team as having the “ability to shoot well.” Other strengths include quickness and height. With the loss of Nestor and Buck, the Lions’ backcourt could be vulnerable to pressure. Fornari are Marty Timm, Jeff Lane, David Hairston, James Curren, Randy Conley, Chris Banner, Mike Shodt, Bryan Sammons, Casey Ponsoll, and T.J. Niland. These young play ers have a strong background and many accomplishments thus far. These freshmen contribute a lot of height to the young team, with only one of the ten being under the six foot mark. More important, they leave a lot of options open to the starting five with the depth and tal ent they add to the program. The Lions will open their season at the Franklin & Marshall Tour nament on November 17-18, and FILE PHOTO Katie Weigold shoots a jumper during the 1999-2000 season. realizes “people will pressure us.” Inexperience to the college game is seen as one of the Lions’ potential weaknesses. The Lions hope to make their fourth straight appearance in the AMCC Championship Game this year, after hosting the tournament in Erie Hall the past two years. Despite the losses in the off-season, Fornari says the their first appearance in the ARC will be on November 21 versus Washington & Jefferson. Confer ence play will then open on Decem ber 6 at Laßoche. Coach Niland has chosen a difficult season against many teams outside of the conference. He looks to these games to strengthen and mature the young team. Last year the team swept the conference play with an undefeated 12 games, although Pitt- Greensburg slid past them' in the AMCC Tournament. The strong 1999-2000 team made an appear ance in the NCAA Sectionals - Elite Eight last year. Under the coaching of Dave Niland, Behrend is looking to ex FILE PHOTO Ashley Orris (center) is the lone senior on the men’s basketball team. conference championship is not beyond the Behrend women. “It’s anybody’s game.” Fornari added, “whoever puts key things together will The defending champions, Frostburg State, also lost some talent in the off-season, but will again be a strong challenge in the AMCC. Fornari sees Penn State Altoona, Pitt Greensburg, La Roche and Frostburg as the main competition, but also sees her Lions as a “good contender." The women will start the season in Erie Hall with no date being The Behrend Lions women’s basketball team will have a few new faces in the starring roles this year, but have been practicing just as hard. Just ill Case You Forgot... The swimming team’s first meet was can celled. We will have coverage of their meets once the season officially starts. SECTION Dj tend its six straight w inning seasons to seven with the 2000-2001 team. In his seven years coaching. Niland boasts a 106 wins versus 55 losses for his coaching record. He also has held the title "AMCC's Coach of the Year” for three consecutive sea sons. Niland will be assisted by Pat Mashuda, Jeff Fiolek. and Brian Emick. Coach Niland has high hopes for the young team: "my ex pectations of our group are to im prove everyday, be it practice or games. Some years that is reflected in the win - loss column, other years, like this one it is too early to tell, w'e have a lot of question marks because of our youth." announced as to when the games will move to the new Athletic and Recreation Center. Fornari is in no hurry to get to the new facility even though she is excited about the future. “Erie Hall has been very good to us. It’s a nice place to play. But we arc in no rush,” said Fornari. The women will host their annual tip-off tournament this weekend, tipping off at 8:00 against Dickinson Westminster and William Smith will open the tourney at 6:00. Fornari says “this will be a strong tournament It will take a lot of depth to win the tournament.” The Lions finished second in last year’s tip-off tournament. Fornari concluded, “we re excited. It will be a fun challenge." She added, “we have the ability to do a lot of good things. We will be fun to watch.” FILE PHOTO
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