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The Behrend Beacon
Welcome to
Jared Clough
.587
Men ready
Lions seek first title since 97-98 season, avenge last year's title game loss to Pitt-Bradford
by Amy Frizzell
sports editor
On Saturday the men's basket
ball team ended its regular season
as it rolled over Pitt-Greensburg,
boosting its record to 22-2, 11-1 in
the conference.
The win secured the team's
AMCC regular season champion
ship title, along with earning them
the right to home court advantage
for the AMCC Championship tour
nament.
With 518 spectators watching,
the Lions dominated the first half,
only allowing Greensburg to score
18 points. Though Greensburg
bounced back in the second half,
Behrend kept one step ahead,
outscoring them by four points to
get the victory, 69-51.
Senior captain Casey Ponsoll led
the way with a game high of 21
points. Senior James Curren sunk
12 points, followed by junior Jared
Clough with 11 points.
"They had a super year," said
head coach Dave Niland. "They
guys really worked hard all year.
It's difficult to go through a sea
son and only lose two games."
The Lions ended the season not
only regular season champions but
ady Lions claim AMCC regular season crown
The Lady Lions will be hosting the AMCC Tournament beginning Friday
after defeating rival Pitt-Greensburg 73-56 to claim the conference
regular season crown.
ousing & Food Service
Athlete
of the
Week
nd women's ba
James Curren
16.7 ppg
9.4 ppg
Casey Ponsoll
457 three-point field goal
for rematch:
also leading the conference in
scoring defense, free throw per
centages, field goal percentages
and rebound defense.
"We ended the season strong,"
said sophomore Justin Jennings.
"We're ready to go for the AMCC
tournament."
It's been six years since the
men's basketball team won the
AMCC Championships, the last
time being in 1998, the first year
the conference held a champion
ship tournament. The team came
close to winning again last year
when they made it to the finals
but were forced to take second
place to Pitt-Bradford in a disap
pointing loss.
"We're really hoping for it, we
were so close last year," said
Jennings. "We're excited for the
seniors and we want to send them
off with a title?'
The Lions received a first round
bye giving them a chance to rest
up and more time to prepare.
"You never know, we got a bye,
the year we won and a bye other
years and lost," said Niland.
With every other team having
one game already under its belt,
some players think the bye will
prove to have a positive effect on
SPORTS
Friday, February 27, 2004
all teams host AMCC tournament
Justin Jennings
4.17 assists/game
the outcome of the tournament
"I think the bye will help us a
lot," said Jennings. "The other
teams had to play on Wednesday,
giving them one day to prepare.
We'll have fresh legs and more
time to prepare."
Behrend will take on Laßoche
in the semi-finals, which will start
today. During the regular season
the Redhawks proved to be one of
the Lions most formidable oppo
nents.
In the teams' first meeting, the
Lions took home the win in over
time, winning by three points.
However in the second meeting,
Laßoche got the best of them, win
ning by only two points and break
ing Behrend's perfect AMCC
record.
"We're glad we don't have to
play Bradford since they knocked
us out last year," said Jennings.
"We're really excited for another
shot at Laßoche, we want re-
venge."
As for the team's game plan,
there won't be much change ac
cording to Niland.
"Just work hard and play harder.
It will be the same as it has been
all year," said Niland.
There was no lastminute jumper to
save Pitt-Greensburg this past Saturday
night, as the Lady Lions defeated the
Lady Bobcats 73-56, avenging an earlier
loss to the team and wrapping up the
AMCC regular season title.
In its first game against Pitt-
Greensburg, the Behrend squad lost by
a single point when the Lady Bobcats'
Annie Sral hit a game-winning shot at
the buzzer.
With the conference regular season
title and home court advantage for the
conference tournament hanging in the
balance, the pressure was on for the Lady
Lions to come away with a win.
The first half was a hotly contested
affair as the Lady Lions benefitted from
Greensburg's cold shooting, as they only
hit nine of 35 field goals.
At the half, Behrend went into the
locker room with a 33-27 edge. In the
second half, the Lady Lions continued
to overpower Pitt-Greensburg by
Amber Krumpe
Ist team all-co,
Brittany Mays
862 free throw percentage
by Kevin Fiorenzo
sports editor
S • •
SPO I E ' E WITH 86
B P R A IS THIRD IN
C • F 1 71 F I •i PERCENTAGE
DATE: FEB. 25, 2004
OW THE BLUE
1 pIE AMCC
" g 'WHICH THE
I LIONS WILL BE
. THEY WILL FACE
BRADFORD IN THE
IFINALS TODAY AT 1
P.M.
MAYS WAS THE LEADIN
SCORER FOR BEHREND
THIS PAST WEEKEND
AGAINST PITT
GREENSBURG WITH 16
POINTS. MAYS LEADS THE
AMCC IN FREE-THROW
opsvilie
`We want revenge'
As they attempt to take the _ title . is wee men's basket
ball team will also be hoping to receive its first NCAA Tournament berth
since 1999.
outscoring the Lady Bobcats and playing
stronger defense. The Lady Lions ended
up coming away with a convincing 73-
56 victory.
Freshman guard Brittany Mays said,
"I think we did a better job against
Greensburg this time limiting our
unnecessary mistakes."
Behrend was led by Mays with 16
points and six rebounds. Senior guard
Erica Mozdy and freshman forward
Tenesha Aden each added 12 points.
Sophomore guard Nikki Pacinelli
contributed 10 points and five assists.
Pitt-Greensburg was led by Sral with 20
points and six rebounds. Tish Hines
added 13 points.
With the win, the Lady Lions
improved their conference record to 11-
1 and moved to 20-5 overall.
The Lady Lions are also doing well in
several AMCC statistical categories.
They are performing well defensively as
they lead the conference in scoring
defense, field goal percentage defense
and rebounding defense.
Offensively, the women are also
Amy Frizzell & Kevin Fiorenzo
Nikki Pacinelli
3.64 assists/game
Erica Mozdy
360 thr , int field goal
Carly Cochran
8.4 ppg
leading in several categories. They are
first in the AMCC in field-goal
percentage, free-throw percentage and
three-point field goal percentage.
They also wrapped up the AMCC
regular season crown and the right to host
the AMCC Tournament semifinals and
finals, which will begin at the Junker
Center today.
The Lady Lions will be going up
against N 0.4 seed Pitt-Bradford, who
defeated No. 5 seed La Roche on
Wednesday night. Behrend defeated
Bradford in both of their meetings this
season but know that they will be tested.
Mays said, "They have a good screen
and roll and that's something we'll have
to take into account. It's not going to be
a cakewalk."
Playing at home and as the top seeds,
the women are aware that as the favorites
there is some extra pressure.
Mays said, "Of course there is some
added pressure to do well at home, but
we're going to work hard to get the nets
cut down on Saturday."