Lincoln's Chanelle Harris
St. Joseph's Sasha Bowen
Mitchell's Alva Jeffreys
UMPI's Erica Davis
Lincoln's Tanina Cook
Lincoln's Asha Atkinson
Lincoln's Sharell
McMillan
Lincoln's Shanice
Nesmith
Lincoln's Mary Rotimi
Lincoln's Elissa
Jackson
Lincoln's Saharra
Robinson
|
LINCOLN
UNIVERSITY, PA. (February 21, 2007) – The fierce-looking Lion
at center court of Manuel Rivero Hall has been polished, travel arrangements
have been finalized and all the finishing touches are being applied as Lincoln
University prepares to host the 2007 Association of Division III Independents
Northeast Regional Women’s Basketball Championship tournament this weekend,
Friday February 23 and Saturday February 24, 2007.
The tournament features a formidable foursome of schools capable of winning
this weekend’s tournament. Top-seeded Mitchell College (14-10 overall) enters
the tournament on a serious roll, having won 10 consecutive games, including
a 76-66 victory over second-seeded Lincoln on January 28. Lincoln (17-8)
closed the season by winning 13 of its last 15 games to set a school record
for victories.
Third-seeded Maine-Presque Isle (15-6) won 10 of its 11 games including a
mild 59-56 upset victory over Mitchell on January 20. Although fourth-seeded
Saint Joseph’s, Maine (10-14) has struggled this season, the Monks have won
two of their last three games. The Monks have also walked away with the last
two AD3I Northeast Region championship plaques.
“We are very excited about the quality of opposition participating in this
tournament this weekend,” Lincoln women’s coach Andy Haman said. “It’s good
for area basketball fans to see some quality players and programs on the
small-college level. This tournament is a major challenge for our ladies,
but they are excited for the opportunity.”
Mitchell meets Saint Joseph’s in the first semifinal Friday night at 5:00
p.m. and Lincoln takes on UMPI in the second semifinal at 7:00 p.m. The consolation
and championship games will be Saturday starting at Noon. The entire tournament
can be heard nationally over the Internet at www.redzonemedia.com.
Lincoln has never faced UMPI or Saint Joseph’s, Maine. The Lions are 1-2
against Mitchell, having dropped the last two games both in New London (Ct.)
to the Pequots.
Lincoln finished third in last year’s AD3I event, which was held at Mitchell
College. There were two Northeast Region championship tournaments last year.
Saint Joseph’s, which hosted the other regional, defeated Maine-Presque Isle,
61-39 in the championship tournament. The Lions lost a heartbreaking, 82-80
decision to the host Pequots in the semifinals. After trailing by as many
21 points, Lincoln’s rally fell short when a made shot as time expired was
ruled it came after the final buzzer sounded. Had the call gone Lincoln’s
way, the game would have went into overtime. Mitchell lost to Meredith in
the championship game.
What’s interesting about the three of the teams in this weekend’s showcase
is they began the season slowly before finding its groove. Lincoln was 4-6.
Mitchell endured an eight-game losing streak to fall to 2-8. Maine-Presque
Isle began the season with a 1-3 record. Now, all the teams are blazing hot.
Although Lincoln has the best overall record in tournament, the Lions were
denied the top seed because of their loss at Mitchell last month. In that
game, Lincoln trailed by as many 16 points before slicing the Pequots advantage
to two points with 90 seconds remaining. Another major factor that helped
Mitchell earn the prestigious No. 1 seed was it defeated four Division III
schools with winning records.
Meanwhile, Lincoln’s only victory over a Division III school with a winning
record was against Atlantic Women’s College Conference regular-season
champion College of Notre Dame, 77-68. Thirteen of Lincoln’s 14 Division
III victories have been against teams with a below .500 record.
Despite that, Lincoln enters the tournament having won five straight games.
The Lions have been terrific in February, compiling a 5-0 record and limiting
the opposition to 29.8 percent shooting (96-for-322).
The Lions have not trailed since Newport News Apprentice School held a 39-38
advantage with 14:04 remaining. Since then, Lincoln has been tied or held
the lead for the last 94 minutes, 54 seconds. Defensively, Lincoln has forced
24 turnovers. The Lions’ last five wins have been of the double-digit variety.
Lincoln has also made its mark nationally. The Lions were spotlighted in
the weekly Around the Nation featured on D3hoops.com for the first time in
school history. Lincoln is currently sixth in steals (15.5), 22nd in blocked
shots (5.0) and 49th in scoring (70.6). Individually, senior center Mary
Rotimi is fourth in the nation in rebounding (12.4), 57th in both field goal
percentage (50.8) and blocked shots (1.8). Junior guard Sharell McMillan
is 24th in steals per game (3.4). McMillan had a career-high nine steals
in Lincoln’s last game against Eastern. Finally, Lincoln’s leading scorer,
freshman guard, Shanice Nesmith is 42nd in scoring (18.2), 40th in 3-pointers
made per game (2.3) and 61st in 3-point field goal percentage (34.5). Junior
Asha Atkinson is a solid post contributor averaging 9.8 points and 7.3 rebounds
per game.
One of the major reasons for Lincoln’s turnaround this season has been its
ability to win on the road, the Lions are 8-2 on this season and 9-4 at home.
While Lincoln’s resume lacks an impressive victory, the Lions did challenge
themselves this season falling short in games against Moravian, Susquehanna,
York and Division II Kutztown. Lincoln held halftime leads against Susquehanna,
York and Kutztown.
Mitchell brings the most exciting and explosive player of the tournament
to town in senior guard Alva Jeffreys, who is averaging 22.7 points per game
and 4.3 steals per game. If Mitchell qualified for NCAA statistical leaders,
Jeffereys would be the fifth leading scorer in Division III. She also would
be fourth in Division III in steals. However, Mitchell, once a junior college,
is in its third year of a four-year transition process to a full-fledged
Division III institution.
Jeffreys has rung up some diabolical digits for the Pequots this season.
She has scored 30 or more points five times this season and has led Mitchell
in scoring in 17 consecutive games. Jeffreys burned Lincoln for 33 points.
She scored the Pequots’ last 11 points in the earlier meeting between the
two schools. Jeffreys poured in a career high 44 points against Becker College
two weeks ago. She followed that up with a 29-point outing against Newbury
in her next game. One other fact, Jeffreys has made 42.4 percent of her shots,
impressive considering she takes plenty of outside shots.
“Jeffreys is as good a player as we've seen this season,” UMPI coach Rich
Ward said. “She is quick, has an excellent 3 point range, and is a force
on defense.”
Don’t be fooled because Mitchell is not a one-woman show. Senior forward
Shayna Barnes is the emotional leader of a very good team. Barnes is averaging
11.3 points and 8.8 rebounds. Barnes has notched seven double-doubles this
season. Barnes grabbed a season-high 17 rebounds in back-to-back games against
Saint Joseph’s (Brooklyn) College. Barnes tied her season high in points
with 18 against Russell Sage. Also providing support in the post is sophomore
Ashley Hansen, who is averaging 11.3 points and 7.6 rebounds. Freshman Jennifer
Iglesias also averages 9.3 points per game. She can knock down the open jumper
if she is left open. Iglesias has made 30 3-pointers, which is second to
Jeffreys’ 64. Sophomore guard Shakeya Evans chips in 6.8 points per outing
and leads the Pequots with 111 assists.
Maine-Presque Isle finished with a 6-6 record against Division III schools
this season. The Owls are well known for their pressure defense and up-tempo
style of play, which has earned the respect of coaches throughout the state
and region for their desire, hustle, and competitiveness. The Owls won’t
be a fun first round opponent for Lincoln. Although this is the first meeting
in women’s basketball history between Lincoln and UMPI, the two schools did
play each other in men’s soccer in 2005. UMPI claimed a 2-0 victory.
The Owls’ top player has been Erica Davis, who has sizzled in her first year
on the squad. Davis was named AD3I Player of the Week on Feb. 4. She has
posted six double-doubles not including this past weekend’s victories over
St. Joseph’s, Maine and Maine-Fort Kent. Davis has scored 20 or more points
six times this season. She was named to the Hunter College tip-off tournament.
Davis scored a season-high 29 points against Unity College and she had 28
points against Maine-Augustana. Davis scored a game-high 24 points in the
Owls’ last game, a 57-56 victory over Saint Joseph’s, Maine.
The high octane Owls have scored 90 or more points four times and they have
topped the 100-point mark once during a 106-49 victory over Maine-Augustana.
The Owls are used to playing on the road as they only played six home games.
Also making significant contributions for the Owls this season have been
Ashley Epright, Collette Sloat, Julie Wescott and Leah Joy, the only senior
on the team. Lincoln and UMPI have played another common opponent besides
Mitchell: The College of St. Elizabeth’s. Lincoln defeated CSE, 80-72, and
UMPI lost, 72-59.
Saint Joseph’s has struggled this season with a team featuring just one senior.
The Monks’ top players this season has been freshman Carolyn Freeman, who
leads the team in scoring at 10.6 points per game. Freeman leads Saint Joseph’s
with 34 3-pointers. The Monks have also received production this season from
5-10 junior Megan Farrell, who contributes 8.8 points and 6-0 junior
Marie Lint, who averages 8.0 points. Saint Joseph’s did defeat Newbury College
in its last game, 66-47.
The major strength of the Monks has been their ability to rebound the basketball.
Saint Joseph’s is 66th in the country in rebounding margin. The Monks also
do a good of sharing the basketball averaging 14.1 assists per game. Saint
Joseph’s has scored 70 or more points twice this season.
There you have it, four schools with a great chance to walk away as the 2007
AD3I champions.
--LU--
|
