Men’s Basketball Blows out Averett

Men win by 20 while Women Lose to Averett

For More Information Contact: Scott Musa 540.665.5417

Men's Basketball

WINCHESTER , Va. – Coach Rob Harris’ men’s basketball team stopped a pair of five game losing streaks Saturday afternoon with an impressive, 100-80 Dixie Conference victory over Averett University.

Shenandoah (5-7, 1-1) won for the first time since a 92-81 win at Frostburg State on December 4, and in the process stopped a five-game home losing streak to Averett. The Hornets had not beaten the Cougars (3-10, 1-1) at home since the 1995-96 season.

The Hornets took control early and did not let up as SU jumped out to a 29-9 lead in the first 7:21 .  Eight of 10 SU players who appeared in the contest during this time scored with Ronald Merriwether ( Frankfurt , Germany /Giessen American) leading the balanced attack with five points. An unselfish and fast-paced style of play allowed Shenandoah to maintain their insurmountable lead throughout the half; they entered the lockerroom at the half with a 53-34 advantage.

Shenandoah did not show any signs of fatigue or complacency in the second half as they managed to easily maintain their established lead.  With 10:54 remaining the final period, the Hornet barrage expanded the margin to 28 points at 80-52 behind two of sophomore Halston Camp’s ( Harrisonburg , Va. / Harrisonburg ) career-high 19 points.  Eventually, Averett was able to cut the deficit to 20, but that was as close as they would get no closer.

Merriwether made the evening even more memorable midway through the second half when he became the first player during the Rob Harris era to crack the 1000 point barrier. The game was halted and Merriwether was briefly recognized for his accomplishment before the sellout crowd of 680 at Shingleton Gymnasium.  He would go on to finish the contest with 15 points and 6 rebounds in only 18 minutes of play.

Junior Michael Atkins ( Winchester , Va. /Sherando) also had an outstanding night for Shenandoah with 17 points and 12 rebounds.  Camp added a career-high 10 rebounds to accompany his point total and sophomore Chad Brashears ( Hagerstown , Md. /Goretti) tossed in a career-high 19 points as well.  Junior Tyson Thompson (Keysville, Va./Randolph-Henry) was one assist shy of having the team’s third double-double on the evening as he finished with 10 points and nine assists.

A complete box score and play by play can be found at http://www.su.edu/athletics/mb/200102/011202.htm

The men are right back in action at home on Tuesday evening with a Dixie Conference contest against Ferrum. Game time is 7:30 and will be the second half of a doubleheader with the women.

Women's Basketball

WINCHESTER , Va. – The women’s basketball team took a nine point lead into the halftime lockerroom Saturday afternoon, only to see Averett take an 82-74 Dixie Conference victory with a 60 point second half.

Averett (2-9, 1-1) shot a sizzling 20 for 34 (58.8 percent) to help themselves outscore Shenandoah (2-8, 0-2) 60-43 in the final 20 minutes of play.

After erasing the halftime deficit with an 11-2 run to start the second, the two teams traded the lead seven times and had another seven ties before the visitors finally took the lead for good on a Laurie Clay free throw with 4:34 remaining. Averett then extended its lead to as much as seven before an Amanda Irvin jumper with five seconds left gave them the eight-point victory.

The victory is the second straight for the Lady Cougars, while Shenandoah has lost four consecutive games to start the second semester.

Senior Wendy Legge (Stephens City, Va./Sherando) had a game high 20 points while Rosaline Fisher ( Greencastle , Pa. /Hagerstown CC) added 18. Katie Woods, a sophomore from Stephens City who transferred in at the break from Division II Pfeiffer, saw her first action in an SU uniform. She had five points and three rebounds in nine minutes of action.

A complete box score and play by play can be found at http://www.su.edu/athletics/wb/200102/011202.htm

The women will kick off another Dixie doubleheader Tuesday evening with a 5:30 tip against Ferrum.