Basketball Wraps Up Season

Merriwether Earns All-Tournament Spot

Men’s Basketball

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The men’s basketball team advanced to the Dixie Conference Tournament semi-final round for the second time in as many years Thursday in Fayetteville, N.C., but saw its most successful season in five years end with a 22 point loss to top seeded Christopher Newport University.

No. 4 Shenandoah (15-12) defeated fifth seeded Greensboro (11-15) 63-62 in overtime in Thursday quarterfinal round, but could not take the Captains in the Friday night rubber match of the season series.

CNU (23-4) jumped out to a 50-38 halftime lead on the heels of a sizzling 20 for 33 (60.6 percent) shooting performance from the field. Despite falling behind 11-0 and in a 26-6 hole just 6:30 into the game, SU battled the Captains for the entire 40 minutes. Coach Rob Harris’ club cut the deficit to single digits on two occasions in the waning moments of the first half, but could not get any closer.

Christopher Newport proved that the first half shooting was no fluke in the final 20 minutes; they shot an equally impressive 16 for 29 (55.2 percent) to cruise into their fifth Dixie Conference final in as many years.

Senior Ronald Merriwether (Frankfurt, Germany/Giessen American) led three SU scorers in double figures with 17 points. Juniors Michael Atkins (Winchester, Va./Sherando) and Tyson Thompson (Keysville, Va./Randolph-Henry) added 15 and 10, respectively. Atkins also had a game high 12 rebounds.

The Hornets “big three” were able to work their magic on Friday due to some heroics at the end of Thursday’s quarterfinal against Greensboro

Down three with under 10 seconds to play, sophomore Chad Brashears (Hagerstown, Md./St. Maria Goretti) gave SU the opportunity to continue playing when he drained the game-tying trey from 22 feet out. It was Brashears’ first points of the contest.

The overtime was rather uneventful, with just seven points scored and two lead changes. Thompson provided that second and final lead change as he hit a running layup with 37 seconds remaining to give SU the 63-62 lead.

GC had one more chance to win, but Marcellus Morgan’s three-pointer at the buzzer was off the mark.

Merriwether had 21, Atkins 12 and 18 rebounds and Jacob Bates (Berryville, Va./Clarke County) 12 points.

Box Score - Christopher Newport

Box Score - Greensboro

It was also announced following the completion of the tournament on Saturday that Merriwether has added a 2002 All-Dixie Tournament selection to his 2002 first team and Player of the Year honors.

Women’s Basketball

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – The SU women’s basketball team was unable to extend its season any farther than the Dixie Tournament quarterfinals Thursday afternoon, as the Hornets season ended with a 57-36 loss to top seeded Christopher Newport University.

Shenandoah (4-22) was held to just 19 percent shooting (12 of 63) in the loss to the No. 3 in the South Region Lady Captains (22-3). Coach Kathy Orsini’s women trailed 32-15 at the break as CNU hit 15 of its 33 shots (45.5 percent) in the first 20 minutes of play.

Sophomore Bridget Robbins (Baker, W. Va./East Hardy) led SU with 10 points while classmate Katie Woods (Winchester, Va./Sherando) added nine rebounds.

Senior Wendy Legge (Stephens City, Va./Sherando), who was named second team All-Dixie Conference on Wednesday, was held to four points in her final collegiate contest.

Box Score

Shenandoah University offers 16 intercollegiate sports, eight for men and eight for women. For further information, please contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 540-665-5417 or visit our web site at http://www.su.edu/athletics. For Dixie Conference Information, please visit the Dixie Conference home page: http://www.dixieconference.com.

Shenandoah University is a comprehensive Level V private university with an enrollment of approximately 2,500 students in five schools: School of Arts & Sciences, Harry F. Byrd Jr. School of Business, Shenandoah Conservatory, Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy and the School of Health Professions (Athletic Training, Nursing, Physician Assistant, Respiratory Care, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy). The University offers more than 60 programs of study at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels.