FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 11-16-01

Presbyterian, Fayetteville State Pick Up Wins At AASU TipOff Classic

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Presbyterian College and Fayetteville State will meet in the championship game of the 2001 AASU/Chatham Orthopaedics TipOff Classic after picking up first-round victories on Friday evening at Alumni Arena on the campus of Armstrong Atlantic State University.

Fayetteville State defeated the host Lady Pirates, 91-76, using a 13-2 early second-half run to pull away from AASU and pick up the victory. The Lady Broncos' Danielle Evans led all scorers with a tournament-record 34 points, while Bradsheedah Elohim chipped in 15 points for FSU. The Lady Pirates placed four players in double figures in the losing effort, paced by junior Becky Tompkins' 16 points in her first game as a Lady Pirate. Junior All-America candidate Zandrique Cason added 15 points, but it was not enough as the Lady Broncos forced 38 AASU turnovers.

Presbyterian College advanced to the championship game with a 65-60 win over Ferris State in the first game of the day. Toni Leopard's 21 points paced four Blue Hose players in double figures, and her basket with 1:08 left in the game put PC up by four, 61-57, and clinched the game. Ferris State was led by Bridget Horwitz, who registered a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds.

Presbyterian - the 1999 AASU/Chatham Orthopaedics TipOff Classic champion - will face Fayetteville State at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday in the championship game. AASU and Ferris State will play in the consolation game at 5:30 p.m.

- Pirates -