FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12-17-04

2004 AASU Chatham Orthopaedic Holiday Basketball Classic
Day One Recap

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The host Armstrong Atlantic State men and women defended home court in day one of the 2004 AASU Chatham Orthopaedic Holiday Basketball Classic at Alumni Arena, while the Ashland University women and Savannah College of Art and Design men also picked up victories on Friday in Savannah.

Both AASU squads stayed undefeated at home with the victories. The AASU men (5-3) trailed Lenoir-Rhyne (4-5) by 14 points in the first half, 34-20, but used a 19-6 run to close to within one point at intermission, 40-39. The Pirates then continued their trend of hot second-half shooting at home, hitting 12-of-22 shots from the floor after halftime to come away with the 74-63 victory over the Bears. Three AASU players reached double figures, led by senior Lorenzo Lawrence’s game-high 22 points and sophomore Bryan Taylor’s 17 points. Freshman Jamaal Galloway chipped in 10 points. Lenoir-Rhyne was led by senior Roman Davis, who scored 19 points, and freshman Josh Rudder, who chipped in 13 points to go with his six assists.

The Lady Pirates also had to come from behind to win their fifth straight game, but had to force an extra frame to do it. After leading by seven at halftime, 32-25, AASU watched Lenoir-Rhyne rally in the second half and take a seven-point lead, 56-49, with 4:30 left in the game. The Lady Pirates then clamped down on defense, holding the Lady Bears scoreless the rest of the way and forcing overtime on Ramona Wright’s jumper with 25 seconds left. AASU (8-3) then continued the tough defense in OT, holding Lenoir-Rhyne (6-4) to just 1-of-7 from the floor in outscoring the Lady Bears 11-6 and taking the 67-62 victory. Four AASU players scored in double figures, led by junior Audosha Kelley’s 13 points and freshman Jasmine Herron’s first career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Lenoir-Rhyne was led by Lanica Williams’ game-high 19 points, while Shea Blacknell added 12 points. AASU held DII All-America center Crystal Clary to just five points and six rebounds before Clary fouled out in overtime.

In the earlier women’s game of the day, Ashland’s women knocked off Mars Hill, 80-65, placing four players in double figures. Center Jackie Mason recorded 16 points, 12 rebounds and seven blocked shots to pace the Eagles (6-4), while Amber Rall added 14 points and Catherine Portyrata chipped in 13 points. Mars Hill, who shot just 31 percent from the floor, was led by Allison Schafer’s 15 points and Kristi Ferris’ double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds.

The early men’s game saw the Savannah College of Art and Design erase a seven-point first-half deficit against USC Aiken, use a 19-7 run midway through the second half and pull away from the Pacers, taking a 72-58 victory. SCAD (5-8) got a game-high 23 points from Shaun Watson, who hit 8-of-10 shots from the floor, and Ryan Kaminski chipped in a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. USC Aiken (4-4) did not place a player in double figures as Marcus Robinson led with nine points.

Tomorrow’s action concludes the 2004 AASU Chatham Orthopaedics Basketball Classic, with Ashland taking on Lenoir-Rhyne in women’s action at 2:00 p.m. USC Aiken follows against Lenoir-Rhyne’s men at 4:00 p.m., with the host AASU Lady Pirates taking on Mars Hill at 6:00 p.m. and the AASU men hosting SCAD at 8:00 p.m.

-Pirates-