FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12-18-00

This Week In Armstrong Atlantic State Athletics – Holiday Edition

Monday, December 18-Thursday, December 21
No Events Scheduled

Friday, December 22
• Francis Marion vs. Wingate, 6:00 p.m.
• Men's Basketball vs. Lenoir-Rhyne, 8:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 23
• Francis Marion vs. Lenoir-Rhyne, 6:00 p.m.
• Men's Basketball vs. Wingate, 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 24-Friday, December 29
No Events Scheduled

Saturday, December 30
• Women's Basketball vs. Gardner-Webb, Noon
• Men's Basketball vs. Valdosta State, 3:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 31-Tuesday, January 2
No Events Scheduled

Wednesday, January 3
• Women's Basketball vs. Francis Marion, 5:30 p.m.
• Men's Basketball vs. Francis Marion, 7:30 p.m.

Men's Basketball (6-4 Overall, 1-0 Peach Belt)

The men's basketball team returns to action this week as it hosts its annual basketball doubleheader on Friday and Saturday, December 22 and 23. Fellow Peach Belt Conference school Francis Marion will host No. 8 Wingate at 6 p.m. on Friday with the Pirates taking on Lenoir-Rhyne at 8 p.m. Saturday, Francis Marion plays Lenoir-Rhyne at 6 p.m. with the Pirates hosting No. 8 Wingate at 8 p.m.

After Christmas, AASU will host Valdosta State on Saturday, December 30 at 3 p.m. before returning to conference action on Wednesday, January 3 against Francis Marion at 7:30 p.m.

Junior David Koncul leads the Pirates in scoring, averaging 17.0 points per game, and the Benedictine product has scored in double figures in every game this season. Senior Robert Campbell is averaging 12.5 points, 6.9 assists and 3.8 steals per game, ranking 13^th in the nation in assists and 10^th in steals. As a team, the Pirates are shooting 53.9 percent from the floor, second in the country.

Women's Basketball (4-5 Overall, 0-1 Peach Belt)

The AASU women's basketball team split two games on the week, defeating cross-town rival Savannah State on Tuesday but losing to Lenoir-Rhyne on Friday.

Tuesday, sophomore Zandrique Cason poured in 23 points and junior guard Lexie Martin

scored 20 points in the second half as AASU knocked off Savannah State, 78-64. Cason hit for 15 points in the first half as the Lady Pirates opened up a 41-32 halftime lead, then stretched it to a 20-point lead, 63-43, thanks to a 22-9 run to start the second half. Martin poured in all 20 of her points after intermission, hitting 5-of-8 shots from the floor, including 4-of-6 three-pointers, and 6-of-6 free throws. Freshman Nicole Joffrion added 13 points off of the bench for the Lady Pirates, who have won four of the last five in the series against the Lady Tigers.

On Friday, Lenoir-Rhyne came away with a 69-56 win despite Zandrique Cason's record-setting afternoon on the boards. Cason scored 13 points and recorded 20 rebounds – including a school-record and PBC-record 18 defensive boards – but it was not enough to give the Lady Pirates the win. Cason's 18 rebounds breaks the school record of 17 previously held by Cindy Pound and Renee Rice. The 20 rebounds are also the first time an AASU player has reached 20 boards since Rice recorded 23 rebounds against at Georgia College on Jan. 29, 1992.

The Lady Pirates return to action after the Christmas holidays on Saturday, December 30 against Gardner-Webb at Noon, then return to Peach Belt play on Wednesday, January 3 against Francis Marion at 5:30 p.m.

- Pirates -