FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2-18-02

This Week In Armstrong Atlantic State Athletics

Monday, February 18
• Women's Tennis vs. Augusta State, 2:00 p.m.
• Men's Tennis vs. Augusta State, 2:00 p.m.

Tuesday, February 19
No Events Scheduled

Wednesday, February 20
• Women's Basketball at GC&SU, 5:30 p.m.
• Men's Basketball at GC&SU, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, February 21
No Events Scheduled

Friday, February 22
• Baseball at 2002 Memorial Health Diamond Classic (@ Grayson Stadium)
AASU vs. Connecticut, 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 23
• Baseball at 2002 Memorial Health Diamond Classic (@ Grayson Stadium)
AASU vs. North Carolina, 2:00 p.m.
• Women's Basketball vs. Kennesaw State, 2:00 p.m.
• Men's Basketball vs. Kennesaw State, 4:00 p.m.
• Women's Tennis at USC Aiken, 1:00 p.m.
• Men's Tennis at USC Aiken, 1:00 p.m.
• Softball at Palm Beach Atlantic, 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, February 24
• Baseball at 2002 Memorial Health Diamond Classic (@ Grayson Stadium)
AASU vs. Georgia, 2:00 p.m.
• Women's Tennis vs. West Florida, 9:00 a.m. (@ Macon, Ga.)
• Men's Tennis vs. West Florida, 9:00 a.m. (@ Macon, Ga.)
• Softball at Northwood (Fla.), 10:00 a.m.

Baseball (11-2 Overall, 4-2 Peach Belt, No. 13 Collegiate Baseball Division II)

The 2002 AASU baseball squad swept a PBC weekend series from UNC Pembroke, defeating the Braves 13-4 on Saturday, then taking a doubleheader 10-0 and 8-7 on Sunday.

On Saturday, the No. 13-ranked Pirates broke open a close 4-3 game in the seventh inning with six straight hits en route to seven runs to beat the Braves, 13-4. Sophomore Stacy Bennett went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles as every AASU starter collected a hit.

Sunday, the Pirates jumped on UNCP pitching early as junior Chris Boaen and Bennett hit back-to-back home runs in the second inning, then Boaen later added a solo shot as the Pirates won, 10-0. Senior Brian Allen hurled eight innings of five-hit shutout ball, striking out seven, to pick up his first win of the season. In the second game, the Pirates and the Braves played to a 7-all tie through the first seven innings, then got a leadoff home run from catcher David Harriman in the bottom of the eighth to give the Pirates the 8-7 win and the sweep.

Bennett had the hot bat for the Pirates, going 8-for-12 in the weekend series, and AASU collectively rapped out 51 hits in the three-game sweep of the Braves. Harriman extended his season-long hitting streak to 13 games with hits in all three contests.

This week, the Pirates will take part in the 2002 Memorial Health Diamond Classic down at Grayson Stadium. AASU will play the University of Connecticut on Friday, Feb. 22 at 3:30 p.m., then play the University of North Carolina at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23 and wrap up the Classic with a 2:00 p.m. game against the University of Georgia on Sunday, Feb. 24.

Men's Basketball (11-13 Overall, 7-10 Peach Belt)

The Armstrong Atlantic State men's basketball team snapped its seven-game losing streak with a 93-69 win at the University of North Florida on Wednesday, but lost an 87-76 decision at Columbus State on Saturday.

The Pirates shot a blistering 63 percent from the field, including 54 percent from three-point range, in the 24-point victory at UNF on Wednesday. The win was the largest road PBC victory for the Pirates in 10 years and five AASU players scored in double digits, led by senior Donta Humphries' 19 points and sophomore Justin Wood's career-high 15 points.

On Saturday, the Pirates continued to shoot well from three-point range, hitting 50 percent of their shots, but it was not enough to pick up the win at Columbus State. Senior Bart Westgeest led all scorers with a career-high 20 points, while Justin Wood hit for a career-best scoring mark for the second game in a row with 19 points.

This week, the Pirates wrap up the 2001-2002 regular season with a Wednesday, February 20 game at GC&SU at 7:30 p.m., then close out the home schedule with a 4:00 p.m. game against Kennesaw State on Saturday, February 23. Four AASU seniors - guards Donta Humphries and Mick Jordan, forward Willard Winn and center Bart Westgeest - will play their final home games for the Pirates on Saturday.

Women's Basketball (8-16 Overall, 6-11 Peach Belt)

The Lady Pirates dropped two road games on the week, losing at North Florida, 67-59, and at Columbus State, 73-63.

Wednesday evening, the Lady Pirates watched junior All-America candidate Zandrique Cason tie a PBC record with 17 defensive rebounds en route to a game-high 23 boards in the eight-point loss to the Lady Ospreys in Jacksonville. Cason added 14 points to go with her 23 rebounds, but it was not enough for the Pirates.

Saturday, Cason again registered a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds, but Columbus State forced 22 AASU turnovers and pulled away in the second half for the 10-point victory. The junior from Mesa, Ariz., has now recorded 12 double-doubles on the season and continues to lead the Peach Belt Conference in rebounding with 10.9 boards per game.

This week, the Lady Pirates wrap up the 2001-2002 regular season with a Wednesday, February 20 game at GC&SU at 5:30 p.m., then close out the home schedule with a 2:00 p.m. game against Kennesaw State on Saturday, February 23. AASU's lone senior, guard Lexie Martin, will play her final home game for the Lady Pirates on Saturday.

Men's Tennis (1-2, 0-2 Peach Belt, No. 19 NCAA Division II)

The No. 19-ranked AASU men's tennis team split two matches on the week, picking up its first win of the season with a 6-3 victory over the No. 5-ranked team in NAIA, Flagler College, on Saturday. AASU then dropped a 6-3 decision to No. 9-ranked Francis Marion on Sunday.

The Pirates next host Augusta State in a PBC match on Monday, February 18 at 2:00 p.m., then AASU hits the road for two matches on the weekend, at USC Aiken on Saturday, February 23 at 1:00 p.m. and against West Florida in Macon, Ga., on Sunday, February 24 at 9:00 a.m.

Women's Tennis (5-0, 3-0 Peach Belt, No. 5 NCAA Division II)

The No. 5-ranked women's tennis team continued its perfect start to the 2002 year with two wins on the week, defeating the No. 4-ranked team in NAIA, Flagler College, 7-2 and blanking No. 31-ranked Francis Marion, 9-0.

The Lady Pirates next host Augusta State in a PBC match on Monday, February 18 at 2:00 p.m., then AASU hits the road for two matches on the weekend, at USC Aiken on Saturday, February 23 at 1:00 p.m. and against West Florida in Macon, Ga., on Sunday, February 24 at 9:00 a.m.

Softball (No. 13 NCAA Division II)

The AASU softball squad opens the 2002 season with road games at Palm Beach Atlantic and Northwood (Fla.) this weekend. AASU returns five players from last season's 33-14 squad, including three-time All-Region pitcher Annie Sells, the Peach Belt Conference's leading strikeout artist. AASU plays at PBAC on Saturday, February 23 at 5:00 p.m., then plays at Northwood on Sunday, February 24 at 10:00 a.m.

- Pirates -