Women’s basketball ends season at home, men’s team prepares for postseason action
Posted by The Skyliner on February 25th, 2009Cory Guinn
Staff Writer
On Feb. 16, the North Greenville women had a chance to knock off the #1 seed Emmanuel College Lions in the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCAA) South Regional Tournament in West Palm Beach, Fla. The Lady Crusaders led 33-28 at halftime but the Lions exploded in the second half and came away with an 82-64 win in the first round.
“Emmanuel really didn’t dominate us like you would think looking at the score,” head coach Jayne Arledge said. “We played a great first half, but turned it over at the end of the half and right at the beginning of the second. We held them to 27 percent shooting and forced 11 turnovers in the first half. After that, they got after us.”
Guard Karly Stache, freshman undecided, scored 17 points in the game. Nikki Wood, junior psychology, added 14 points and Amanda Milner, senior psychology, finished with 12 points.
Erin Gray puts up a shot over the Emmanuel College defense. Emmanuel knocked out NGU in the first round of the NCCAA tournament. (Photo by Elizabeth Wood/The Skyliner)
Milner, Bridgett Smith, senior sports management, and Mindy Greenstone, senior early childhood education, were honored before the game on Feb. 21 against the University of West Georgia. The final game of the season for the Lady Crusaders was designated “Senior Day”. NGU (13-15) was unable to slow down the UWG offense and ended the season with an 82-73 loss.
Milner had a dominant final game as she finished with 22 points and nine rebounds. Wood scored 15 points and dished out five assists while Christina Carlis, freshman undecided, came off the bench to score 12 points. Whitney Smith, junior accounting, added 10 points.
“I learned a lot of things of myself and the power of Christ throughout my four years (at NGU). I have made so many good memories and friendships I will never forget.” Greenstone said after her final game as a Lady Crusader. “To next year’s team, I say two things: First, your teammates are like your sisters, keep them close. Second, keep your head up, and just have fun with it!”
Six Crusaders scored in double figures in a 96-74 win over Carver College in Atlanta on Feb. 19. Point guard Tyler Mains, sophomore accounting, who scored a career high 21 points, led NGU.
“We did a nice job on defense the last 12 minutes of the game and rebounded hard,” head coach Chad Lister said. “We were able to pull away by really sharing the basketball tonight. Tyler (Mains) had a big game, and he’s really maturing at the point guard position.”
Other Crusaders in double digits were Kyler Vitko, junior sports management, with 17, Zach Babbitt, sophomore business administration, with 15, and Kyler Booher, sophomore broadcast media, with 14. Paul Harrison, freshman sports management, and Jonathan Bozymowski, freshman undecided, finished with 12 points and 10 points respectively.
On Feb. 21, the North Greenville men (10-16) traveled to Mars Hill, N.C., for a rematch against Mars Hill College. NGU could not stop Lions’ forward P. J. Gore and lost to MHC 91-63.
Babbitt led the offense with 17 points and Bozymowski added 12 points and six rebounds. Harrison had a double-double scoring 10 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, and T. J. Resper, freshman undecided, chipped in 10 points off the bench.
North Greenville’s final home game will be Monday, Feb. 23 when the Crusaders host Reinhardt College of Georgia at 7 p.m. in Hayes Gymnasium. Following that contest, NGU will host the NCCAA South Regional Tournament March 9-11.