On campus: March Madness
Published 10:32 pm Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Winthrop’s men’s basketball team clinched its ninth NCAA Tournament appearance of the last 12 seasons Saturday, beating top-seeded Coastal Carolina 64-53 in the final of the Big South Tournament at Coastal Carolina.
Sophomore guard Andre Jones (Nansemond River) had nine points and three assists in 21 minutes off the bench for Winthrop.
Winthrop (19-13) outscored the Chanticleers 40-27 in the second half.
Old Dominion redshirt-freshman forward Nick Wright (Nansemond River) played in all three games as the Monarchs won the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament in Richmond. The Monarchs completed the championship Monday night beating William and Mary 60-53.
ODU went on a 10-0 run in the first half to build its lead to 27-14 over the Tribe. ODU led by at least five points the rest of the way.
Including the three tournament wins, ODU (26-8) has won eight of its last nine games. The Monarchs routed Towson in the tourney quarterfinals, and then beat Virginia Commonwealth 73-69 in overtime in the semifinals.
It is the 10th NCAA Tournament appearance by the Monarchs. The NCAA Tournament field, with where and who, ODU and Winthrop will play, comes out Sunday evening.
Christopher Newport’s women’s basketball team moved to 30-0 on the season and into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Div. III Tournament with a pair of routs Friday and Saturday in Newport News.
In the first round, CNU jumped out to a 17-6 lead and never trailed in beating Washington and Lee 68-51.
On Saturday, Roanoke held a 14-13 lead on CNU before the Lady Captains held the Lady Maroons scoreless for the next 10 minutes to take a 34-14 lead. CNU went on to a 72-48 win.
Sophomore guard Shannon Walker (Nansemond River) played on both contests for CNU.
CNU travels to Union, N.J. for the next two rounds of the tournament. CNU faces Rochester on Friday in the round of 16.
No. 6-seeded Rutgers upset No. 3 Georgetown in the quarterfinals of the Big East Women’s Basketball Tournament in Hartford, Conn. Sunday night. Rutgers edged the Lady Hoyas 63-56 in double overtime.
Freshman TaShauna “Sugar” Rodgers led the Lady Hoyas with 20 points. Rodgers had a career-high 12 rebounds along with three steals and two assists in 43 minutes of play.
Georgetown (25-6) awaits Monday’s announcement of the NCAA Tournament field. The Lady Hoyas are ranked No. 12 in the Associated Press Poll and No. 11 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.