Encouraging Start for Men's and Women's Basketball Teams
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Published on Monday, 15 November 2010 00:24
The Ave Maria University men's and women's basketball teams both play their home openers this week after encouraging starts to the season.
The women won all three games they played to start the season at a tournament in Atlanta, then made a good showing Saturday against NCAA Division II Flagler College, losing 70-63 after being up 28-27 at the half.
"We're a young team," said coach Bob Batson, "with six freshmen and two sophomore transfers for a total of eight new players."
In addition, Coach Batson said, senior guard Erika Derks, who was first-team all-conference last season, is injured. "it's going to be an uphill battle this season," he said.
The men also have to contend with the loss of two key players early in the season. Point Guard Danny Vivas (right) , who has played for the varsity squad since its first game in 2008, suffered a knee injury and Christ Jordan, the team's first forward off the bench, is also out for the year with health issues.
"We returned everybody this season," said Coach Jamon Copeland, "then to lose two of your top six or seven guys is quite a blow."
"We have a lot of guys who are going to have to play a lot of minutes," he said.
The men are 3-1 at the start of the season, and play their home opener Saturday, Nov. 20, against Trinity College at 1 p.m. in the new Golisano Field House. The new structure will be officially opened at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
The women's first home game is Tuesday, Nov. 16, at 6 p.m. against the University of Puerto Rico Rio-Piedras. That game may also be played in the Golisano Field House if the bleachers are installed by then, otherwise it will be played at the Donahue Academy.
