Rachel Thomason | Executive Director

3/01/02

The RU Lady Highlanders, who lead most of game four in the Big South conference, lost to conference rival Winthrop University 50-54. The Lady Highlanders began the Big South Tournament seeded third and ended with an 11-16 season record.

The game's top player was Sophomore Amanda Neby who scored a game total of 13 points. Also playing well for the highlanders were Junior Brandi Allen, Junior Ludmila Nicheporchuk, and Sophomore Cody Silker, the firecracker from Fairmont, Minnesota.

The Highlanders maintained a close game with the Eagles until the second half where they threw away a 15-point lead. The Highlanders threw a fatal pass into the arms of the Eagles, and gave away four points to fouls, increasing Winthrop's lead. With 45 seconds left on the clock, Junior Brandi Allen suffered an ankle injury and had to be carried off the court. Winthrop earned the chance to take on Coastal Carolina in game six of the conference championships.

Interim coach Kristen Holt and assistant coach Lorrie Mitchell head the team. Holt, a 1992 graduate of Ohio University was named 2002 Big South Coach of the Year at a conference banquet last Tuesday.

The Lady Highlanders finish the season with a conference and school record of 161 three-point shots.

  Sherri Rickman scoots past Winthrop
  Amanda Neby gets blocked
  Team Huddle
  Ludmila Nicheporchuk and Sherri Rickman in action

Highlanders Advance at Men's Big South Quarterfinal

The RU men's team commanded attention when they blew past the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers with an 81-66 lead.

The first half was plagued by sloppy rebounds and ball handling by both teams. With 1:16 left on the clock, Coastal committed an intentional foul that sparked a chain of resulting foul shots.

Seniors Correy Watkins and Andrey Savtchenko lead the Highlanders scoring 27 and 20 points respectively.

RU hoops took home five awards at the annual Big South awards banquet. The RU award winners were:

• First Team All-Conference: Andrey Savtchenko
• Second Team All-Conference: Raymond Arrington, Correy Watkins
• First All-Rookie Team: David Popoola
• First All-Academic Team: Andrey Savtchenko

Watch the men's team take on the High Point Panthers in game six.

  Andrey Savtchenko shoots
  B.J. Haigler runs it
  Andrey Savtchenko jumps
  Ray Noiles looks left