FMU signs SC and FL basketball guards

FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University men’s basketball coach Gary Edwards has announced that 6-1 guard Philip Jenkins of Goose Creek, S.C., and 6-2 guard Michael Highsmith of Sanford, Fla., have signed national letters of intent to attend FMU and play for Patriots this season.
Jenkins is a graduate of Goose Creek High School, where he played for coach Brad Dobbels.
This past season, he averaged 21.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while leading the Gators to a 27-2 record and the AAAA state championship. He scored 33 points in the title game win.
A two-time All-State selection, he was named the High School Sports Reports’ AAAA Statewide Player of the Year for 2008-09, and he was selected to play in the 2009 Carolinas All-Star Classic.
He was also an honor roll student at Goose Creek.
Highsmith is a product of Lake Brantley High School, where he played for coach Michael Cuff.
As a senior, he averaged 20 points, 7.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 2.0 steals per game. He was a first-team All-Conference pick, earned his team’s most valuable player award, and was named to the Orlando Sentinel’s Top 30 Seniors List.
He holds Lake Brantley’s single season record for points (587).
“Philip was an important member of Goose Creek’s state championship team and he knows how to win,” said Edwards. “He can score in a variety of ways and is also a good defender. He is a good, young guard who will grow with our program.
“Mike is a big guard who was under recruited in Florida and we feel very fortunate to have him join our program. He is a diamond-in-the rough who may be ready to compete in the Peach Belt earlier than a typical freshman.”
The two signees bring to nine the number of newcomers on the Patriot roster for 2009-2010.
Francis Marion finished the 2008-09 season with a 16-12 record.

Coker Women's Basketball Signs Four

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
7/28/2009

Hartsville, S.C. - Coker College head women's basketball coach, Carol Meegan, announced the signing of four players to National Letters of Intent to play basketball for the Lady Cobras in 2009-10 today.

Joining the Lady Cobras on the court will be Lucy Fish, Jaime Birr, Amanda Compton and Cassie Kirby.

Fish comes to Coker from across the Atlantic Ocean, as a native of Nottingham, England, where she was a standout player for the Nottingham Wildcats and the England's U18 National Team. Fish is no stranger to Coker, having player for Coker alum, Leanne Chandler, class of 2004. Lucy was a starter for most of the season for the Wildcats and was named England's team captain for the U18 National Team this summer competing in 2009 European Championships in Israel.

Birr is a native of Burnsville, Minn., where she was a three-time All-Conference selection at the Academy of Holy Angels. A two-time captain and four year letter winner, Birr was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2008-2009. At 6-1 Birr will add some much needed height to the Lady Cobras lineup.

Compton joins the Lady Cobras from Newark, Del., where she was a standout player at Elkton Christian. A 6-3 post player, Compton was named All-Conference in 2009, while scoring 856 points with 951 rebounds in her career. Off the court Amanda is a member of the National Honor Society.

Kirby comes to Coker from Charlottesville, Va., where she was a five-time basketball letter winner at The Miller School of Albemarle. A National Honor Society member and Honor Roll student, Kirby was named to the All-Central Va. Team, was a Second Team Virginia Independent School Blue Ridge Conference selection and was named to the Daily Progress All-Tournament Team. Cassie averaged 10 points, six rebounds and seven assists per game in 2009.

Coach Meegan and the Lady Cobras open the 2009-10 season on November 15, when they host the UNC-Pembroke Braves at 3:00 p.m. in the Timberlake-Lawton Gymnasium. This season the Lady Cobras will be looking to improve on their 11-17 record last season, their best record under Coach Carol Meegan.

Patriot cage team picks up transfer pair

Francis Marion University men’s basketball coach Gary Edwards has announced that 6-6 swingman Andy Peterson of Sarasota, Fla., and 6-9 post player Andrew Smith of South Milwaukee, Wis., will transfer to FMU and join the Patriot program this fall.
Peterson will transfer to Francis Marion after two seasons at Manatee Community College in Florida.
This past season, he averaged 11.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game and connected on 54.1 percent of his field goal attempts while earning second-team All-Suncoast Conference recognition.
As a freshman, he averaged 10 points and five rebounds per contest and shot 56.8 percent from the field as the Lancers posted a 17-14 record and made their first state tournament appearance in nine years.
A three-year starter in high school, he tallied 18 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists per game as a senior at Sarasota High School. He gained first-team All-Area honors and was named the most valuable player of the 2007 Sarasota-Manatee County PAL Game.
The 260-pound Smith is transferring from the University of Texas-Pan American, where he played one season. As a freshman, he averaged 3.0 points and 1.8 rebounds, while shooting 54.2 percent from field and 69.6 percent at the foul line.
He was a highly decorated player at South Milwaukee High School where he scored more than 1,000 points. He was a first-team All-State and All-Southeast Conference selection while also earning conference Player of the Year honors and being named an All-Star selection.
“Andy had an outstanding junior college career in Florida and is an experienced player who can play a variety of positions,” Edwards said. “He is very skilled, but slender, and I hope we will be able to play him away from the basket a little more in the Peach Belt.
“I am very pleased Andrew will be a part of our program for the next three years. He gives us size and strength around the basket, but he can also step away from the basket and shoot the ball. Each year we have tried to recruit more size and power and this addition keeps us moving in that important direction.”
The two transfers bring to seven the number of newcomers on the Patriot roster for 2009-2010.
Francis Marion finished the 2008-09 season with a 16-12 record.

FMU adds two men’s basketball players

Francis Marion University men’s basketball coach Gary Edwards has announced that 6-3 swingman Edward Gullatte of Shelby, N.C., and 6-9 center Mindaugas Petreikis of Siauliai, Lithuania will transfer to FMU and join the Patriot program this fall.

Gullatte will transfer to Francis Marion after two seasons at Denmark Technical College. This past season, he averaged 17 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 steals, and 3,4 assists per game playing for head coach (and former UNC standout) Donald Williams.

He earned Defensive Player of the Year honors both in college and high school. While at Shelby High School, he was named the Most Outstanding Player in the state championship game.

The 240-pound Petreikis is transferring from John Wood Community College in Quincy, Ill., where he played a pair of seasons. This past campaign, he averaged 4.7 points and 4.0 rebounds for the 19-12 Trail Blazers, while shooting 66.0 percent from field and 71.8 percent at the foul line.
He attended Pace Academy in Atlanta as a foreign exchange student.

“Gullatte is a big, athletic guard who had an outstanding two years at Denmark Tech,” Edwards said. “What impresses me the most is his defensive intensity. He is a competitor who works very hard on the court and in the classroom.

“We knew Petreikis when he was a student at Pace and have followed his progress at John Wood. He has improved to the point where he can be a solid post player in the Peach Belt Conference. He is also an outstanding student.”

Both Gullatte and Petreikis were Dean’s List students at their respective colleges.

The two will join three other newcomers at Francis Marion this fall: 6-2 freshmen guard Evrik Gary of Camden, 5-11 junior guard Bryant Julious of Hemingway, and 6-6 junior forward Liki Turner of Richmond, Va.

Francis Marion finished the 2008-09 season with a 16-12 record.

FMU to play in Carolina’s Challenge in Myrtle Beach

Francis Marion University athletic officials have announced that the Patriot women’s basketball team will participate in the 2009 Carolina’s Challenge this December in the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.

Francis Marion will play Bluefield (Va.) College at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 20. The University of North Carolina, coached by former FMU head coach Sylvia Hatchell, will meet the University of South Carolina at 3 p.m. and Coastal Carolina University will play Savannah State University in the nightcap at 5 p.m.

The annual challenge is held in conjunction with the prestigious Crescent Bank Holiday Invitational for high school girls’ teams.

“This is an extreme honor to be able to take part in this event,” said FMU head coach Heather Macy. “To play on a stage such as the Carolina’s Challenge, raises our program to a new level, both for exposure and recruiting.”

Francis Marion returns six letterwinners from last season’s 27-5 squad that ended the year ranked 14th nationally. The Patriots won their second consecutive Peach Belt Conference regular-season championship, made the program’s second straight NCAA Tournament appearance (reaching the round of Sweet Sixteen), and led the nation in scoring offense for the second year in a row.

Francis Marion will open its 27-game 2009-2010 schedule on Nov. 15 at home against Converse College. The slate includes 15 home games.

Patriot men cagers gain services of Shepherd transfer

Francis Marion University men’s basketball coach Gary Edwards has announced the addition of 6-6 junior forward Liki Turner, who is transferring from Shepherd College to FMU and will play for the Patriots this season.

Turner is a native of Richmond, Va., and was a two-sport (football and basketball) letterman at Benedictine High School. He averaged 10 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game as a senior, while teaming with University of North Carolina signee Ed Davis as Benedictine posted a 29-3 record and won the Virginia Independent Schools Division I championship.

At Shepherd, he earned WVIAC Freshman of the Year honors after averaging 14.6 ppg and 8.9 rpg during the 2007-08 campaign. He recorded 13 doubles-doubles.

This past year, he compiled averages of 14.3 ppg and 8.1 rpg while shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 72.0 percent at the foul line. In his two seasons with the Rams, he tallied 823 points and 486 rebounds.

“Liki is a proven performer on the Division II level,” said Edwards. “He brings experience and an intensity to our front line. I expect him to contend for All-Conference honors in the Peach Belt just as he did in the WVIAC."

At Francis Marion, Turner will join previously announced newcomers 6-2 freshmen guard Evrik Gary of Camden and 5-11 junior guard Bryant Julious of Hemingway.

Francis Marion finished the 2008-09 season with a 16-12 record.

FMU men’s basketball adds two Palmetto cagers

Francis Marion University men’s basketball coach Gary Edwards has announced the signing of 6-2 guard Evrik Gary of Camden to a national letter of intent and that Hemingway native Bryant Julious will transfer from USC Salkehatchie to FMU.

Gary was a key member of Camden’s 2009 AAA state championship squad, scoring 23 points in the title game. This past season, he averaged 16.8 points, 4.1 steals, and 3.2 assists per game for coach Ron McKie’s 25-2 Bulldog squad. Gary connected on 45 percent of his field goal attempts and shot 86 percent at the free throw stripe.

A two-time All-Region selection, he was chosen for the North-South All-Star Game, where he won the three-point shooting competition, and was a participant in the CSRA All-Star Game. He was also named a South Carolina High School League Scholar Athlete following his senior season, and was an honor graduate.

Julious, a 5-11 190-pound guard, helped lead USC Salkehatchie to the 2009 Region X championship. He averaged 10 points, 3.5 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game, and was named his squad’s most valuable player. He connected on 36.1 percent of his three-point field goal attempts and 79.5 percent of his free throws. In the backcourt, he also handed out nearly twice as many assists as turnovers committed.

As a freshman, he averaged 3.4 ppg.

During his prep career playing for coach Barry McFadden at Hemingway, he set the Tigers’ career scoring record with 1,699 points. He was a two-time All-State selection and was chosen to participate in the South Carolina/North Carolina All-Star Game.

“Evrik comes from a winning program and he is accustomed to ‘cutting down the nets’,” said Edwards. “He will grow with our program and has the potential to be an outstanding Peach Belt Conference guard. He is also an outstanding student who has earned numerous academic awards during his time at Camden.

“When I first came to FMU, I recruited Bryant out of Hemingway High School. He has gained experience on the junior college level and is ready to lead a Peach Belt Conference team. We not only look for Bryant to direct our attack on the court, but as an outstanding student, he can be an example for our younger players.

“I am extremely pleased we have been able to attract two highly qualified student-athletes from South Carolina to join our program.”

Francis Marion finished the 2008-09 season with a 16-12 record.

Georgia Tech cager to join FMU Women

Francis Marion University women’s basketball coach Heather Macy has announced that 5-9 sophomore forward Simone Trice of Flint, Mich., is transferring from Georgia Tech to FMU and will play for the Patriots this fall.

Trice sat out the 2007-08 season with an injury and last season averaged 0.5 points and 0.7 rebounds per game in limited action for the 22-10 Yellow Jackets.

She is a product of Flint Northwestern High School, where she was a four-year All-State selection. She tallied 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds during her prep career.

She also played volleyball, softball, and ran track in high school, as well as being a member of the school’s National Honor Society.

“Simone is exactly what we needed in this recruiting class,” Macy said. “She will be a constant mismatch for opponents on offense. I love the fact that she can play inside and outside and will rebound the basketball in traffic. We are thrilled she chose to become a Patriot.”
Trice said, “I’m excited to be coming to Francis Marion. I am looking forward to winning a championship before I graduate! The coaching staff and team made me feel like part of their family and I’m looking forward to making Florence home.”

Francis Marion concluded its most recent season with a 27-5 record, a No. 14 national ranking, the squad’s second consecutive Peach Belt Conference regular-season championship, and its second straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

Trice becomes the second Division I transfer from the Atlanta area to join the Patriot roster. Earlier Macy announced the addition of 5-6 guard Monica Mann of Smyrna, Ga., who is transferring from Georgia State University. Macy has also signed two freshmen: 5-8 guard Courtney Mealing of North Augusta and 5-7 guard Kristen Dickerson of Columbia.

Former Patriot cager now Globetrotting

A former Francis Marion University men’s basketball player has traded in his red, white, and blue Patriot uniform for a red, white, and blue ball and an extensive travel schedule. Former FMU player Vony Rivers is currently travelling the world as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters.
Rivers, a 6-2 182-pound guard, goes by the nickname “Rocket” and wears jersey number 17. The Burton, S.C., native is in his second year with the Clown Princes of Basketball, and has been on five different tours across the globe.

Rivers played two seasons (2004-06) at Francis Marion and earned a B.B.A. degree in management in 2006.

When asked how he earned a roster spot on the Globetrotters, Rivers said “After I graduated from FMU, I played for a very short stint in the ABA. I was not satisfied with how that turned out, so I started going to different exposure camps and workouts. At one of the workouts, a talent recruiter for the Globetrotters named Al Clocker discovered me and extended me the invitation to come workout with the team. So my first time on an airplane was a trip to Houston, Texas, for my workout. I did a great job and was offered a rookie contract.”

“As far as my role on the team, I'm kind of an all around guy, so I'm labeled as a playmaker. That consists of ball handling, dunking, dribbling, and whatever else the team needs me to do at the time.”

Rivers name was mentioned in a recent Sports Illustrated article about the Globetrotters.
“The travel is a grind, but it just may be the best part! I have been to places that most people can only dream of, including multiple countries in South America, Europe, and Africa, not to mention all over the United States and Canada.”
When asked about his most memorable experience, Rivers responded, “My most memorable moment has to be when we traveled to Israel and I had the opportunity to walk where Jesus walked and pray on the stone where his body was laid at his final resting place. There are no words in any language that can describe the feeling or experience of those moments.”
The Globetrotters recently concluded a 209-city tour, which produced team box office records in 62 markets, as the team visited 43 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, seven Canadian provinces and Puerto Rico.

In his two seasons at Francis Marion, Rivers averaged 7.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game during the 2004-05 season and 14.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game as a senior in 2005-06. During his two years in Florence, he connected on 34.4 percent of his three-point attempts and compiled more assists than turnovers (117/99) while recording 79 steals in 54 games.
He was twice named to the Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll and the FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll.

Former FMU head coach John Schweitz said of Rivers, “Vony was one of those players, using the coaching cliché, that just gets it. He was an extremely competitive player and practiced as hard as he played. He was also a very dedicated student. He was the kind of person, student and player that all coaches wish they had more of on their teams.”

According to the Globetrotters’ website, Rivers said that to be a Globetrotter means “the opportunity to showcase to the world my love and passion for this game. It also gives me a means through which I can give people a getaway and a chance for complete happiness no matter what they’re going through in their everyday lives.”

Rivers played one season at Erskine College, where he averaged 12.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game during the 2001-02 season and was named the CVAC Freshman of the Year, prior to transferring to Francis Marion.
He is a graduate of Battery Creek High School.

FMU women’s basketball listed in final NCAA stats

FLORENCE, S.C. – For the second year in a row, the Francis Marion University women’s basketball team finished this past season as the top scoring team in NCAA Division II, while also leading the nation in steals and turnover margin. Several Patriot players were also listed in the end-of-the-season statistical report.

The Patriots, in their second year under head coach Heather Macy, posted a 27-5 record, finished with a No. 14 national ranking, won a second consecutive Peach Belt Conference regular-season championship, and made their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance. FMU won two games in the Southeast Regional and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the fifth time in team history.

The Patriots averaged 88.1 points per game, 19.4 steals per game, and owned a turnover margin of 10.69 per game to lead those categories. Last year, FMU recorded averages of 89.3 points per game and 18.5 steals per game.

Approximately 275 schools sponsor Division II women’s basketball programs.

FMU also ranked second nationally in scoring margin (+21.1 pp), seventh in won-loss percentage (.844), ninth in three-point field goal percentage defense (26.5%), 11th in assists per game (18.1), 47th in field goal percentage (43.6%), 74th in field goal percentage defense (38.0%), 78th in three-point field goals made per game (6.3), and 79th in blocked shots per game (3.3).

Individually, senior point guard Kevin Ransom ranked second nationally in steals per game with 4.5 per contest, and the Roanoke Rapids, N.C., native also ranked 19th in assists per game (5.3). As a junior she led Division II with 4.9 steals per game.

Sophomore guard Robin Colbert and senior guard Jennifer Dyer ranked 19th and 40th respectively in steals per game – Colbert at 3.2 per game and Dyer at 2.8 per contest.

Dyer was also listed at 55th in three-point field goal percentage at 37.8 percentage and 95th in three-point field goals made per game at 2.1 per contest.

Junior guard Eboni Fields ranked 78th in three-point field goal percentage (35.8%) and 95th in three-pointers made per game (2.1).

Despite leading the nation in scoring, the Patriots featured a balanced scoring attack that had five players averaging between 10.0 and 13.0 points per game. For the second straight year, FMU eclipsed the 100-point mark eight times, the most since the 1986-87 squad also accomplished that feat. The campaign was FMU’s second consecutive 20-win season and the 21st in the team’s 35-year history.

FMU Men’s Basketball Program Schedules Summer Camps

The Francis Marion University men’s basketball program will sponsor several summer camps during the month of June.

The “Four Great Days of Summer” Basketball Camp will be held June 15-18 for players in grades three through 10. The Gary Edwards’ High School Team Camp and Shootout will take place June 12-14, and an Elevate Exposure Camp for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors will be held June 22-25.

The four-day Individual Camp will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The cost of the camp is $150, and it includes lunches.

The camp is designed to provide fundamental instruction in all phases of the game.

For the team camp, squads are guaranteed six games and will compete in a shootout on the final day of the camp. Games will be officiated by certified referees. The cost of the camp is $475 per team ($425 for a second team) and $95 for each overnight camper (includes lodging and meals).
The team camp will be divided into varsity and junior varsity competitions. An All-Tournament Team will be selected at the close of the camp.
All campers will receive a T-shirt.

The Elevate Exposure Camp is designed for high school players who want to improve their game and be seen by junior college and four-year college coaches. Participants will work with coaches from throughout the Southeast, and will also experience an NCAA eligibility and recruiting seminar. The cost of $250 includes housing and meals.

FMU head coach Gary Edwards will direct the camps. He recently completed his third season at Francis Marion, where he has increased the squad’s win total each year. He has coached at both the NCAA Division I and II levels and has recorded more than 425 career wins in 25 seasons.
For more information, contact the FMU men’s basketball office at 843-661-1247 or 843-661-1811.

Focused 50 Women’s Basketball Camps at FMU

Francis Marion University will play host to Heather Macy’s Focused 50 Women’s Basketball Camp for both individuals and teams this summer.

The Team Camp will be held June 19-20, while the Individual Camp, which includes two sessions, is set for July 24-26.

The Team Camp costs $210 per team, and an additional $30 for each player over the total of eight. The camp is for middle school, junior varsity, and varsity teams, and will include personalized instruction, a coaching clinic, a video review session, and a minimum of six games per squad.
The Individual Camp is broken into two sessions, July 24-25 and July 25-26, with each session costing $150 per camper. A discounted cost of $295 will be available if a camper attends both sessions. The cost includes meals and lodging.

If a camper is commuting to FMU and does not require overnight accommodations, the cost is $100 per session. This cost does not include meals.

The Individual Camp is open to players in grades 5-12.

If participants attend the Team Camp, there will be an added $10 discount per session for the Individual (overnight) Camp.

The camp will focus on individual skill development and will feature a college recruiting information session.

FMU head coach Heather Macy, who was named the Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year each of the past two seasons, is the camp director. She founded the Focused 50 camps in 2003, and it has developed into one of the best teaching camps on the East Coast.

For more information, contact Macy at 336-420-2722 or Focused50@yahoo.com.

Patriot Women add Georgia State transfer

FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University women’s basketball coach Heather Macy has announced that 5-6 guard Monica Mann of Smyrna, Ga., is transferring from Georgia State University to FMU and will play for the Patriots this fall.

Mann played three seasons at Georgia State. This past year, she suffered a knee injury after five games and is applying for a medical redshirt status for that year – giving her two seasons to play at FMU.

Prior to her injury, she averaged 0.8 points and 2.6 assists per game. As a sophomore, she appeared in 29 games, making 15 starts, and averaged 4.3 points and 3.7 assists per game. She ranked fifth in the Colonial Athletic Association in assist/turnover ratio and ninth in assists.
Mann was a teammate of current FMU guard Eboni Fields for two years at Georgia State.

Mann was a three-year letterwinner for head coach Randy McClure at Campbell High School, where she compiled career averages of 16.8 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.6 steals per game. Mann’s cousin Sherrill Baker is a guard with the WNBA’s Indian Fever.

“Monica has good experience and maturity that will assist in making the transition to FMU a smooth one,” Macy said. “She has the skills to lead us in our transition attack and we are thrilled to have her coming to Francis Marion.”

Mann said, “Coming to FMU is a new start for me and a whole new beginning in my basketball career. I am very excited to get to work with coach Macy and her coaching staff. I’m looking forward to the first day on campus, so we can get in the gym and get to work.”

Francis Marion concluded its most recent season with a 27-5 record, a No. 14 national ranking, the squad’s second consecutive Peach Belt Conference regular-season championship, and its second straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

Macy previously announced the signing of 5-8 guard Courtney Mealing of North Augusta and 5-7 guard Kristen Dickerson of Columbia.

Francis Marion inks Strom Thurmond cager

FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University women’s basketball coach Heather Macy has announced the signing of 5-8 guard Courtney Mealing of North Augusta, S.C., to a national letter of intent during the recent signing period.

Mealing is a senior at Strom Thurmond High School, where she played for coach Jessica Parker.
This past season, she averaged 29.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 4.2 steals per game for a 24-4 Lady Rebels squad that captured the Region 3-AA championship, and advanced to the Class AA upper state title game. She was selected her region’s Player of the Year for the second straight year, while earning All-Region honors for the fourth time. She also connected on 46.2 percent of her field goal attempts.

During the 2009 state tournament, she posted scoring totals of 51, 21, 30, and 42 points. A three-time All-State selection, Mealing was named South Carolina's 2009 Class AA Player of the Year, as well as The Augusta Chronicle All-Area South Carolina Girls Player of the Year for the second time. She scored a team-high 21 points for the South Carolina All-Stars at the 2009 Carolinas All-Star Classic Game in March.

As a six-year starter, she concluded her prep career as her school's all-time leading scorer with 2,781 career points, while posting career averages of 20.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.9 steals per game.

“Courtney is the perfect fit for FMU,” said Macy. “She can score in so many different ways, plus she is a competitor. I’m looking forward to coaching her for the next 4 years!”

Mealing said, “I’m looking forward to continuing my winning ways at Francis Marion. I feel like this is the best fit for me, and coach Macy has proven that she knows how to win. She has turned Francis Marion into one of the top programs in Division II basketball and I can’t wait!”

Francis Marion concluded its most recent season with a 27-5 record, a No. 14 national ranking, the squad’s second consecutive Peach Belt Conference regular-season championship, and its second straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

Macy previously announced the signing of 5-7 guard Kristen Dickerson of Columbia, S.C., during the early signing period.

FMU’s Kiefer named to PBC All-Academic Team

FLORENCE, S.C. - Francis Marion University senior forward Katherine Kiefer has both named to the Peach Belt Conference All-Academic Team for women’s basketball.
Kiefer, a native of Lilburn, Ga., was selected to the second team.
The All-Academic Team is part of a new season-long program recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of PBC student-athletes in the classroom as well as on the field. To be eligible for the squad, a student-athlete must participate in at least half of her team’s events and be either a starter or significant contributor; have achieved a 3.20 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale); and have completed at least one full academic year at her current institution.
Kiefer appeared in 22 games this past season and averaged 2.2 points and 0.8 rebounds per game. She connected on 48.6 percent of her field goal attempts and 70.6 percent of her free throw attempts.
She helped Francis Marion to a 27-5 record, a No. 14 national ranking, the squad’s second consecutive Peach Belt Conference regular-season championship, and its second straight NCAA Tournament appearance. FMU won two games in the Southeast Regional and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the fifth time in team history.
In the classroom, the psychology major owns a 3.76 grade point average. She is a member of Chi Alpha Sigma national college athlete honor society, Lambda Tau Omega Sorority Inc., and the FMU Honors Program. She has been named to the FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll each of her four years and to the PBC Presidential Honor Roll three times. She earned an ADA Academic Achievement Award for 2007-08 and was a member of FMU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee the same year.
Kiefer has also taken part in many community service events including the American Heart Association Heart Walk, working in the Manna House, helping with youth clinics at the Florence YMCA, taking part in a reading program in local elementary schools, helping with the Pecan Festival, and visiting a local retirement home to play bingo with the residents.
In her four seasons at FMU, the 5-10 Kiefer appeared in 87 games and compiled 440 points and 194 rebounds.
Kiefer was a four-sport athlete at Parkview High School, and a member of the school’s 2003 state championship basketball team.


2009 Peach Belt Conference Women’s Basketball All-Academic Team
First Team
Player School Year Hometown GPA Major
Mandy Dudish GCSU So. Snellville, Ga. 3.43 General Business
Morgan Johnson USC Aiken Sr. Marietta, Ga. 3.35 Fine Arts
Meredith Legg USC Aiken Sr. Huntersville, N.C. 3.71 Business Administration
Satu Leppanen USC Aiken Sr. Lahti, Finland 3.85 Business Administration
Syretha Marble North Georgia Sr. Canton, Ga. 3.54 Physical Education
Megan Starnes USC Aiken Sr. Riley, Kan. 3.57 Business Administation
Second Team
Katherine Kiefer Francis Marion Sr. Lilburn, Ga. 3.76 Psychology
Natalie Ray UNC Pembroke Sr. Laurinburg, N.C. 3.32 Physical Education
Brittany Reynolds Georgia Southwestern Jr. Decatur, Ga. 3.21 Marketing
Jamilah Sharp Georgia Southwestern Sr. Stockbridge, Ga. 3.37 Education
Third Team
Chauntel Ferdinand Columbus State Jr. Lawrenceville, Ga. 3.22 Exercise Science
Triahna Harris USC Aiken So. Springfield, Va. 3.46 Exercise & Sport Science
Ilya Hunt UNC Pembroke So. Raleigh, N.C. 3.86 Elementary Education
Portia Jones Armstrong Atlantic St. Jr. Savannah, Ga. 3.23 Psychology
Tracey Paschal Augusta State Sr. Fairburn, Ga. 3.35 Health & Kinesiology

FMU pair gains WBCA honorable mention All-America recognition

FLORENCE, S.C. - Francis Marion University senior point guard Kevina Ransom and sophomore guard-forward Shannon Singleton-Bates have both received honorable mention All-America recognition from the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association (WBCA).
The WBCA and State Farm recently announced the 10-member NCAA Division II State Farm Coaches’ All-America Basketball Team and the honorable mention list that includes 31 players.
Ransom, a native of Roanoke Rapids, N.C., helped direct the high-powered Patriot attack by leading the Peach Belt Conference and ranking second nationally in steals per game (4.5) and being second in the conference with 5.3 assists per game (18th nationally). Despite playing only 22.8 minutes per contest, she averaged 10.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. She ranked fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio in the PBC, connected on 46.1 percent of her field goal attempts and 76.1 percent of her free throws (11th-best in the PBC).
She recorded four games with double-figure assists this past season, two of which came in contests she did not start.
In only two seasons at FMU, the 5-5 Ransom climbed to third on the program’s all-time steals list with 289 and eighth in career assists with 347.
Singleton-Bates, a native of South Norwalk, Conn., led Francis Marion in scoring and rebounding with per-game averages of 13.0 points (fifth-best in the PBC) and 5.1 rebounds. At 5-10, she was third on the team with 17 blocked shots, recorded 46 steals, and shot 43.6 percent from the floor and 75.0 percent at the free throw line (13th-best in the PBC).
She scored in double figures in 24 of 32 games, including six games of 20 or more points.
The two helped lead Francis Marion to a 27-5 record, a No. 14 national ranking, the squad’s second consecutive Peach Belt Conference regular-season championship, and its second straight NCAA Tournament appearance. FMU won two games in the Southeast Regional and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the fifth time in team history.
Ransom is a product of Northwest Halifax High School, and was an honorable mention All-American at Louisburg College before transferring to FMU.
Singleton-Bates is a product of Norwalk High School, where she was a two-time first-team All-State selection and a three-time All-Conference and All-Area pick, while scoring more than 1,300 career points.

Patriot Women fall to Clayton State 89-73 in Regional Final (Sweet Sixteen)

HICKORY, NC – Senior forward Lisa Jackson scored a career-high 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead third-seeded Clayton State University to an 89-73 win over fourth-seeded and 17th-ranked Francis Marion University, Monday night (March 16) in the finals (Sweet Sixteen) of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional women’s basketball tournament.

Clayton State (26-6) advances to its second Elite Eight in three years and will face the winner of the West Region (Seattle Pacific vs. Alaska-Anchorage) on Tuesday, March 24 at 3 p.m. (ET) in San Antonio, Texas.

Francis Marion, making its fifth Sweet Sixteen appearance in program history, ends its season with a 27-5 record, equaling the fifth-most wins in a season.

FMU junior guard Shana Franks paced the Patriots with 13 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. Senior point guard Kevina Ransom tallied 12 points and six assists, while senior guard Jennifer Dyer added 11 points and sophomore Shannon Singleton-Bates 10.

Both Ransom and Singleton-Bates were named to the All-Tournament Team. Ransom ends her two-year career at FMU third on the school’s steals list (289) and eighth on the assists list (347).

Tournament Most Outstanding Player Marie St. Fort scored 16 points for the Lakers, while Shanrika Hardeman and Lesheria Stevens each scored 18 points. Hardeman hauled down a game-high 14 rebounds.

Francis Marion opened the game with a fast start, leading 16-8 after a three-pointer by Franks with 15:41 left in the first half. However, Clayton State responded with a 12-2 spurt to take a 20-18 advantage.

A stick-back basket by Robin Colbert put FMU ahead 21-20 at the 12:06 mark, but the Lakers then scored 15 of the game’s next 21 points to lead 35-27. A layup by Creshenda Singletary cut the deficit to 35-29, but Clayton State ran off nine straight points to lead 44-29.

A three-pointer by Eboni Fields in the final 16 seconds trimmed the margin to 50-38 as the teams left the floor at intermission. Clayton State converted 17 FMU miscues into 22 points during the opening 20 minutes.

Clayton State opened the second stanza with eight straight points to lead by 20 (58-38). The margin grew to 62-39 following a follow-shot by Hardeman with 16:54 remaining. A brief 9-2 Francis Marion outburst brought the Patriots to within 64-48.

However, the Lakers responded with a 12-5 run that restored the advantage to 23 points (76-53) near the midway point of the half. Francis Marion, pressing full court, had one last flurry. A 16-1 spurt by the Patriots, including six points from Dyer and five from Ransom, cut the deficit to eight, at 77-69 with 3:15 left.

On the ensuing possession, Stevens hit the biggest shot of the final half – a three-pointer from the right wing that pushed the margin back to 11 points.

Second-year FMU head coach Heather Macy said the first half was the key to contest. “I don’t know if it was nerves or what, but by the time we steadied ourselves we had already dug a hole. We just didn’t handle the ball well in the opening 20 minutes.

“We got stops during our late rally, but in a regional final you have to play 40 minutes.”

“Clayton is an experienced squad, has been here before, and it showed. We wish them the best of luck at the Elite Eight.”

Commenting on her six seniors, Macy said “These young ladies came in and helped turn around the program. They have been warriors over the past two years, posted a 48-14 record, and helped us turn the corner.”

The Patriots shot only 37.8 percent from the floor, including 4-of-18 from behind the three-point arc. Clayton State shot 50 percent in the opening half and ended the game at 46.6 percent.

Patriots take on Lakers in Sweet Sixteen on Monday

The fourth-seeded and 17th-ranked Francis Marion University women's basketball team will play third-seeded Clayton State University on Monday evening (March 16) at 7 p.m. in the title game (Sweet Sixteen) of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional.

The game, which is one of only two regional finals that does not include a No. 1 seed, will be in the 3,200-seast Shuford Memorial Gymnasium on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, N.C. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for students (with college ID) and those 12-and-under.

Action (video and live stats) from Monday’s game can be viewed through the regional tournament website at http://www.lrbears.com/basketball/women/2009region/schedule.htm

Francis Marion practiced Sunday afternoon in preparation for Monday’s game. The regional winner will advance to the Elite Eight in San Antonio, Texas, on March 24, 25 and 27. The Southeast Region champion will face the winner of the West Region (Seattle Pacific vs. Alaska-Anchorage) at 3 p.m. (ET) on March 24.

Francis Marion, which won the Peach Belt Conference regular-season championship and lost in the semifinals of the conference tournament, owns a 27-4 record and has defeated the fifth and first seeds in the regional tournament. Clayton State (25-6) has beaten the sixth and second seeds.

FMU leads the all-time series with the Lakers 12-10 following a split of their season series. The Patriots won 89-80 in Florence, while Clayton State captured an 86-80 overtime win in Morrow to close out the regular season.

Clayton State knocked Francis Marion from the NCAA Tournament in the first round last year.

The probable starting line-up for FMU will be 5-7 senior guard Jennifer Dyer (10.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg), 5-8 junior guard Shana Franks (12.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg), 5-10 sophomore guard Robin Colbert (6.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg), 6-0 sophomore forward Danelle Downs (4.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg), and 5-10 sophomore guard-forward Shannon Singleton-Bates (13.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg).

The Lakers’ starting lineup includes 5-7 senior guard Marie St. Fort (10.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg), 5-7 junior guard Lesheria Stevens (8.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg), 5-9 freshman guard Brittany Hall (8.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg), 5-9 senior forward Shanrika Hardeman (8.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg), and 5-11 senior forward Lisa Jackson (8.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg).

Francis Marion ranks first nationally in scoring offense (88.5 ppg), while Clayton State is 45th (73.7 ppg). The two squads rank first and second nationally in turnover margin, with the Patriots leading at 11.2 per game.

FMU is making its second straight appearance in the national tournament under second-year head coach Heather Macy, and the program's seventh appearance overall since moving to NCAA affiliation in 1992. The Patriots earned invitations for five consecutive years between 1997 and 2001, reaching the round of Sweet Sixteen in four straight years (1998-2001) and making the 1998 Final Four.

Francis Marion crushes top-seeded Bears 93-74 to reach Sweet Sixteen

HICKORY, NC – Senior Creshenda Singletary and sophomore Shannon Singleton-Bates scored 15 points each to lead six players in double figures as fourth-seeded and 17th-ranked Francis Marion University crushed top-seeded and 19th-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne College 93-74, Saturday night (March 14) in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional women’s basketball tournament.

Francis Marion (27-4) advances to its fifth Sweet Sixteen and will face fellow Peach Belt Conference member Clayton State University in Monday’s regional final at 7 p.m. The winner of that game advances to the Elite Eight in San Antonio, Texas.

Third-seeded Clayton State defeated second-seeded Tusculum College 79-68 in Saturday’s first semifinal contest.

FMU senior guard Jennifer Dyer scored 14 points, while senior point guard Kevina Ransom tallied 13 points, seven assists, and five steals. In the process, the Roanoke Rapids, N.C., native moved into eighth place on the school’s career assists list with 341, passing former FMU great Lynette Mickle.

Freshman 6-0 center Dominique Powell, playing in her hometown of Hickory, added 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds coming off the bench. Junior guard Eboni Fields chipped in 11 points.

Freshman guard Cameron Sealey led Lenoir-Rhyne (27-5) with 18 points, while Amber Holt and LaCourtney Rann scored 13 points apiece. The frenetic FMU defense held the Bears’ top scorer, 6-0 junior center Denise Moore, to only four free throws and no field goal attempts.

After FMU jumped to a 5-0 lead, Lenoir-Rhyne answered with a 14-2 run that put the Patriots in a 14-7 hole. Two free throws by the Bears’ Kristen Fulmer put the deficit at 18-12 with 11:27 left in the first half.

A running jumper by Powell ignited an 18-4 Francis Marion run over a five-and-a-half minute span that gave the Patriots a 30-22 advantage. The FMU lead would grow to 43-29 following a fast-break 24-foot three-pointer by Dyer with 1:25 on the clock.

Six straight free throws by the Bears in the final 1:18 trimmed the margin to 43-35 at halftime.

In the second half, the Patriots played perhaps their best 20 minutes of basketball, shooting 52.8 percent from the floor, 10-of-12 from the foul line, while forcing 11 turnovers and holding Lenoir-Rhyne to 37.5 percent shooting.

A 19-4 run over the opening 5:19 of the second stanza produced a 62-39 FMU lead while quieting the crowd of 1,220. Six different Patriots scored in the run, headed by six points from Singleton-Bates. Following the Bears’ first bucket of the second half at the 14:10 mark, FMU followed with a 19-8 run that gave the Patriots a commanding 81-49 advantage with still 8:24 remaining. Singleton-Bates contributed nine points to that spurt.

The margin remained around 30 points until Lenoir-Rhyne closed the game with a 14-3 run.

Francis Marion races past Pacers in second half for 101-83 NCAA Regional win

HICKORY, NC – Senior point guard Kevina Ransom scored 18 points and handed out 10 assists as fourth-seeded and 17th-ranked Francis Marion University raced past fifth-seeded USC Aiken in the second half to claim a 101-83 win, Friday night (March 13) in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional women’s basketball tournament.

Francis Marion (26-4) advances to face top-seeded and 19th-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne College (a 69-58 winner over Anderson University) in Saturday’s second semifinal at 8 p.m. Third-seeded Clayton State University meets second-seeded and 16th-ranked Tusculum College in the first semifinal at 6 p.m.

Sophomore Shannon Singleton-Bates led FMU with 20 points, 18 of which came in the second half. Ransom scored 16 of her 18 in the final 20 minutes.

Junior guard Shana Franks added 18 points to the Patriot attack, while Jennifer Dyer scored 12 and Robin Colbert 10.

Junior Kendra Chandler paced USCA (22-12) with a career-high 27 points. Guard Megan Starnes tallied 20 points and Morgan Johnson added 12 points and 12 rebounds for her 14th double-double of the season.

Pacer senior guard Meredith Legg scored six points in her final game to become the school’s all-time scoring leader with 1,480 points surpassing Jami Cornwell, who also served as an FMU assistant coach last season.

The two squads traded the lead in the opening seven-and-a-half minutes. Two free throws by freshman center Dominique Powell gave FMU a 16-14 lead. A three-pointer by Dyer and a fast-break layup by Powell expanded the Patriots’ advantage to 37-28 with 3:00 left in the first stanza.

USCA closed the half with a 7-2 spurt to draw within 39-35 as the teams left the floor for the locker room at intermission.

A layup by Starnes kept USCA within four at 47-43, The Patriots then gradually began to pull away. Ransom capped a 20-8 FMU spurt with a three-point play that put FMU up 67-51.

The Pacers crept to within 71-59, but Francis Marion scored eight straight points to go up 79-59 with 7:46 left. The margin would not dip below 15 points the remainder of the game.

Francis Marion made 28-of-34 free throws, while USCA was 29-of-35 at the stripe. The Patriots, who lead the nation scoring offense and turnover margin, scored 29 points off 23 USCA miscues.

By Michael G. Hawkins