Category Archives: College Basketball

October 22, 2010 · 10:22 pm

UCSD TRITONS WOMEN’S HOOPS PICKED 1ST IN CCAA

 WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – After winning a fourth consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Association regular season title last season, the seventh-ranked UC San Diego women’s basketball team was once again picked to finish first in the league standings according to the preseason coaches poll that was released by the league office on Wednesday.

UCSD, which finished with an impressive record of 19-3 in CCAA play in 2009-10, received six first place votes and a total of 114 points in the conference poll. The Tritons narrowly beat out Chico State, which garnered four first place votes and 103 points to finish second.

Cal Poly Pomona collected 89 points to finish third, while 2010 CCAA Tournament Champion Humboldt State finished fourth with 87 points and Cal State Monterey Bay totaled 82 to place fifth. Cal State L.A. received the remaining two first place votes and tallied 80 points to come in sixth, with Cal State Dominguez Hills (54), Cal State San Bernardino (49), San Francisco State (41), Sonoma State (39), Cal State Stanislaus (25) and Cal State East Bay (18) finishing seventh through 12th, respectively.

The Tritons were also the top pick in last year’s poll, tallying five first place votes and 110 points.

UCSD finished with an overall record of 25-5 in 2009-10, while winning 19 conference games for the second consecutive season. Despite an opening round loss to host Humboldt State in the CCAA Tournament, the Tritons earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA West Regional in Seattle, where they met up with the Lumberjacks once again. HSU would shock UCSD for the second time in a week, handing the Tritons a season-ending 76-72 defeat in the first round.

Two-time defending CCAA Coach of the Year Charity Elliott returns for her fourth season in 2010-11 and welcomes back two starters and six letterwinners from last year’s squad. Among the returnees are junior guard Chelsea Carlisle, who was named a State Farm Coaches First Team All-American after averaging 17.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists last season, and junior center Lauren Freidenberg, who averaged 5.8 points and 5.8 rebounds and shot better than 51% from the field a year ago.

Ranked No. 7 by Division II Bulletin, the Tritons will take the court for the first time this season on Thursday, November 4 to face San Diego State in an exhibition matchup at Viejas Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. UCSD will also square off with Division I powerhouse Stanford in an exhibition contest on November 9, before opening the regular season at the Disney West Coast Tip Off Classic November 12-14 in Anaheim.

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July 10, 2010 · 11:28 pm

OREDIGGERS READY TO KICK BUTT IN BUTTE

The Montana Tech Orediggers are as hard-charging as ever and their latest version of their mascot isn’t the only thing new in Digger sports right now – the Newmont Scoreboard project is moving along, the men’s basketball program has a new head coach in Aaron Woliczko and the women’s hoops team is holding their camp from July 19th to the 22nd.

For more on these stories click here: http://www.godiggers.com/

Balladeer’s Blog is not affiliated with or operated by the NAIA or any member institutions.

© Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog, 2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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July 6, 2010 · 11:50 pm

USAO’S TASHINA OTOTIVO: EPITOME OF A STUDENT-ATHLETE

 

Tashina Ototivo, a two-sport student at the University Of Science And Arts Of Oklahoma (or “USAO”) has been awarded the Bill and Pat Smith Scholar-Athlete Scholarship (or “BAPSSAS”). That scholarship is awarded for both the recipient’s academics as well as their athletic performance. It’s difficult to think of a more deserving candidate since this sophomore is basically the definition of a student athlete. Unlike another well-known sports figure whose initials are T.O. Tashina is the ideal role model for young women and men everywhere and is pretty much a paragon-at-large on the USAO campus.
 
As well as playing for the USAO Drovers basketball and softball teams, she was President of her freshman class last year and has a 3.74 grade-point average. This music major from Walters, OK probably also knows how to deal with the Gulf oil leak, too, if only someone would ask her.  
 
Ototivo was nominated by three faculty members including her basketball coach, Laci Tompkins.
 
“Tashina is one of those rare individuals that stand head and shoulders above the rest. This girl has the world by the tail,” Tompkins wrote in her nomination. “One cannot go wrong with her. This would be an investment.”
 
Dr Ken Bohannon’s nomination of Tashina read in part, “(She’s a) very good academic student. Her personality and work ethic are outstanding.”
 
When I reached myself for comment I replied “No doubt about it! Tashina Ototivo puts the “sass” in BAPSSAS.” 
 
Tashina herself was ecstatic.
 
“I was very excited and erupted with joy,” Ototivo said, “Money is hard to come by in college, especially playing two sports, and being honored with an award for sports and academics is a huge blessing. I think this is just another thing that will encourage me to strive to be a good example and the person that God wants me to be.”
 
Ototivo further stated that the scholarship has only encouraged her to work harder and keep her grades up.
 
“I’m thankful that my teachers have recognized the work I put into my academics as well as my athletics. I pray that I will continue to impress them with my hard work.”
 
The scholarship is traditionally given to one sophomore or junior student athlete who best reflects USAO’s creed: Physical, Spiritual, Mental, Social. After Tashina was chosen, long-time Drover supporter Bill Smith offered a matching scholarship. The University’s committee will choose a male recipient next week.
  
        
        
        
  
   
   
  
  
  
    
    
       
For streaming video of Tashina Ototivo rescuing puppies from a fire while simultaneously composing music and performing surgery click here: http://www.usao.edu/usao-sports/
 

Balladeer’s Blog is not affiliated with or operated by the NAIA or any member institutions.

© Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog, 2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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