College – Page 322 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Bearcats cruise past Southwest Baptist for 12th straight win

Posted on February 27, 2016February 27, 2016

By David Boyce, Northwest Athletics

MARYVILLE, Mo. – More than 10 minutes remained in the first half and Northwest Missouri State men’s basketball team already made eight three-pointers, held a 20-point lead and caused Southwest Baptist to call two timeouts.

Lone Northwest senior Conner Crooker couldn’t have asked for a better start Saturday afternoon in his final home game at Bearcat Arena.

“It wasn’t perfect,” Crooker said. “I fouled out, but it was a nice way to go out, especially with the win, going undefeated at home and everything we accomplished. It was pretty nice.”

The hot start never left a doubt about the outcome. The Bearcats rolled to their 12th straight victory, winning 87-63 and improving to 22-5 overall and 19-3 in MIAA. Northwest finished five games ahead of the second-place team.

“We have to keep working,” said Crooker, who finished with 17 points. “Coach does a good job of having us work hard every day no matter what the situation is or if we are on a win streak or anything like that. We are going to keep doing what we are doing.

“We haven’t won the MIAA Tournament in a while. We are going down there to win it.”

Next for the Bearcats is their quarterfinal game in the MIAA Tournament. Northwest will play at 6 p.m. Friday at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.

“We definitely have a lot of confidence,” said junior Zach Schneider, who made six three-pointers and finished with 18 points. “We did a better job in the second half than we did in previous games. Against Emporia State, we didn’t do very well in that aspect. We finished the game like we wanted to.”

The game started with sophomore Justin Pitts swishing a three for the first points of the game.

A minute later, Schneider nailed a three-pointer that gave Northwest an 8-2 lead. At this point, Southwest Baptist needed to call the fire department because the Bearcats had ignited a three-point blaze.

Pitts, who finished with 24 points, made a three-pointer and then Crooker got in the act with his first three-pointer, giving Northwest a 14-2 lead.

“We knew if our guards were able to penetrate and dish, we were going to get good looks,” Schneider said. “We were definitely ready for it.”

After a few harmless baskets by Southwest Baptist, the Bearcats turned a blaze into an inferno. Crooker became the main culprit. Back-to-back treys by him gave Northwest a 26-6 lead. That’s when Southwest Baptist called its second timeout.

But Northwest stayed hot. A three-pointer by Schneider made it 31-10. Northwest was nine for 10 on three-pointers at that point. And when the Bearcats started missing a few threes, they started hitting two-point field goals. They expanded their lead to 50-22 late in the first half.

“Their game plan allowed us to shoot all those three,” Crooker said. “We were going to keep doing what we were doing. We are confident in our shooters. We were going to knock down shots.”

When halftime arrived, Northwest held a 52-26 lead. The shooting percentages were simply unbelievable. The Bearcats were 12 for 17 in three-point shots for 70.6 percent. Overall, Northwest was 20 for 29 for 69 percent.

The Bearcats also played stellar defense, limiting Southwest Baptist to 10 field goals in 27 attempts for 37 percent.

It was the type of first half Crooker will always remember. He went 4 for 7 on three-point shots and scored 14 points. Schneider was even better going 5 for 6 from three-point range for 15 points.

No drama existed in the second half. Northwest held a 63-32 lead with 15 minutes left. The only mystery left was whether Northwest could break its single-game three-point record of 20.

Eight minutes into the second half, Northwest was at 13 three-pointers. The Bearcats were attacking the basket more. Schneider made the 14th three-pointer for Northwest with 11:33 left, giving Northwest a 68-40 lead. Northwest finished with 16 three-pointers.

— Northwest Athletics —

Mizzou drops third straight as they lose at home to No. 21 Texas A&M

Posted on February 27, 2016February 27, 2016

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Jalen Jones did his scoring in bunches, but it was more than enough to help No. 21 Texas A&M defeat Missouri 84-69 on Saturday.

Jones scored 20 points and grabbed six rebounds in 23 minutes, marking his 11th double-digit scoring performance this season. He scored his final points on a layup with 16:25 seconds remaining, and did not see action for the final 12:23 seconds.

“He’s a stud,” Missouri forward Ryan Rosburg said of Jones. “He could go off at any time. He’s a great player and made some tough shots and did really well for them today.”

Admon Gilder and Danuel House each added 14 for the Aggies, who are now on a four-game winning streak. House had 12 points in the first half, shooting 4-for-8 from 3-point range.

“This team seems to have a certain bond and a certain chemistry on the court and off the court,” said Alex Caruso, who had three points and a team-high six assists. “You can tell by the way we played tonight. We were sharing the ball just really unselfish and whoever was open took the shot. It shows our completeness as a team. Anybody can be out there and we’re good to go.”

Tramaine Isabell had 17 points, five assists and three rebounds in his first start of the season, matching his season-high point total.

Missouri matched the Aggies bucket-for-bucket for much of the first half, using a 7-0 run to take a three-point lead following a transition layup by Namon Wright. Wright reached double-digit scoring in seven of Missouri’s last eight games, but finished with just four points on 1-for-8 shooting.

Missouri coach Kim Anderson was assessed a technical foul with 7:51 seconds remaining in the first half following a layup by the Aggies’ Tyler Davis. Anderson wanted a travel call as Davis bobbled the outlet pass in transition, prompting boos from the home crowd. D.J. Hogg sank two free-throws and Texas A&M ended the first half on a 25-11 run. Hogg finished with nine points, and Davis added eight points and seven rebounds.

“I thought (Texas A&M) played great, especially there in the middle to late part of the first half,” Anderson said. “You’ve got to give them credit. They’ve just got so many veteran players at different positions that I think they could make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.”

The Aggies (22-7, 11-5 Southeastern Conference) picked up where they left off to start the second half, opening on a 10-3 run. Texas A&M capitalized on nearly every Missouri mistake, scoring 17 points off the Tigers’ 10 turnovers.

Missouri (10-19, 3-13) ended the game on an 11-0 run after trailing by as many as 27 points. Kevin Puryear, who leads the Tigers in scoring with 11.6 points per game, finished with seven points, shooting 1-for-8 from the field. Puryear had just one point entering the final two minutes. Rosburg scored 15 points to go with five rebounds and has scored in double figures in five of Missouri’s last six games.

The Aggies bench outscored Missouri’s 39-18, led by Gilder and Tonny Trocha-Morelos, who added 12 points and four rebounds.

“The maturity of our team and the relentlessness of our bench wore them down,” Texas A&M coach Billy Kennedy said. “I’m really proud of our team. Everything is in front of us. These guys have bought in, and it starts with our seniors.”

—

TIP-INS

Texas A&M: Caruso is the NCAA active leader in steals with 261. …The Aggies improve to 4-5 on the road this season. …House has made at least one 3-pointer in 18-consecutive games.

Missouri: Puryear’s 86.4 free-throw percentage ranks second in the SEC. …D’Angelo Allen and Jones were teammates at Kimball High School in Dallas. …This was Isabell’s second career start. His first was Mar. 11, 2015 in a 63-54 loss to South Carolina in the SEC tournament.

COURTSIDE: Former Missouri defensive end Shane Ray was introduced at half court during a media timeout in the first half. After being named the 2014 SEC defensive player of the year, Ray was drafted 23rd overall by the Denver Broncos in the 2015 NFL draft. He recorded two tackles and a forced fumble in the Bronco’s 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.

UP NEXT

Texas A&M visits Auburn Tuesday.

Missouri visits LSU Tuesday.

— Associated Press —

Northwest women end season with loss at home to SBU

Posted on February 27, 2016February 27, 2016

By David Boyce, Northwest Athletics

MARYVILLE, Mo. – The storybook ending for the Northwest Missouri State women’s basketball team was coming into sharp focus. Senior Taylor Shull, playing her last game for the Bearcats, scored her team’s first seven points to start the fourth.

Three of those points came on an improbable layup followed by a made free throw on the and-1 play. Shull’s offensive outburst staked Northwest to a three-point lead in the fourth quarter against Southwest Baptist Saturday afternoon at Bearcat Arena.

Everything was set for seniors Shull, Tember Schechinger and Shelby Mustain to win their final game in a Northwest uniform.

Unfortunately, real life doesn’t always play along with a nice written script. Northwest started missing shots. Southwest Baptist started making them. Southwest Baptist scored the next 13 points for a 10-point lead and that carried it to a 57-49 victory.

“Throughout the game we were struggling to get a run going and to maintain a run,” Northwest coach Buck Scheel said. “Once it was stretched out, I knew it was going to be a major, uphill climb.”

Shull ended Southwest Baptist’s 13-0 run with a field goal, which gave her 18 points, a career-high for her.

“I honestly had no idea how many points I had,” Shull said. “We were down and we needed to put up points. It was our last game. We wanted to go out strong.”

Despite the loss, Northwest once again played hard throughout the game. The Bearcats held leads in each quarter.

“Our motto the whole season was energy, effort and attitude and what you can control,” Mustain said. “In the back of our minds, we knew this was our last go-around so we were going to leave it all on the court.”

Northwest played well enough to win a few more games if a few breaks would have gone its way. Just about every time the Bearcats stepped on the court, they played hard, and the main reason why was because of the leadership provided by Schechinger, Mustain and Shull.

“The effort and the attitude has been there all year, even more so after I took over” Scheel said. “These three bought in right away, and that gave all the other girls no choice but to buy in. There were days here and there when people weren’t on board and one of these three usually let them know.

“Everybody who has seen us play has watched us compete. That was the one thing about these three players was they never gave up on themselves and they never gave up on their teammates.”

They showed that spirit in the first half.

Northwest overcame at 9-0 run early in the second quarter and took a 21-19 lead into halftime.

The Bearcats started the second quarter with a three-pointer from Jasmine Howe for a 12-7 lead and then had trouble making a basket. Southwest Baptist took advantage of the offensive drought by Northwest and scored the next nine points for an 18-12 lead.

It was the only time that Southwest Baptist had any sustained success on offense. An inside basket by Mustain got the Bearcats back on track. Shull followed with a three-pointer and Schechinger put Northwest back in front 19-18 with two free throws. Northwest concluded a 9-0 run with a basket from Mustain.

— Northwest Athletics —

No. 2 Jayhawks beat Texas Tech for Big 12 title share

Posted on February 27, 2016February 27, 2016

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Jamari Traylor handed Kansas forward Perry Ellis a pair of navy blue scissors to take the final snips of the net, and with them the crowd in Allen Fieldhouse began to chant his name.

“It feels great,” Ellis said after celebrating the second-ranked Jayhawks’ 67-58 victory over Texas Tech on Saturday that wrapped up a share of their 12th straight Big 12 title. “You think of all the hard work and all of the hours you put in. It all pays off in the end. It’s a relief.”

Svi Mykhailiuk came off the bench to score 17 points, and Frank Mason III added 16 for the Jayhawks (25-4, 13-3), while Ellis — the stoic senior who’s been a part of four of those titles — contributed eight points and five rebounds in helping to extend one of college basketball’s remarkable streaks.

The only school to win more consecutive conference championships was UCLA, which won 13 in a row during the 1960s and `70s. The Jayhawks can win their eighth outright title during their streak with a win Monday night at No. 25 Texas or in their regular-season finale against No. 17 Iowa State.

“Sometimes winning is a relief and losing is the end of the Earth,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self said. “This feels better than a relief. I’m really proud of our kids. They’ve really tried hard and they’ve given us what they’ve got.”

Toddrick Gotcher hit five 3s and led the Red Raiders (18-10, 8-8) with 20 points.

“We made a lot of mistakes,” Texas Tech coach Tubby Smith said. “We turned the ball over 14 times. We can’t do that against any team, let alone Kansas on the road.”

Both teams rolled out to slow starts — Texas Tech committed a shot-clock violation on its first possession — and it wasn’t until Mykhailiuk got going that the Jayhawks found any sort of rhythm.

The sophomore sharpshooter hit his fourth 3-pointer to give Kansas a 37-29 halftime lead.

“That was a big 3 by them,” Gotcher said.

The start of the second half was just as sloppy, with the Red Raiders committing three turnovers in the first couple of minutes. Kansas was able to capitalize on the miscues with Devonte Graham dishing to Wayne Selden Jr. for a quick layup during what became a 10-0 run.

Suddenly, the Red Raiders were in an 18-point hole nearing the midpoint of the half.

Texas Tech, which had won five straight games to get into NCAA Tournament contention, made one big run to get back in the game. Gotcher was the catalyst for it, getting fouled by Mykhailiuk beyond the 3-point line with 9 minutes left and making all of his free throws.

Then, moments later, Selden committed the first of three turnovers during the stretch, and Aaron Ross made a couple free throws to get within 56-46 with 7 1/2 minutes left.

But the Jayhawks, one of the most veteran teams in the league, kept their composure, and Mykhailiuk hit his final 3 with just over 4 minutes left to make it 61-50 and usher Kansas to the finish.

“He looks like a pro,” Self said of Mykhailiuk. “The way he played at K-State coming in, those were as good of looking plays that anybody’s made for us this year. Jumping up and shooting 3s in transition, confident. … We needed him and he stepped up big time.”

IT’S ELEMENTARY

Every player on the Kansas roster was in elementary school the last time the Jayhawks didn’t win at least a share of the Big 12 title. That was during Self’s first season in 2003-04.

SELF-ISH

“Everybody is selfish in their own right. Why would we want anybody else to recruit to being the Big 12 champion? I don’t know of any coach out there (who would).” — Self on the streak of Big 12 titles.

TIP-INS

Kansas: Mykhailiuk was 6 for 7 from the field and perfect on five 3-point attempts. … Selden finished with three points on 1-for-8 shooting. He missed all four of his 3-point attempts. … The Jayhawks have won nine straight games.

Texas Tech: Ross had eight points on 2-for-10 shooting. … The Red Raiders shot just 31 percent as a team. … Texas Tech has still never won in Allen Fieldhouse.

NEXT UP

Texas Tech visits No. 14 West Virginia on Wednesday.

Kansas visits No. 25 Texas on Monday.

— Associated Press —

K-State falls on the road at No. 17 Iowa State 80-61

Posted on February 27, 2016February 27, 2016

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Jameel McKay looked rejuvenated. Hallice Cooke was a factor for the first time in months.

Iowa State finally got the bench production it’s been looking for heading into March.

Matt Thomas scored 20 points and Georges Niang added 17 and 17th-ranked Iowa State rolled past Kansas State 80-61 on Saturday night, clinching its fifth straight 20-win season.

McKay added 14 points with 17 rebounds off the bench for the notoriously-thin Cyclones (20-9, 9-7 Big 12), who got 24 points from their reserves and outscored the Wildcats by 18 in the second half.

“This is the time of year you have to have your team figured out,” Iowa State coach Steve Prohm said. “The second half, you saw us at a really good clip offensively and defensively.”

Iowa State strung together 13-0 runs in each half, which proved to be the difference. The Wildcats pulled as close as 65-59 before backup Hallice Cooke’s 3 with just under four minutes left swung momentum back in favor of the Cyclones.

D.J. Johnson had 22 with nine boards for Kansas State (15-14, 4-12), which shot just 4 of 18 from 3-point range.

“It’s all the little details that make the difference in the game,” Wildcats coach Bruce Weber said, pointing to Monte Morris’s buzzer-beating 3 to end the first half when K-State had a foul to give. “It’s a shame because our guys work so hard. They give themselves a chance. But you’ve got to be smart.”

Iowa State’s dream of a share of the Big 12 title ended last weekend when Kansas secured its 12th league win.

But the Cyclones are still hoping they have a big run left in them.

Beating K-State was a necessary start.

Two consecutive 3s from Thomas in the left corner put Iowa State ahead 45-39 early in the second half. Cooke, who has mostly struggled in his first season with the Cyclones after transferring from Oregon State, then drilled one from that exact spot to make it 48-39.

Deonte Burton’s first basket, an emphatic one-handed dunk, pushed Iowa State’s lead to 60-45. K-State answered with seven straight and Niang was forced to the bench with his fourth foul with 7:27 left. But McKay followed Cooke’s huge 3 with a dunk as the Cyclones pulled away.

Cooke finished with 10 points after being held scoreless for four straight games.

“He was a huge spark off the bench,” Thomas said. “I think he can be that for us every night.”

TIP-INS

Iowa State: Niang started for the 120th time Saturday. … All five Cyclones starters entered play averaging at least 10 points and four boards a game. … Thomas completed a rare four-point play to give Iowa State its first lead, 17-14. He later moved into seventh place in school history on made 3s.

Kansas State: The Wildcats played their 13th ranked team this season, surpassing the school record of 12 set in 2010-11 and 2014-15. … K-State forced 13 turnovers against one of the best teams in the Big 12 at securing the ball.

COURTSIDE

McKay was suspended for two games for violating team rules, and he was bounced from the starting lineup upon his return. McKay finally returned to his earlier form against the Wildcats, and the Cyclones hope it’ll be a turning point. McKay’s double-double was his sixth of the year but just his first since January 6.

QUOTABLE

“My focus was as good as it’s been all year. I just came out and wanted to play with energy,” McKay said. “I need people to know that I’m going to give 100 percent effort every time I’m on the court.”

UP NEXT

The Cyclones close out their home schedule Monday night against Oklahoma State.

Kansas State hosts TCU on Wednesday.

— Associated Press —

Western drops home opener to Washburn in 10 innings

Posted on February 26, 2016

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western baseball team surrendered three runs in the top of the 10th inning to drop its first home game of the season Friday 6-3 to Washburn.

The Griffons tied the game at three in the bottom of the ninth. D’Andre Heggie led off the ninth with a pinch hit double to the right field corner. Marcus Brown entered as a pinch runner for Heggie and scored three batters later when Orencio Fisher roped his first hit of the day into left for a single. The first two Washburn batters in the 10th singled before the third reached on a fielder’s choice. An error charged to Jeremy Alvarado at third base allowed Washburn’s fourth run to score. Richard Peoples would allow two more in the inning on a double and another on a sacrifice fly. Peoples took the loss and fell to 1-1 on the year.

Cosimo Cannella went 2-3 for Missouri Western, also drawing a walk, scoring a run and riving one in. Landon Mason finished 2-4. Weston Caindec got the start and went six innings, allowing three earned runs on eight hits. Two of the runs came in the first on a two-out home run to left. Preston Bailey allowed two hits and struck out four in three innings of relief.

— MWSU Athletics —

Bearcats get a walk-off win against Northeastern State

Posted on February 26, 2016

The Northwest Missouri State baseball team got a walk off single from Kevin Handzlik in the bottom of the ninth to beat Northeastern State, 5-4, on Friday afternoon at Bearcat Field.

The Bearcats moved to 6-4 and 1-0 in MIAA play. The RiverHawks fall to 6-4 overall and are 0-1 in conference action.

Northeastern State scored three runs in the top of the eighth to take a 4-3 lead but Northwest got two runs in the bottom of the ninth for the win.

Bryce Shea pitched 1.1 innings of relief for the win. He retired the last four batters of the game for Northwest with a strikeout.

Northwest scored five runs on nine hits. The Bearcats got two runs in the third, one in the seventh and two in the ninth. The RiverHawks scored one in the first and three in the eighth and finished with three hits. Neither team had an error.

Ozzie Adams was 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI. Nick Gotta drew a pair of walks and got two RBI, including a walk to score the tying run in the ninth.

Derek Meyer was 2-for-3 as was Kolby Greenslade, who also scored a run, while Garrett Fort was 1-for-5 with a pair of runs scored.

Jay Hrdlicka was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. Handzlik was 1-for-1 with the ninth inning walk off single. Aaron Barratt scored a run as a pinch runner in the seventh.

Joseph Hietpas started and went 7.0 innings, allowing two runs on two hits. Only one of the runs was earned. He had eight strikeouts and walked two.

The Bearcats got on the board in the third as Fort singled to lead off. Fort went to third on an Adams single, who went to second on the throw. Gotta hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Fort to tie it, 1-1. Adams moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a Hrdlicka single to right, giving Northwest a 2-1 lead.

Meyer led off the seventh with an infield single and Barratt came in to pinch run. Greenslade laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Barratt to second and he went to third on a Fort ground out. With two down, Adams singled to left, giving Northwest a 3-1 lead.

Down 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth, Zachary Douglas led off by getting hit by a pitch. After working a full count, Greenslade lined a ball at the third baseman who was playing in for the bunt. The ball got away for a single, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Fort reached on a fielder’s choice on a bunt back to the pitcher who threw to third to get Douglas out. With one down, Adams was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Gotta then drew a walk to tie the game, 4-4. Handzlik, who entered the game earlier as a pinch runner, laced a ball between short and third to drive in Fort for the winning run.

The Bearcats and the RiverHawks continue the three-game series on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri baseball wins series opener against Hofstra

Posted on February 26, 2016

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Mizzou Baseball used a season-high nine walks and scored a season-high 12 runs to back another sensational start from senior RHP Reggie McClain (Duluth, Ga.) to earn a 12-2 win in the series opener against Hofstra on Friday (Feb. 26) at City of Palms Park. McClain tossed his second career complete game, allowing no earned runs while striking out a career-high six in his second win of the season. He has not walked a batter in 41.0 career innings when pithing on a neutral site and is 5-0 with 0.00 ERA in such outings.

Freshmen Connor Brumfield (Columbia, Mo.) and Ian Nelson (Lake St. Louis, Mo.) each reset career-highs in RBIs and hits and classmate Brian Sharp (Liberty, Mo.) tallied his first career multi-hit game to spark the offense. In all, Mizzou’s three freshmen in the lineup drove in eight of the 12 runs. Senior Zach Lavy (Auxvasse, Mo.) also added a double and a single for his second multi-hit game of the season and SS Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) extended his hitting streak to six games and added two RBI in the win.

McClain needed just nine pitches to get through the first inning, tallying a pair of strikeouts in the opening frame. He then threw just 11 pitches in the second inning and picked up another strikeout as he was dealing early. McClain was snake-bitten a bit in the third inning, taking a comebacker off the leg. That run came around to score after an error and a big-hop ground ball to third, giving Hofstra an early 1-0 lead.

Mizzou then put two men on in the bottom of the third on a hit by Nelson and a hit-batter. That brought Howard to the dish, but he grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.

The Tigers did not threaten again until the bottom of the fifth. Lavy reached on a leadoff error and Wednesday’s hero Sharp singled into right to put runners on the corners with one down for Nelson. He tallied an RBI single and Brumfield followed with an RBI double to give Mizzou a 2-1 lead. Mizzou threatened to break the game open, but couldn’t tack on more runs.

Hofstra tied the game in the next half inning, using two hits and an error to plate a run. Mizzou got a big double play on a flyout to center, throwing the trail runner out at second base, and McClain picked up a strikeout to get out of the inning.

In the sixth, Mizzou picked up right where it left off in the fifth, loading the bases with no outs, with the big hit coming from Lavy – a double to right center. Sharp then drew a bases-loaded walk to score a run and Nelson hit a ground ball out to the right side to plate another run, giving Mizzou a 4-2 lead. The Tigers then drew three bases-loaded walks to plate three more runs, scoring five runs on just one hit. Hofstra issued four walks and a hit batter in inning.

Mizzou added to the lead in the seventh inning, using a two-run single from Brumfiled and then added three more in the ninth.

Mizzou will play a doubleheader against Hofstra tomorrow beginning at noon (CT). Tanner Houck (Collinsville, Ill.) and Austin Tribby (Springfield, Mo.) will get the starts for Mizzou.

— Mizzou Athletics —

MWSU tennis shuts out Truman State Friday

Posted on February 26, 2016February 26, 2016

ST. JOSEPH, MO. – The Missouri Western women’s tennis team earned a dominating 9-0 victory over Truman State to move their record to 4-0 on the season.

The Griffons earned three wins in doubles competition. Yasmine El Ghazi and Sofia Aguilera took the No. 1 doubles match 8-4. The No. 2 and No. 3 doubles matches earned 8-4 victories as well over the Bulldogs to give the Griffons a 3-0 lead heading into singles matches.

Singles action saw the Griffons sweep play on all six courts. Sofia Aguilera controlled her match from the start with a 6-0, 6-2 victory and Yasmine El Ghazi followed suit with a 6-1, 6-3 win at the No. 2 singles spot. Denise Chiao and Joanna Roman Abreu also earned convincing wins over their opponents in the No. 4 and No. 5 spot. Lindsay Beger earned a victory over Elise Mousseau 1-6, 6-4, 10-6 to complete the Griffon sweep.

Singles competition
1. Aguilera, Sofia (MWSU) def. Lauren Jin (TSU) 6-0, 6-2
2. El Ghazi, Yasmine (MWSU) def. Marisa Thome (TSU) 6-1, 6-3
3. Giraldo, Sarah (MWSU) def. Lindsey Schlichting (TSU) 6-4, 6-7, 10-7
4. Abreu Roman, Joanna (MWSU) def. Savannah Everett (TSU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Chiao, Denise (MWSU) def. Holly Cantalupo (TSU) 6-3, 6-1
6. Beger, Lindsay (MWSU) def. Elise Mousseau (TSU) 1-6, 6-4, 10-6

Doubles competition
1. Aguilera, Sofia/El Ghazi, Yasmine (MWSU) def. Lindsey Schlichting/Marisa Thome (TSU) 8-4
2. Abreu Roman, Joanna/Giraldo, Sarah (MWSU) def. Maura Dunn/Lauren Jin (TSU) 8-4
3. Chiao, Denise/Smith, Meara (MWSU) def. Savannah Everett/Elise Mousseau (TSU) 8-4

The Griffons will be at home on Sunday, March 13 at 12 p.m. against Lindenwood for their next match.

— MWSU Athletics —

KU football adds Joe DeForest as special team coordinator

Posted on February 26, 2016February 26, 2016

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas football head coach David Beaty announced that Joe DeForest has joined the KU coaching staff and will serve as the Jayhawks’ special teams coordinator. In addition to his role as special teams coordinator, DeForest will be an assistant coach on the defensive side of the ball.

Known nationally for his special teams expertise, DeForest brings with him 26 years of collegiate coaching experience, including having coached in 13 bowl games. He was named a Rivals.com Top 25 recruiter in 2004, 2006 and 2008, and has coached 28 all-conference performers, 10 All-Americans and 11 players who have gone on to play professionally.

“We are excited to add Joe to our staff,” said Beaty, who is in his second season at the helm of the Jayhawk program. “His special teams units have been among the top in every category throughout his time in the Big 12. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge that will help our program moving forward.”

DeForest joins Beaty’s staff after spending the previous four seasons at West Virginia. In his first season at WVU in 2012, DeForest was associate head coach/defensive coordinator, while also coaching the safeties. He then served as special teams coordinator and coached the safeties from 2013-15.

During his time at WVU, DeForest mentored two special teams players – Mario Alford (kickoff returner) and Josh Lambert (kicker) – to All-America honors. Lambert was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2014. In addition, he guided Lambert and punter Nick O’Toole to All-Big 12 honors, while also coaching safety Karl Joseph to All-Big 12 accolades.

Prior to his time in Morgantown, DeForest spent 11 seasons on the staff at Oklahoma State, where he worked under Les Miles from 2001-04, and then under current Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy. At OSU, DeForest was the associate head coach, special teams coordinator and safeties coach from 2005-11. From 2001-05, he was the special teams coordinator and secondary coach.

DeForest coached three different Cowboys to Big 12 Special Teams Player-of-the-Year honors over his last four years at OSU: return man Dez Bryant in 2008, kicker Dan Bailey in 2010 and kicker/punter Quinn Sharp in 2011. During his OSU tenure, he also coached the all-time leaders in kick return touchdowns: Perrish Cox took four back for scores from 2006-09, and Justin Gilbert best that total with six touchdowns from 2010-13.

In 2011, DeForest was part of the OSU staff that produced one the finest seasons in the school’s history. The Cowboys finished 12-1 overall, won the Big 12 Conference championship, defeated Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl and finished as the No. 3-ranked team nationally in both major polls.

He served as position coach for a pair of All-Americans, safety Markelle Martin (AFCA) and kicker Quinn Sharp (FWAA). Martin finished with 74 tackles, including five tackles for loss, 11 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Sharp was the No. 3-ranked punter in the nation, tied for No. 7 in field goals made per game and No. 5 in scoring.

In 2010, DeForest had one of the top special teams units in the nation. Bailey won the prestigious Lou Groza Award, and Sharp earned first team All-America (FWAA) honors. His unit accounted for two kick return touchdowns, a punt return touchdown and two blocked punt returns for touchdowns. Defensively, his safeties Johnny Thomas and Martin both returned interceptions for touchdowns.

His 2008 special teams units were as equally impressive. The Cowboys boasted the No. 2 punt return unit in the nation, the No. 6 punt unit and the No. 18 kick return squad.

Punter Matt Fodge was named the recipient of the Ray Guy Award, presented to the nation’s top punter; Bryant, OSU’s punt returner, earned the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year Award, and Cox collected All-America honors as a kick returner.

Cox set a Big 12 record with two kick returns for touchdowns that season to give him four career kick returns for touchdowns, a figure that at one time led all active NCAA players. In 2007 he was one of only three players in the nation to return a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown.

In 2006, the Cowboys ended the year No. 8 nationally in kickoff returns, No. 27 in punt returns, and had some of the nation’s standout special teams performers. Cox was named a freshman All-American after finishing No. 14 nationally in punt returns; Grant Jones, a second team All-American, was No. 13 in kickoff returns and Fodge was named a second team All-American after ending the season No. 8 in punting.

In 2005, Daniel McLemore accumulated the second-most kickoff return yards (638) in OSU history. DeForest also oversaw the development of walk-on kicker Bruce Redden, who connected on 11-of-14 field goals for the year.

In 2004, the Cowboys led the Big 12 and were No. 10 nationally in punt returns, averaging 14.7 yards per return, No. 26 in net punting and No. 38 in kickoff returns.

When DeForest arrived in Stillwater in 2001, his impact was felt immediately, as Oklahoma State improved in every statistical category, going from No. 78 to No. 10 in net punting, from No. 67 to No. 12 in punt returns and from No. 92 to No. 3 in kickoff returns. Returner Chris Massey led the nation in kickoff returns, averaging 34.8 yards per return.

Prior to his tenure at Oklahoma State, DeForest served stints at Duke (1994-2001) as the special teams’ coordinator and linebackers coach. He was the outside linebackers coach at Rice from 1992-94 and the offensive graduate assistant (RB) there from 1990-92. He began his coaching career at Titusville High School in Titusville, Fla., in 1988 and served two years as the outside linebackers coach.

While at Duke in 2000, the Blue Devils finished No. 6 nationally in net punting and 15th in kickoff returns. Punter Brian Morton was No. 2 in the nation in punting, averaging 45.2 yards per kick, while Kyle Moore (No. 9) and Chris Douglas (No. 45) both ranked in the Top 50 in kickoff returns. Trevor Cobb was the 1991 Doak Walker Award winner as one of DeForest’s pupils at Rice.

DeForest is a 1987 graduate of University of Southwest Louisiana (now known as University of Louisiana) with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. He was a four-year starter and was twice named to the all-Southern and all-Louisiana independent teams. He also was a two-year lettermen as a pitcher on the Ragin Cajuns’ baseball squad. He received the first annual President’s Cup, signifying the University’s top male athlete.

He played two years of professional football as an outside linebacker and deep snapper, first for the Houston Oilers (NFL) and New Orleans Saints (NFL) in 1987 and then finished career with the Calgary Stampeders (CFL) in 1988.

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