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Category: Sports

MWSU women jump seven spots to finish 5th at Central Region Preview

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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Missouri Western Women’s Golf ended its fall season with perhaps its best single-round team performance of the season. The Griffons outshot every other team in the second round with a score of 303 to jump from 12th to fifth at the Central Region Preview.

The Griffons improved by a combined 15 strokes from their 318 performance on Tuesday. The Griffons’ jump up to fifth place ties their best finish of the season. Missouri Western’s turnaround in the second round was a complete team effort as four of the five golfers improved their scores in the second round.

Shi Qing Ong vaulted up the individual leaderboards with her stellar second round. Ong came into the round two tied for 16thafter shooting a 76 in the first round. Ong shot an even-par 71 in the second round to finish tied for second at the tournament. Her 71-score second round tied for the second-best single round score at the event.

Chong Yong also improved her score in day two. Yong entered Wednesday tied for 16th after her 76 on Tuesday. Yong ended with a second round score of 75 to finish tied for 12th.

Anna Bech put together one of the most impressive second round turnarounds at the tournament. Bech finished the second round nine strokes fewer than her first round, shooting a 76 on Wednesday. Her second round performance gave Missouri Western another top-50 finish as she placed tied for 44th.

Katie Irvin finished tied for 50th with an overall score of 162. Jenna Kosmatka improved by five strokes in her second round to shoot an 82 on Wednesday.

Again, Missouri Western Women’s Golf wrapped up its fall schedule upon finishing the Central Region Preview. They will be off for the winter before coming back for the spring season in March.

— MWSU Athletics —

Preseason All-Big 12 men’s basketball honor handed out

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Irving, Texas – For just the second time in Conference history, Kansas State has produced the Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year as senior forward Dean Wade captured the award. Kansas’ Dedric Lawson picked up Newcomer of the Year while teammate Quentin Grimes was selected Freshman of the Year in the 2018-19 Preseason All-Big 12 honors, chosen by league head coaches.

Wade also was the only unanimous selection on the Preseason All-Big 12 Team. He has played in 101 career games at K-State and started 98. Wade had played in every game in his career until missing most of the last five games due to injury. The 6-2 forward was selected to the All-Big 12 First Team at the conclusion of last season after averaging 16.2 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 55 percent (198-of-360) from the field.

Junior transfer Lawson will be eligible after sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. As a sophomore in 2016-17, he averaged 19.2 points and 9.9 rebounds. The 6-9 forward was also voted onto the Preseason All-Big 12 Team.

Grimes was the Texas state player of the year as a senior at College Park High School and picked up numerous All-America honors. The 6-5 guard earned Most Valuable Player and All-Tournament selection at the 2018 FIBA Americas U18 World Championships in leading the USA to the gold medal under the direction of KU coach Bill Self.

Joining Wade and Lawson on the Preseason All-Big 12 Team are Lindell Wigginton (Iowa State), Barry Brown, Jr. (K-State) and Sagaba Konate (West Virginia). Wade is the only 2017-18 All-Big 12 First Team selection returning to the Conference this season. Brown was an All-Big 12 Second Team pick last year while Konate was selected to the third team and Wigginton was honorable mention. The preseason team consists of two seniors, two juniors and a sophomore after being comprised of all seniors in 2017-18.

The Big 12 will tip off the 2018-19 campaign with its annual media day, slated for Wednesday, October 24 at Sprint Center in Kansas City. The preseason poll will be announced on October 18.

 Preseason Player of the Year
Dean Wade, K-State, F, 6-2, 228, Sr., St. John, Kan./St. John

Preseason Newcomer of the Year
Dedric Lawson, Kansas, F, 6-9, 235, Jr., Memphis, Tenn. /Hamilton/Memphis

Preseason Freshman of the Year
Quentin Grimes, Kansas, G, 6-5, 210, Fr., The Woodlands, Texas/College Park

Preseason All-Big 12 Team
Name, School                                                   Pos.           Ht.              Wt.             Cl.             Hometown/Previous School(s)
Lindell Wigginton, Iowa State                          G                6-2              188            So.           Dartmouth, Nova Scotia/Oak Hill Academy
Dedric Lawson, Kansas                                    F                6-9              235            Jr.             Memphis, Tenn./Hamilton/Memphis
Barry Brown, Jr., K-State                                  G               6-3              195             Sr.            St. Petersburg, Fla./Gibbs
Dean Wade, K-State*                                        F                6-2              228            Sr.            St. John, Kan./St. John
Sagaba Konate, West Virginia                          F                6-8              250            Jr.             Bamako, Mali/Kennedy Catholic

Honorable Mention (listed alphabetically by school):
Cameron Lard (Iowa State), Udoka Azubuike (Kansas), Quentin Grimes (Kansas), Alex Robinson (TCU), Kerwin Roach II (Texas), Jericho Sims (Texas), Jarrett Culver (Texas Tech)

Coaches not permitted to vote for their own student-athletes.

* – Unanimous Selection

Griffon volleyball drops five-set heartbreaker to Northwest Missouri State

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ST. JOSEPH – It was a rivalry showdown that lived up to the hype. Griffon Volleyball took Northwest to the wire Tuesday night in the Fieldhouse just days after the Bearcats handed Washburn its first loss of the season.

Ultimately, the Griffons (12-13, 4-8) fell in five sets after Northwest (18-5, 10-2) won the fourth and fifth sets by two each to get out of St. Joseph with a regular season sweep of the Griffons, its first since 2012.

NOTABLES

  • It was the first five-set match win for Northwest this season. Missouri Western fell to 0-6 in five set matches this season.
  • Northwest Missouri improved to 5-0 in road MIAA games
  • Missouri Western held Northwest, which entered hitting .254 as a team to a .132 hitting percentage, never allowing the Bearcats to hit better than their .244 percentage in the first set.
  • Also one of the best serving teams in the MIAA entering Tuesday’s match, the Griffons matched Northwest’s six aces and scored a 59 percent sideout percentage
  • The two teams tied nine times with two lead changes in a first set that went 25-22 to MWSU
  • The fifth set featured five ties and three lead changes
  • MWSU rebounded from a 25-14 loss in set two to take the third 25-12 and move within a set of knocking off its rival

LEADERS AND STATS

  • Stephanie Doak led all players with 24 kills, two off of her career-high. Doak also hit .322
  • Audrey Keim led the team with 29 digs and had two aces
  • Ali Tauchen led the Griffons with six total blocks to go with eight kills and 13 digs
  • Liv Winker came two assists short of matching her career-high with 44
  • Starting her second-straight match on the back row, Abby Gunn turned in 19 digs and had two aces
  • Shellby Taylor had seven kills to move within four of 1,000 for her career

UP NEXT

  • The Griffons travel to Warrensburg to face Central Missouri (18-6, 8-4) for the third time this season
  • The Jennies scored a four-set victory at Lindenwood (12-10, 4-8), Tuesday. Missouri Western travels to Lindenwood this Saturday.

— MWSU Athletics —

Western women’s golf in 12th after day one of Central Region Preview

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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Missouri Western Women’s Golf began play at the Central Region Preview in Tahlequah on Tuesday. The Griffons finished the first round in 12th in the team standings with a score of 318. The Central Region Preview is a two-day event, and is the last tournament for the team in the fall season.

Leading the Griffons after the first round is Shi Qing Ong and Chong Yong. Ong and Yong both finished the first round with a 76 (+5). Ong scored two birdies and finished even on par holes. Yong parred 11 of the 18 holes. Ong and Yong are both tied for 16th going into the second round.

Katie Irvin sits tied for 50th with her 81 on Tuesday. Anna Bech finished with an 85 and Jenna Kosmatka shot at 87.

Missouri Western Women’s Golf will tee off at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday to wrap up the fall season.

— MWSU Athletics —

Mizzou women picked fifth in preseason SEC media poll

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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball was selected to finish fifth in the Southeastern Conference Tuesday by a select voting panel of both SEC and national media members as the league office announced its 2018-19 SEC Preseason Media Poll. In addition, senior Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) was one of seven players selected to the Preseason All-SEC team.

Mizzou was picked to finish fifth behind Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia. Each team picked ahead of the Tigers advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season, with South Carolina making the Elite Eight and Mississippi State ending the season as the runner-up.

Cunningham was one of three players to receive votes for the Preseason SEC Women’s Basketball Player of the Year award, which ended up going to Mississippi State’s Teaira McCowan.

Cunningham averaged 18.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in her junior campaign, and was the only player in the nation to shoot better than 54 percent from the field (54.2 percent, 186-for-343), 45 percent from three (45.7 percent, 69-for-151) and 83 percent from the free throw line (83.6 percent, 133-for-159). She scored in double figures in 28 of 31 games she played in, and ranked fourth in the NCAA in three-point percentage as she earned AP All-America Honorable Mention honors for the second consecutive season.

As a team last season, Mizzou earned a third consecutive NCAA Tournament berth for the first time since 1984-86. Head Coach Robin Pingeton’s squad won 11 conference games for the second straight season, the first back-to-back seasons with 11 plus conference wins since 1983-84 and 1984-85. Mizzou is 13-3 at home against SEC opponents in the past two seasons.

PRESEASON MEDIA POLL
1. Mississippi State
2. South Carolina
3. Tennessee
4. Georgia
5. Mizzou
6. Texas A&M
7. Kentucky
8. Auburn
9. LSU
10. Alabama
11. Arkansas
12. Florida
13. Vanderbilt
14. Ole Miss

Player of the Year
Teaira McCowan, Mississippi State

Preseason All-SEC

Calyia Robinson, Georgia
Anriel Howard, Mississippi State
Teaira McCowan, Mississippi State
Sophie Cunningham, Mizzou
Alexis Jennings, South Carolina
Rennia Davis, Tennessee
Chennedy Carter, Texas A&M

— Mizzou Athletics —

MWSU’s Cowell named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The MIAA announced on Tuesday afternoon that Madeline Cowell was named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week. It is the first time in Cowell’s career that she has received the conference honor.

The senior etched her name into Griffon Soccer history last weekend, becoming the program’s all-time assists leader. In the 82nd minute, Cowell’s corner kick assist to Lillian Davis helped put the game out of reach to seal the 3-1 win against Southwest Baptist.

The assist was Cowell’s 13th of her career and her first of the 2018 season, making her the lone leader in career assists at Missouri Western. Cowell tallied seven assists last season and five assists as a sophomore, both while playing midfielder. Cowell made the switch from midfielder to defender in her senior season to help strengthen an inexperienced back line.

Cowell has been a staple of the Griffon defense all season and helped the Griffons hold their opponents to just one goal in the team’s two games over the weekend. The Griffons allowed only six shots and one shot on goal in their shutout win at Missouri Southern. Cowell has been a key contributor to a defense that allows just 1.29 goals per game this season.

— MWSU Athletics —

Jayhawks’ Grimes named to Jerry West Award watch list

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Kansas freshman Quentin Grimes has been named one of 20 candidates for the 2019 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Tuesday.

Named after Hall of Famer and 1959 NCAA Final Four Most Valuable Player Jerry West, the annual honor, in its fifth year, recognizes the top shooting guard in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.

Grimes is a five-star combo guard who made his rounds on the all-star game circuit following his senior year at College Park High School in The Woodlands, Texas. Ranked No. 8 in the national recruiting services, he averaged 29.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists his senior season, earning the 2017-18 Texas Gatorade Player of the Year, Texas Mr. Basketball and the 6A Player of the Year. This past summer, Grimes was the Most Valuable Player and an All-Tournament selection at the 2018 FIBA Americas U18 Championships in leading USA to the gold medal, where he averaged 14.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists. The USA squad was coached by KU head coach Bill Self

By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2019 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award will be narrowed down to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Mr. West and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The winner of the 2019 Jerry West Award will be presented at the ESPN College Basketball Awards Show presented by Wendy’s in Los Angeles on Friday, April 12, 2019.

Jerry West attended West Virginia University and averaged 24.8 points and 13.3 rebounds per game in his three varsity seasons. He led his team to the NCAA Championship game in 1959 and was named a consensus All-American in 1959 and 1960. In the summer of 1960, he was co-captain of the U.S. men’s basketball team and won an Olympic gold medal. As a professional player, West played 14 seasons in the NBA with the Lakers making the All-NBA First Team 10 times. West won an NBA championship in 1972 and was named the NBA Finals MVP in 1969 despite his team not winning the championship. In 1996, he was named a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Previous winners of the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award include Carsen Edwards, Purdue (2018), Malik Monk, Kentucky (2017), Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (2016) and D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State (2015).

For more information on the 2019 Jerry West Award, log onto www.HoophallAwards.com.

2019 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award Candidates
Bryce Brown, Auburn
Jarron Cumberland, Cincinnati
Kellan Grady, Davidson
RJ Barrett, Duke
KeVaughn Allen, Florida
Zach Norvell, Gonzaga
Justin Wright-Foreman, Hofstra
Romeo Langford, Indiana
Quentin Grimes, Kansas
Barry Brown, Kansas State
Tyler Herro, Kentucky
Quinndary Weatherspoon, Mississippi State
James Palmer Jr., Nebraska
T.J. Gibbs, Notre Dame
Mustapha Heron, St. John’s
Tyus Battle, Syracuse
Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech
Kyle Guy, Virginia
Jaylen Nowell Washington
Fletcher Magee, Wofford

*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2018-19 season.*

— KU Athletics —

MWSU men’s golf in sixth after day one at Blue Tiger Invite

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ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western Men’s Golf is in sixth place after the first round of the Blue Tiger Invitational in Jefferson City, Missouri. The Griffons finished with a team score of 302, but sit just three strokes back from the three-way tie for third.

Due to weather conditions and slow play on the course, the coaches mutually agreed to change the tournament from a three-round format to a two-round format. The teams played 18 holes on Monday and will play another 18 holes on Tuesday.

Patrick McCarthy is tied for ninth after the first round. His 73 (+1) gave him the best performance of any Griffon on Monday. McCarthy’s three birdies in the first round are tied for the third-most of any golfer at the tournament.

Not far behind McCarthy on the individual leaderboards is Jett Simmons. Simmons finished with a 74 (+2) and is tied for 12th. His 16 pars lead all 104 golfers at the tournament.

Cole Roberts finished with a first-round score of 77. Lucas Horseman and Tom Buffington each shot a 78.

The second and final round of the Blue Tiger Invitational will tee off at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest’s Bruder, Ahrens earn weekly MIAA volleyball awards

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After securing a monumental road victory and pulling to within one game of first place in the MIAA standings, the Northwest Missouri State University volleyball squad is having two players honored as the league’s players of the week.

Senior outside hitter Maddy Bruder (Firth, Nebraska) earned MIAA hitter of the week honors, while sophomore setter Maddy Ahrens (Appleton, Wisconsin) was named the MIAA specialist of the week. It’s the second straight week that Ahrens has tallied the MIAA specialist of the week status.

Bruder posted two double-doubles and led Northwest to pair of 3-0 road wins including a victory over No. 9-ranked and previously undefeated Washburn. Bruder averaged 4.17 kills and 6.17 digs in the two sweeps. Bruder had 10 kills and a season-high 22 digs in a 3-0 win at Emporia State. Bruder came back with 15 kills and 15 digs with two block assists in Northwest’s first road win over Washburn since Oct. 6, 1999. Bruder has recorded five straight double-doubles and leads the Bearcats with 13 double-doubles this season. Bruder leads the MIAA in kills per set (4.26 – MIAA only; 4.20 – all matches).

Ahrens directed the Bearcats to road wins over Emporia State and No. 9-ranked Washburn. Ahrens averaged 13.00 assists and 3.83 digs as Northwest played only six sets in two victories. Ahrens dished out 40 assists and added 10 digs with three service aces and three kills in a 3-0 win against Emporia State. Ahrens came back on Saturday night and produced another double-double with 38 assists and 13 digs in a 3-0 sweep of previously undefeated Washburn. Ahrens added a kill and a service ace against the Ichabods. Ahrens has 10 double-doubles, including six in MIAA play this season. Ahrens leads the MIAA in assists (11.35 – all matches; 12.55 – MIAA matches).

Northwest (17-5 overall, 9-2 MIAA) will play a trio of road matches this week beginning Tuesday at Missouri Western at 7 p.m., followed by a match Friday at Lindenwood (6 p.m.) and a match Saturday at Central Missouri (3 p.m.).

— Northwest Athletics —

Kansas freshman Dotson named to Bob Cousy Award watch list

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Kansas freshman Devon Dotson has been named one of 20 collegiate players to the preseason watch list for the 2019 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Monday.

Named after Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy, the annual honor, now in its 16th year, recognizes the top point guard in NCAA Division I men’s basketball. A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates. Dotson is vying to become the second Jayhawk in the last three seasons to win the award as Frank Mason III was KU’s first-ever Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award winner in 2017.

One of five McDonald’s All-Americans on the KU’s 2018-19 roster, Dotson is an explosive combo guard who picked up numerous postseason honors and played in multiple all-star games following the 2017-18 season. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native ended ranked No. 20 by Rivals.com, No. 21 by 247Sports.com and No. 24 by ESPN100. A three-time all-state selection at Providence Day School, Dotson averaged 28.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists his senior year.

By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2019 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award will be narrowed to 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Mr. Cousy and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The winner of the 2019 Bob Cousy Award will be presented at the ESPN College Basketball Awards Show in Los Angeles on April 12, 2019.

Bob Cousy played for Holy Cross from 1946-50 winning an NCAA Championship in 1947. He was named a Consensus First-Team All-American in 1950. His success continued at the professional level as a six-time NBA Champion (1957, 1959-63), NBA Most Valuable Player (1957) and 13-time NBA All-Star (1951-63). In 1996, he was named a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Previous winners of the Bob Cousy Award include: Jalen Brunson, Villanova (2018), FRANK MASON III, KANSAS (2017), Tyler Ulis, Kentucky (2016), Delon Wright, Utah (2015), Shabazz Napier, Connecticut (2014), Trey Burke, Michigan (2013), Kendall Marshall, North Carolina (2012), Kemba Walker, Connecticut (2011), Greivis Vasquez, Maryland (2010), Ty Lawson, North Carolina (2009), DJ Augustin, Texas (2008), Acie Law, Texas A&M (2007), Dee Brown, Illinois (2006), Raymond Felton, North Carolina (2005) and Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph’s (2004).

For more information on the 2019 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award, log onto www.hoophallawards.com.

2019 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award Candidates
Jared Harper, Auburn
Ky Bowman, Boston College
Tre Jones, Duke
Josh Perkins, Gonzaga
Devon Dotson, KANSAS
Tremont Waters, LSU
Markus Howard, Marquette
Jon Elmore, Marshall
Cassius Winston, Michigan State
Cody Martin, Nevada
Ahmad Carver, Old Dominion
Payton Pritchard, Oregon
Carsen Edwards, Purdue
Shamorie Ponds, St. John’s
Alex Robinson, TCU
Jordan Bone, Tennessee
Jaylen Hands, UCLA
Jahvon Quinerly, Villanova
Ty Jerome, Virginia
Justin Robinson, Virginia Tech

*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2018-19 season*

— KU Athletics —

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