NEWMAC MEN'S BASKETBALL QUARTERFINAL PREVIEW
The Clark University men’s basketball team faces the Wheaton College Lyons for a third time this season in the opening round of the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament on Wednesday night at 7 pm.
The Cougars previously came out on top in two tightly contested contests, including a 76-73 buzzer-beater on January 23 and most recently a 92-90 decision last Saturday.
“It’s going to be tight; right down to the wire,” says head coach Paul W. Phillips. “We played two close games already, so it’s really a coin flip.”
Their last game marked the final regular-season game for both teams where Clark secured the second seed in the upcoming tournament, its highest place since earning the top spot in the 2002-2003 season. That year Clark defeated fourth-seeded Wheaton (88-66) in the NEWMAC semifinals – the last post-season match up between the two – en route to a championship win over Babson College and its fourth conference tournament title.
Winners of two straight, Clark enters the tournament with a 7-5 conference record. The Lyons have dropped five in a row to close out the season with their last win coming in an 84-81 decision over MIT on February 2.
Sophomore Mark Alexander, named this week’s NEWMAC Player of the Week, comes into the game following a 21-point performance against the Lyons, shooting 8-16 from the floor with a career-high 10 rebounds. Alexander (16.1 ppg) heads the conference’s second ranked offense (77.2 ppg), while Wheaton, ranked third in scoring average (74.4), counters with freshman standout Anthony Coppola (19.9 ppg). “He’s the best rookie player in the league,” says Phillips, “he plays like an upper classman.”
With the two offenses matching up well, the onus of this game will be on the defense. The teams rank last in the conference in points allowed with Clark giving up 79.1 points per game and Wheaton only slightly better at 76.1 points per game. “We have to step up better defensively to win this game,” Phillips declares. “We have to make them work for the baskets.”
Since joining the NEWMAC in the 1995-1996 season, Clark leads the all-time series with Wheaton, 14-10. The teams have split their two previous post-season match-ups, with Wheaton taking a 100-92 win in the 2002 tournament before Clark’s 88-66 victory the following season.
By Bill Cobb, Sports Information Intern
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2008 NEWMAC Men's Basketball Tournament
Quarterfinals
Wednesday, Feb. 27, 7 pm
#2 Clark vs #7 Wheaton
TICKET INFORMATION
$4 for Adults, including Clark faculty/staff
and senior citizens
$1 for non-Clark students and Clark students without ID
Free for children under 12 and Clark students with ID
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NEWMAC WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS RECAP
Complete Results | Championship Web Site
Clark University's Elizabeth Rosen continued her tear on the record-books as she set a new school mark in the 1650-yard freestyle on the final day of competition at the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Championships on Saturday at Wellesley College.
The first-year swimmer placed third, the highest finish since 2002, with a time of 17:53.52, eclipsing the previous record set by Maggie Crowell '82 (18:06.09) in the 1980-81 season. Rosen's 1,000-yard split (10:47.70) was also good for a new school record by just over 11 seconds. Overall, the North Attleboro, Mass., native finished the weekend with three new Clark marks, including a new record in the 200-yard freestyle (2:00.01), and an all-time top-five finish (500-free/5:18.07).
Three other women swimmers scored points for Clark on Sunday. Dana Akerfelds (Bronxville, N.Y.) placed 12th in the 200-yard backstroke (2:20.99) and Kayleigh Lagasse (Pawtucket, R.I.) was 14th in the 200-yard butterfly (2:23.13), while teammate Gabrielle Asay (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) placed 16th in the event with a time of 2:30.17.
In relay events, the team of Rosen, Britney Wigley (Newport Beach, Cali.), Corri Stewart (Avon, Conn.) and Akerfelds placed 10th in the 400-yard freestyle relay in a time of 3:55.45.
The Cougars completed the championship weekend in eighth with 184 points - slipping from last year's seventh place-187 point finish.
"Overall the team did well," said coach Paul E. Phillips. "Several people were dealing with sickness and/or injury, but did a great job of battling through."
"Although we fell short of our goal of scoring more points than the previous year, a majority of people posted career-best performances in the majority of their events," he added. "So all-in-all it was a very good weekend for our team."
Springfield College won its eighth straight NEWMAC title with 707.5 points.
The Clark men's swim and dive team are up next with their NEWMAC Championships this weekend at MIT.
Individual Point Scorers and/or Top-Five all-time
Liz Rosen 500 Free 5:18.07 (10th place, 2nd all-time), 200 Free 2:00.01 (9th place, School Rec), 1650 Free (3rd place, school rec)
Britney Wigley 500 Fr 5:20.32 (11th place, 3rd all-time), 1650 Fr 18:34.82 (10th place, 5th all-time), 200 Fr (15th place)
Dana Akerfelds 100 Back (9th), 200 Back (12th)
Kayleigh Lagasse 200 Fly (14th)
Gabbi Asay 200 Fly (16th)
Caitlin Hanson 400 IM (16th)
Lindsey Stone 50 Free 25.93 (5th all-time)
Relay Top 5's All Time
200 Free Relay 1:45.47 (5th all-time) Rosen, Stewart, Stone, Akerfelds
800 Free Relay 8:21.14 (5th all-time) Rosen, Lagasse, Stone, Wigley
400 Medley Relay 4:23.90 (5th all-time) Stewart, Moise, Lagasse, Stone
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Previous Cougar of the Week
Women's Basketball (Feb. 19 - Feb. 26)
Sara Hagstrom '09 - Women's Basketball (Feb. 12 - Feb 19)
Pat Landers '08 - Men's Basketball (Feb. 5 - Feb 12)
Elizabeth Rosen '11 - Women's Swimming (Jan. 29 - Feb 5)
Sarah Roderigue '10 - Women's Basketball (Jan. 22 - Jan. 29)
Mark Alexander '10 - Men's Basketball (Jan. 14-21)
Elizabeth Rosen '11 - Women's Swimming (Dec. 10-18)
Britney Wigley '11 - Women's Swimming (Dec. 4-10)
David Blum '08 & Reben Gietz '10 - Men's Soccer (Oct. 30 - Nov. 6)
Kristen Domurad '08 - Women's Tennis (Oct. 23-30)
Sarah Hunsucker '08 - Women's Volleyball (Oct. 16-23)
Liz Adamcik '09 - Women's Soccer (Oct. 9-16)
Emily Tremaine 'GR - Women's Cross Country (Oct. 2-9)
Emily Tremaine 'GR - Women's Cross Country (Sept. 25 - Oct. 2)
Joanna Clark '10 - Women's Soccer (Sept. 18-24)
Peter Wise '08 - Men's Soccer (Sept. 10-16)
Lauren Blake '10 - Field Hockey (Sept. 3-9)
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The highlights for this newsletter are provided by
Dalya Qualls, Sports Information Director, 508-793-7164
Email: dqualls@clarku.edu
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NEWMAC MEN'S BASKETBALL QUARTERFINAL PREVIEW
