Around The USCAA - 2/16/15
Around the USCAA is a weekly article that highlights current happenings, key matchups, and relevant news stories from across the association. If you have a relevant news piece that you would like considered for inclusion please send it to info@theuscaa.com.
Three USCAA Players Reach 1,000 Career Points and Klint Pleasant Wins 100th Career Game at Rochester College
Gabby Foy reaches 1,000 Points!
Sophomore guard, Gabby Foy (Wilton, ME), became the 6th Lady Mustang in program history to eclipse 1,000 career points, and only the 4th to do it within her first two years. Known for her 3-point shooting ability, Foy has become more versatile this season, scoring more from the point and mid-range than from outside.
In already fewer games compared to last season, Foy has scored 38 more baskets from inside the 3-point line this year, and has seen her scoring average go up from 15.1 ppg as a freshman to 18.7 ppg this season. Her shooting percentage has also increased from 39% to 44%.
Head Women's Basketball Coach, Andrew Morong, on Foy, "Gabby has really developed her offensive weaponry this year, and a lot of that came from her hard work in the offseason. She spent countless hours in the weight room adding muscle, and just making herself physically stronger. Scoring 1,000 points does not happen by accident. It takes a lot of hard work in season and during the off season. Gabby is joining a very elite club here at CM!"
A USCAA DII 2nd Team All-American last year, Foy is one of the top candidates for the Yankee Conference Player of the Year Award.
*Courtesy of Central Maine CC Athletic Website
Two Apprentice School Adds Two More to the 1,000 Point Club
On February 11, two Apprentice School men’s basketball players broke the 1,000-career point mark in the same game. Junior Jay Melendez entered the game needing 22 points to break the mark and with a 3-pointer at the 6:21 mark he became the eighth men’s basketball player to score over 1,000 career points. His final points of the night capped a 15-5 run with a layup and gave him 1,003 points. Senior Johnnie Ferebee came into the game against MACU needing 25 points to get it and it went down to the wire for him. With a layup for the final points in an 88-61 Apprentice School win, Ferebee became the ninth player to break the 1,000-point mark. After Sunday’s 74-71 win over Washington Adventist University, Melendez now has 1,044 points scored for his career and Ferebee has 1,016 points.
*Courtesy of The Apprentice School Athletic Department
Pleasant Reaches 100th Victory at Rochester
ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich.—On Monday evening Rochester College head men's basketball coach Klint Pleasant won his 100th game at RC. The Warriors defeated Finlandia University in their final home game of the season to finish an impressive 17-1 at home this year.
The 100th career RC victory comes in just Pleasant's fourth season on the sidelines for the Warriors. Pleasant has continued the long-time tradition of excellence on the floor for the Warriors hoops team as he guided RC to a 26-8 record after taking over the head coaching reigns from his father, Garth Pleasant. Coach Pleasant led RC all the way to USCAA national championship game in his first season where they were edged by Oakwood University by 3 points.
Pleasant's second season was a historic one for the men's program. The 2012-2013 season marks as the only 30-win season in the history of the RC basketball program. RC finished 30-4 including a USCAA national championship and the program's first NAIA top-25 ranking. The Warriors climbed all the way to #9 in the NAIA as well as being ranked #1 in the USCAA for much of the season. Rochester won 19 games in a row and went a perfect 16-0 at home. The Warriors also earned their first ever win over an NCAA Division I opponent when they defeated Eastern Illinois, 59-56, on EIU's home floor. The Warriors qualified for their first A.I.I. conference tournament and NAIA national tournament in that historic season as well.
In Pleasant's third season he led RC back to both the USCAA national tournament and A.I.I. conference tournament. The Warriors went 25-8 including a perfect 4-0 in the conference during regular season play. Over his first four seasons RC has consistently ranked in the top 10 of the NAIA in numerous defensive categories. In the 2013-2014 season RC ranked #1 in defensive field goal percentage (39%) and also #2 in scoring defense per game (61 points/game). RC has ranked #2 in the country in defensive points per game for each of the last three seasons. Pleasant also has had three players earn NAIA all-american honors in Dramell Hogan (2012-2013), Drew Maynard (2012-2013), and Stavros Schizas (2013-2014).
Rochester currently sits at 19-9 in Pleasant's fourth season. The Warriors are on pace to qualify for the USCAA national tournament and A.I.I. conference tournament once again. The Warriors began the 2014-2015 season receiving votes (RV) in the preseason NAIA division II coaches poll, which is another first in the program's history.
Coach Pleasant on reaching his 100th RC victory:
"As I've said for four years now, I am grateful for all the groundwork that has been laid over the past 50 years before I took the reigns. Coach Shinsky, my father, and all the former players have worked very hard to create a championship program built around a culture of hard work and character. Mostly, I am grateful to the players I've coached throughout the last four years and to my assistant coaches. The players win games and the assistants are a constant support," said Coach Pleasant.
*Courtesy of Rochester College Athletic Website
Second Semester Winter Eligibility
The USCAA National Office is now accepting second semester eligibility for all winter sports. Please email documentation to either Michael.goodman@theuscaa.com or info@theuscaa.com.
Key Weekly Matchups
Men’s Basketball
2/18/15 – PSUAC Men’s Basketball Tournament First Round
2/19/15 – Penn State Beaver at WVU Tech at 7:00 P.M.
2/19/15 – PSUAC Men’s Basketball Tournament Elite 8
2/20/15 – NHTI at University of Maine Machias at 7:00 P.M.
2/20/15 – Vermont Tech at Central Maine CC at 9:00 P.M.
2/21/15 – PSUAC Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four
2/21/15 – Warren Wilson College at Berea College at 2:00 P.M.
2/22/15 – PSUAC Men’s Basketball Conference Championship Game at Bryce Jordan Center
Women’s Basketball
2/18/15 – PSUAC Women’s Basketball Tournament Quarterfinal
2/19/15 – Warren Wilson College at Barbra Scotia College at 6:00 P.M.
2/21/15 – Berea College at WVU Tech at 2:00 P.M.
2/21/15 – PSUAC Women’s Basketball Tournament Semi-Final
2/22/15 – PSUAC Women’s Basketball Conference Championship at University Park