The Skyliner

Issue date: 11/29/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: File Photo

Jessica Nix
Staff Writer


The North Greenville University women's basketball team holds a winning record for the season after the first two games of the 2006-07 season. The opening game was held in Gaffney, S.C., at Limestone College. Limestone held the Crusaders to a one-point second-half lead, but North Greenville staged a comeback with a 95-79 win over the Saints.

Forward Audrey Toscano, junior international business, led the game with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Toscano was followed by center Amanda Milner, sophomore psychology, with 16 points, forward Debbie Wyatt, junior sport management, with 12 points and 13 rebounds, and guard Eboni Davis, freshman biology, with 13 points for the game.

The first home game of the season started a North Greenville two-game winning streak. The Lady Crusaders pulled off a win over Montreat College with a 20-point margin. Toscano continued strong in her second game of the season with 24 points and 13 rebounds. She was followed by Davis and guard Nikki Wood, freshman interdisciplinary studies, who also scored in the double-digits.

The win at home gave the Lady Crusaders a perfect week and advanced them to 3-0 for the season. A 28-28 score at the half marked the midpoint of a very tight game. The Crusaders battled with Benedict College for the remainder of the second-half until Davis sealed the 64-60 win with two free throws in the last five seconds of the game. Toscano led the Lady Crusaders in scoring again with a total of 14 points.

After two home games, the North Greenville men's basketball team had an even 1-1 record. The opening game was Wednesday, Nov.15 in Hayes Gymnasium against Wingate University. Wingate held on to a 103-82 win. Three of the Crusaders hit double-digits. Guard Austin Randel, freshman undecided, led the Crusaders in scoring with 29 points. Forward Jordan Richmond, senior business administration, and forward Kyler Vitko, freshman undecided, followed Randel in points.

"I thought that we made some improvements on offense and showed more composure, but we still need to work on our transition defense. We are looking to play our best basketball in November but we should start turning heads in games to come," said Richmond.

The Crusaders redeemed themselves after their first loss with an 86-37 victory over the Warren-Wilson Owls. Richmond led the team with 22 points, and Randel was only a point behind with 21. Three other Crusaders scored in double-digits, forward John Mesadieu, freshman elementary education, forward Amonzo Gantt, senior business administration, and Vitko added 14, 12 and 10 points respectively.

"I would have to say that if we execute our offense and keep working hard on defense we will be very tough to beat. We have got a great group of guys with the same common goal and that can take us a long way. Our season would be a let down if we were playing our best basketball right now, we need to be playing our best basketball when it comes playoff time," said Randel.

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