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Lions Men, Women Fall

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By BART O'CONNELL

Tribune correspondent

Published: January 17, 2009

ST. LEO - Both the Saint Leo men's and women's basketball teams were unable to rebound in Sunshine State Conference play against Tampa on Wednesday.

The men (7-10, 1-4 SSC) lost 70-52 to the Spartans after the women (7-7, 0-5) fell 63-54 to a nationally ranked UT squad at the Bob Martinez Sports Center in Tampa.

Despite leading for the majority of the first half, the Lions men were behind 33-23 at the break, never recovering from an 11-2 run that gave UT control of the contest.

They shot 38.5 percent from the field - the first time they failed to shoot 40 percent in a game, and made just two 3-pointers, tying a season low. Though the Lions still rank second in the SSC in shooting (47.2 percent), they can blame most of their losses on being last in field-goal percentage defense (44.5 percent allowed).

Junior point guard Quentin Cullop has been one of the few bright spots for Saint Leo, scoring 17 points with five assists. He is third in the SSC in assists per game. Josue Vazquez added 15 points and eight rebounds. Jordan Prais, fourth in the SSC in scoring at more than 17 points per game, had 13 against the Spartans.

The women suffered their sixth consecutive loss; all seven of their losses have come in their last eight games, and it has been more than a month since the team's last win Dec. 13 against Flagler. Marquita Fenn had 17 points, four assists, two blocks and two steals, but Dominique Daniels (10 points) was the only other Lion in double-figure scoring. Whitley Washington, third in the SSC in assists, had eight more Wednesday.

Both squads are home today for games at 2 p.m. (women) and 4 p.m. (men) against Lynn.

SUCCESS IN HOME POOL: The men's and women's swim teams finished second and fourth, respectively, in Saturday's Saint Leo Invitational at the New Tampa YMCA.

Men's individual winners included Matt Attal (1,000-meter freestyle, 200 butterfly, 500 free), former Land O' Lakes High star Tim Olson (200 free), Jeremy Carusone (100 breast) and Donnie Maclary (50 free).

Baldwin-Wallace College (Ohio) was the men's team champion. Mesa State University (Colo.) took the women's team title.

WOMEN IN SPORTS FESTIVITIES SET: Saint Leo's athletics department will host a reception to commemorate the 23rd annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Feb. 3. The event will be held at the Saint Leo University Student Community Center.

Clearwater native and former basketball player Celia Slater will be the 16th recipient of the Saint Leo University Women in Sports Achievement Award.

Correspondent Bart O'Connell can be reached at boconnell@pop.tampatrib.com.

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