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Lions Men Win Fourth Straight; Women Snap Skid

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By BART O'CONNELL

Tribune correspondent

Published: January 31, 2009

ST. LEO - The Saint Leo men's and women's basketball teams turned up for this afternoon's games against Barry with home wins over Flagler on Wednesday, extending one streak while finally breaking another.

The Lions men (11-10) have won four consecutive games, longer than any post-December win streak the squad has had in the past four years. In the 87-83 win against Flagler, four players scored in double figures, led by Jordan Prais' 19 points and eight rebounds. Kyle Rowland had 16 points, eight rebounds and four blocks. The Lions also had 14 assists against just five turnovers.

That victory followed up a key 72-66 win against Nova Southeastern in the Bowman Center last Saturday, which vaulted Saint Leo into a tie for fourth in the Sunshine State Conference at 4-4. They have beaten two of the three teams ahead of them in the standings at the midway point in the conference schedule.

Today's game in the Bowman Center is against Barry (7-11, 2-6), which SLU beat by one in overtime to begin the SSC schedule.

The women (8-10) beat Flagler 76-53 to snap a nine-game skid that began after beating Flagler by 20 on Dec. 13. Freshman Brianna Lollis, in her first career start, led all scorers with 17 points. Now the Lions will go for their first SSC win of the season against the Bucs (14-5, 5-3) at 2 p.m. today in the Bowman Center.

SWEET 16: The Saint Leo softball team was ranked 16th in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association preseason poll released on Thursday.

The Lions were ranked 19th in the final 2008 pool after winning two NCAA South Regional games and finishing 37-15 overall.

They were ranked third-highest in the preseason poll among SSC schools. Barry was fourth and Tampa 10th.

Saint Leo's 2009 season begins next Thursday in San Antonio, Texas, against Cameron University.

ALL-AMERICAN LACROSSE: The men's lacrosse team received some national attention this week when defenseman Ryu Arakawa was named a Face Off Yearbook preseason honorable mention All-American.

Arakawa also was named to the preseason Deep South All-Conference team along with another SLU defenseman, Alec Rahe.

The Saint Leo lacrosse season begins on Feb. 20 at home against Adelphi University.

BASEBALL OPENS NEXT WEEK: The Saint Leo baseball team, led by new coach Russ McNickle, begins play Friday in a three-game, non-conference series at Nova Southeastern. The home opener is Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. against Eckerd.

Correspondent Bart O'Connell can be reached at tampasport@

gmail.com.

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