Hochstetler recognized
CEDARVILLE — Cedarville University Yellow Jacket guard Regina Hochstetler is the first Great Midwest Athletic conference women’s basketball Player of the Week for the 2017-‘18 season.
The 5-foot-7 junior from Berlin, averaged 24.5 points as Cedarville split its two games in the Midwest Region Crossover at the Callan Athletic Center. Hochstetler totaled 27 points, six rebounds and three assists during a 90-78 victory over Wisconsin-Parkside in the season opener. She came back with 22 points and six boards in a 79-78 last-second setback to defending national champion and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association D-II No. 1-ranked Ashland. Hochstetler shot .486 from the field overall in the two games and drained 11-of-21 three-pointers for a .524 accuracy. She knocked down all four of her free throws to go along with 12 rebounds, four assists, and a steal.
The Yellow Jackets return to action at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16 with a non-conference game at Central State in Wilberforce.
Thornton, Hopkins honored
FAIRBORN — Seniors Jessie Thornton and Megan Hopkins of the Wright State University women’s volleyball team were selected to the Horizon League Honorable Mention Team, conference officials announced Nov. 15.
Thornton (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) led the league in digs at five per set and set the school record for most career digs with 2,088, while making the top 10 single-season digs list each year. She was named to the 2014 Horizon League All-Freshman team, and was the team MVP in 2015. She was also named the HL Defensive Player of the Week, Sept. 18.
Hopkins (Westfield, Ind./Westfield) collected her 1,000th kill early in the season and ended her career with more than 1,100 kills and 300 total blocks. She was named to the All-Tournament team at the 2014 Chattanooga Invitational, 2016 Butler Classic and the 2017 Chicago State Invitational. She ranked ninth in hitting percentage and fifth in blocks in the Horizon League.
WSU falls in OT
OXFORD — The Wright State men’s basketball team fell in overtime Nov. 14 at Miami University, 73-67.
Miami held a narrow 35-33 margin after the first 20 minutes. WSU won the boards, 20-14. The score stayed tight with Miami in control until under the 10-minute mark when Wright State took the lead and began to assume control.
The Raiders won the boards 45-35 and WSU outscored MU 30-20 in the paint. Wright State shot 42 percent from the field. The score was tied 10 times with 11 lead changes.
The Raiders will host Murray State at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18.
Raiders defeat EIU
FAIRBORN — The Wright State women’s basketball team defeated Eastern Illinois 81-46, Nov. 14 at the WSU Nutter Center.
Senior Chelsea Welch scored the first six points of the game. 36-20 was the halftime score as the Raiders used a balanced scoring attack led by Lexi Smith’s eight points. The Raiders outscored the Panthers in the third quarter 20-9 to make the score 56-29 after 30 minutes of play. Wright State cruised to a final of 81-46 with a very balanced attack. The Raiders shot 52 percent from the field and 42 percent overall. Every player got minutes with all scoring but one. WSU outrebounded the Panthers 54-34 overall.
The Raiders hit the road Thursday, Nov. 16 when they’ll play an 8 p.m. contest at No. 16 Missouri.
Bulldogs nab OT win
CIRCLEVILLE — The Wilberforce University women’s basketball team won, 86-81, in overtime Nov. 14 at Ohio Christian University.
Brittany Wells, a senior transfer from Cincinnati Chrisitan University, scored a career-high 43 points in 42 minutes of play. Wells hit 19 of 25 shots from the field, followed by Jamee Denman (a junior transfer from St.Joseph College) with 14 points and Keanna Briscoe (a junior transfer from Volunteer Community College) with 12 points.
The Bulldogs play again on the road Friday, Nov. 17 at Rio Grande University.
Abrams earns All-SIAC
FORT VALLEY, Ga. — Central State University freshman linebacker Kailen Abrams was named to the All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Second Team, Nov. 13.
“Earning All-SIAC recognition as a freshman feels great,” Abrams said. “This award serves as more motivation for me to work harder during the off season so that I can obtain more prestigious accolades next season.”
Coming to Central State after a tremendous high school career at Loyola High School in Detroit, Abrams quickly solidified himself at the linebacker position, starting in all 10 games as a freshman. In his first collegiate game against Elizabeth City State, Abrams led CSU with 11 tackles. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker maintained a high-level of consistency throughout the year, capping off the season with a season-high 21 tackles against Lane College. Abrams finished the season ranked fourth in the SIAC with 86 total tackles and sixth in the conference with 8.6 tackles per game.
Abrams is the second freshman from Central State to ever be named to the All-SIAC team.
Xenia opens at classic
HILLSBORO — The Xenia High School boys basketball team will open its season with a 9 p.m. contest Friday, Dec. 1 in the Ohio Valley Hoops Classic. The Buccaneers will take on Cincinnati Princeton at Southern State College’s Patriot Center.
Princeton features Syracuse University signee Darius Bazley, the top ranked senior in Ohio and the No. 9 rated senior in the country according to ESPN.
Tickets are $10 and include three games that evening. Wilmington plays Campbell County, Ky. in the game preceding Xenia. Tickets are available at the door or on the ohiovalleyhoopsclassic.com website.
Bucs in Flyin’ to the Hoop
DAYTON — Xenia High will be among the area and national teams participating in the annual Flyin’ to the Hoop Invitational basketball showcase event.
The Buccaneers, led by junior Samari Curtis who is considered by the tournament as the pre-season fourth ranked junior in Ohio, are scheduled to play Olentangy Liberty at 1:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13 at James S. Trent Arena, in Kettering.
Ticket information and a complete listing of the scheduled games can be found at flyintothehoop.com.
