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ASU Basketball Squads End Season with Tourney Losses to UNCG

Several Players Receive All-Conference Honors

Story by David Brewer

Shooting woes plagued the men’s and women’s ASU basketball squads as they were both sent packing during last weekend’s Southern Conference tournaments by in-state opponents UNCG.

ASU Women

In North Charleston last Thursday, March 6, the women’s team ended a less-than-stellar season with a final record of 8-22 overall and 5-13 in the SoCon. In a season with few bright spots, senior Whitney Tossie was named to Southern Conference Sports Media Association's first team all-conference and the SoCon coaches' all-conference squad as well.

In her final game as a Mountaineer, Tossie was stifled from the floor by UNCG, scoring only three points, all of which came on free throws. The Oviedo, Fla. native finished her storied career at ASU as the all-time steals leader and second in the SoCon in points per game.

All-freshman team selection Sam Ramirez gave the Apps a second-half spark on an otherwise dismal shooting day with four consecutive three pointers. She led the team on the day with 16 points.

The Mountaineers graduate a pair of seniors and will return nine players for the 2008-09 season.

The ETSU Lady Mocs took home their seventh conference championship in eight years following a decisive victory over Western Carolina last Monday, March 10. The Lady Mocs received the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament with the win.

ASU Men

Following their first-round bye, the ASU men’s team suited up to face Northern Division rivals UNCG last Saturday, March 8. Although the Apps worked hard on the defensive end, the team’s offense never caught fire and the Mountaineers finished up shooting a season-low 35 percent from the field.

Winning the Northern Division of the SoCon for the second consecutive year, the men’s squad carried high hopes into the conference tournament before being ousted by UNCG. Senior Jeremy Clayton led the Mountaineers in his final game in the black and gold with 13 points, seven rebounds and four blocks.

ASU, which finished tied for the lead in the North Division with a 13-7 league record and an 18-12 overall mark, is now 36-35 all-time in the tournament and 6-7 when playing as the number 4 seed.

The NCAA Tournament-bound Davidson Wildcats emerged victorious from last weekend’s SoCon tourney on the strength of tournament MVP Stephen Curry’s 23-point effort over seventh seeded Elon on Monday, March 10.

Two Mountaineers were highlighted on the team’s trip to Charleston, as ASU senior standout Dante Minter was awarded a spot on the all-SoCon team and freshman powerhouse Donald Sims was selected to the all-freshman team. Salisbury native Minter averaged 15.4 points in SoCon play this season while leading the league with a .602 field goal percentage and shooting .732 from the free-throw line.

Sims wowed Mountaineer fans throughout the season, turning in one of the best-wever freshman efforts, highlighted by his staggering 3-point shooting and stellar free throw percentage. His 347 points this season are also the most by an ASU freshman since the 1976-77 season.