Dickey Hightower Named Head Softball Coach

Wesleyan College has hired Dickey Hightower to take over as head coach of the Pioneer softball program.

A coaching veteran with over 30 years experience in the sport, Hightower has coached every level from ASA youth teams to Division I college programs. Having spent the last five seasons as the head coach at Heritage High School in Conyers, Ga., he previously spent a number of years on staff as an assistant coach at Georgia State University. While coaching the Panthers, he primarily served as the infield and hitting coach, while also developing the schedule, assisting in recruitment and performing field maintenance.

"Coach Hightower's Division I experience will provide the leadership and expertise our softball program needs to achieve the goals we have set for this year and for our future,” remarked Wesleyan athletics director Patty Gibbs. “His experience working with women's softball makes him an ideal coach for Wesleyan College. His emphasis on player development will benefit our students and provide our team with a competitive advantage over other programs. We are delighted to have a coach of his caliber working with our athletic program and our softball team."

One of the highlights of his coaching career came when he was asked to be the head coach of a team designed to compete against the U.S. Olympic team just prior to the 1996 Olympic Games, which was the first time softball was included as an Olympic team sport. He compiled a team of Division I college athletes from across the state of Georgia and competed against the Olympic team twice in the month leading up to the Games.

“I would like to thank Ms. Gibbs and Wesleyan College for giving me the opportunity to come to the school and begin the process of building a competitive softball program,” states Hightower. “With the caliber of softball being played in the state of Georgia, there are more than enough quality players interested in getting a great college education here at Wesleyan and who also want to be involved in establishing a winning tradition. Our number one focus will be to recruit exceptional, academic-minded young ladies with outstanding character but also with the talent on the softball field to make Wesleyan a force in the Great South Athletic Conference.”

“The journey starts right now. First, we build the foundation with the young ladies presently at Wesleyan. Next January, we start working on the fundamentals that will translate into more competitive results on the field. Secondly, we will start an aggressive recruiting campaign by attending travel ball and high school games and telling players about the opportunities they have by coming to Wesleyan. With a combination of hard work on the field and the softball talent in the surrounding areas, there is no reason to believe we will not start becoming successful over the next few years.”

Wesleyan opens the 2012 season on February 11 when the Pioneers travel to Bluffton, S.C., to take on USC Beaufort.

Wesleyan Closes Out Fall Semester With Loss to Maryville

MACON, Ga. - Wesleyan College fell victim to a second half surge by Great South Athletic Conference power Maryville College in a 63-29 loss at Porter Gymnasium.

The Pioneers (0-4, 0-3 GSAC) kept the game within single digits for most of the first half. However, the Lady Scots (3-2, 1-0 GSAC) found their shooting touch in the second half to break open the game.

Senior captain Bre Solmone scored a team-high six points and added seven blocks for Wesleyan. Erinn Williams and La Joi Battle also each contributed six points. Maryville played 14 people with Tayler Smith hitting all five of her shots on the way to a game-best 11 points.

Wesleyan will take an extended break between semesters before returning to action on January 4 at GSAC foe Huntingdon College.

Piedmont Spoils Home Opener for Wesleyan

MACON, Ga. - League leader Piedmont College spoiled the home opener for first-year head coach Mike Walton and Wesleyan College 60-26 in Great South Athletic Conference action at Porter Gymnasium.

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The Lions (5-0, 2-0 GSAC) extended their season-opening win streak to five games by limiting the Pioneers (0-3, 0-2) to just 18% shooting from the floor for the game.

Senior Erinn Williams and newcomer Lindsay Haggerty each scored a team-high seven points for Wesleyan. Sada Wheeler finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds for Piedmont.

The Pioneers wrap up the first semester by hosting perinneal league leader Maryville College. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00pm at Porter Gymnasium.

Haggerty Leads Wesleyan Basketball in GSAC Opener

LaGrange, Ga. - The Wesleyan College basketball team opened Great South Athletic Conference play on Wednesday night, losing to LaGrange College by a score of 97-59.

The Pioneers were led by junior transfer Lindsay Haggerty, who tallied her second straight double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds.  Freshman La Joi Battle pitched in 15 points in her first action of the season, while senior Erinn Williams added 13.

Depth and a hot-hand by LaGrange proved to be too much for Wesleyan to overcome.  The Panthers were 12-29 from beyond the arc and had seven players score in double digits.

Wesleyan makes its home debut on Friday night when they take on GSAC frontrunner Piedmont College at 6:00pm in Porter Gymnasium.

Ten Wesleyan Student-Athletes Honored as Academic All-Conference

Macon, Ga. - Ten student-athletes from Wesleyan College who participated in either soccer, volleyball or cross country this fall were named to the Great South Athletic Conference Academic All-Conference team this week.

Athletes named to this team must be a sophomore or older and maintain a 3.25 grade point average or higher.

The soccer team led the way this fall with five team members qualifying for the honor.  Senior Azea Mustafa, junior She-Marie Steadman and sophomores Anna Jones, Stephanie Rarick and Charly Harris were all recognized for their academic standing.

Seniors Alaina Avera and Anna Plue, junior Katie McIntosh and sophomore Rebecca Navarre were members of the volleyball team who qualified for the honor, while junior Aditi Dey and once again Azea Mustafa were recognized from the cross country team.

Women's Soccer Closes Out 2011 at LaGrange

LAGRANGE, Ga. - The Wesleyan College women's soccer team put the finishing touches on the 2011 campaign with a 6-0 loss at Great South Athletic Conference rival LaGrange College.

Freshman goalkeepr Abby Stephens added eight saves in the loss, running her season total to 199. She will likely complete the year ranked in the top-10 among NCAA Division III goalkeepers in total saves this season.

The match marked the final contest for senior captains Azea Mustafa and Cheyenne Foster.

Wesleyan Cross Country Matches Program Best Finish at GSAC Championship

Chattanooga, Tenn. - Led by top finisher Christina Mayfield, the Wesleyan College cross country team matched the best finish in program history at the 2011 Great South Athletic Conference championship ahead of Salem College, Spelman College and LaGrange College.

On a brisk morning where the temperatures were in the high 30s at race time, Mayfield wrapped up the 6K-course with a time of 28:42, finishing in 17th place overall.  For her efforts, she was named to the GSAC All-Freshman team.

The championship was hosted by GSAC newcomers Covenant College who finished the race in the top slot.  However, due to their provisional status, the Scots were not eligible to win this year's championship, which in turn went to runner up Piedmont College.  The Pioneers finished fifth overall in the results that included Covenant, but after removing the Scots, Wesleyan will show up fourth in the final conference standings.

The race winner was Covenant's Tera Woods, who finished the course in 25:10.

Other Pioneer finishers included Maria Vasquez (27th - 30:58), Turhonda Williams (28th - 31:05), Kaitlyn Rentz (30th - 31:17), Azea Mustafa (41st - 32:02), Sable Phillips (45th -32:55) and Aditi Dey (56th - 35:08).

On the men's side, Huntingdon College took home the 2011 crown.

Equestrian Team Off to a Solid Start

The Wesleyan College equestrian team is off to a great start this season, having competed in hunt seat shows over each of the last two weekends.

On Saturday, October 15, the Pioneers traveled to Tallahassee, Fla., to compete at the Florida State University hunt seat show. The team placed 12th out of 15 schools, finishing ahead of Mercer University, University of North Florida, and the College of Central Florida. Freshman Jenna Ford competed in the Novice division, earning a first place ribbon in Novice Flat. Classmate Lexi Barrett earned a fifth place ribbon for the team while competing in the Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter.

This past weekend, the equestrian team traveled to Savannah College of Art and Design. Jenna Ford once again put forth an excellent performance, winning a second place ribbon in the Novice Fences class. In Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter, sophomore Beth Hurst earned a very respectable fourth place ribbon, while freshman Lexi Barrett earned a fifth place ribbon.

This weekend, the Pioneers will return to Savannah on Saturday for SCAD’s second hunt seat show and then move on to Statesboro for Sunday's hunt seat competition at Georgia Southern University.

Scots Overpower Wesleyan Soccer

Lookout Mountain, Ga. - Great South Athletic Conference newcomer Covenant College gave Wesleyan all it could handle on the pitch on Tuesday evening, defeating the Pioneers by a score of 8-0.

Wesleyan's offense that had been so prolific in the previous two matches was held in check as the Scots allowed only one Pioneer shot on goal all game.  Freshman goalkeeper Abby Stephens recorded nine saves in the effort.

The Scots were paced by Teagan Wood, Dana Streufert and Eliza Drew, who each scored two goals a piece.

Wesleyan wraps up its regular season schedule on Saturday when they travel to LaGrange College.  Kick off is at 5:00pm.

Avera, Cortez & Plue Honored on Senior Night

MACON, Ga. - Alaina Avera, Cecilia Cortez and Anna Plue took center stage at Porter Gymnasium as the trio of student-athletes who helped re-introduce varsity volleyball to the Wesleyan College campus during senior night activities. Brewton-Parker College took the match 3-0.

The trio received flowers from President Ruth Knox and personalized bags from the Wesleyan College Alumni Office.

Wesleyan (2-15) held leads in all three sets of the match before falling to BPC (10-15). Teria Martin led all players with 10 kills while hitting .643 on the match. Avera paced the Pioneers with four kills and setter Hannah Finch just missed a double-double with 10 digs and nine assists.

The Pioneers wrap up the 2011 campaign at the University of the South on Saturday.

Soccer Runs Win Streak to Two Matches with Shutout

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - For the second time in as many games, the Wesleyan College soccer team shutout Johnson University 2-0.

The Pioneers put together the program's first win streak since 2003-04 and the team's three wins are the most in four seasons. Jessica Suarez scored her first collegiate goal in the ninth minute to give Wesleyan (3-11-0) the early advantage. Senior Azea Mustafa sealed the win with her 71st minute goal.

Sophomore Stephanie Rarick continued her standout play, setting up both Wesleyan goals to give her two goals and three assists in the last three matches.

"I challenged the girls to really push up the offensive tempo for this game," commented head coach Michael Spivey. "With the stats, I think we did that. We hit the post six or seven times and could have easily scored a few more goals. I'm really excited about the offensive punch we put together and the increased shots on goal. I feel like we really dominated the game."

Goalkeeper Abby Stephens posted her third shutout of the season.

Wesleyan returns to the field on October 25 at Covenant College.

Volleyball Downs Division II Foe Fort Valley State

MACON, Ga. - Captain Cecilia Cortez capped a thrilling comeback with an ace on the match's final point to rally Wesleyan College past Fort Valley State University 3-2 at Porter Gymnasium.

The Pioneers score the school's first win over a higher division school in any sport in years with the victory against the Division II Wildcats.

"I'm extremely proud of the team for getting this win," said head coach J.D. McAlister. "They came together, played as a team and played with the knowledge they were going to win."

The match did not start out in Wesleyan's favor as the Pioneers (2-12) dropped the first set 25-17 and lost the final two points of the second set to lose 25-23, digging themselves a 2-0 hole. The rally began in impressive fashion with Wesleyan cruising to a third set victory 25-16 as the defense forced FVSU (6-20) into 11 errors. The fourth set proved to be closer, but the Pioneers elicited 12 more Wildcat errors to win 25-22.

In the decisive fifth set, Cortez gave the team its 13th ace of the match to clinch the win.

Freshman La'Joi  Battle finished with eight kills and five solo blocks to spark the Pioneers. Adrianne Woodward added a great all-around match with five kills, six aces and 12 digs.

Wesleyan returns to the court on Saturday in a Great South Athletic Conference tri-match at Salem College. Huntingdon College joins the Pioneers and the host Spirits in the match.

Soccer Shuts Out Johnson University in Second Win of Season

Lookout Mountain, Ga. - In a game that saw the Wesleyan College soccer team put together their best offensive effort of the season, the Pioneers shut out Johnson University, 2-0, on Monday evening.

Tied 0-0 at the intermission, the Pioneers were able to capitalize on their shots in the second half. Junior Suzra Antoine scored the first goal of her career in the 64th minute of the game off a corner kick served up by sophomore Stephanie Rarick. Rarick followed up her assist with a goal of her own in the 81st minute, making that her second goal in as many games. Jessica Suarez was credited with the assist.

"The team played really amazing together and played with a lot of heart," remarked Wesleyan head coach Michael Spivey. "They never gave up. We possessed the ballas well as we have all season and put a lot of  passes together and had a lot of offensive punch today. So overall, it was just an excellent game and we're glad to come out here and get a win."

Freshman goalkeeper Abby Stephens added five saves to her season total and currently ranks third in the nation in the category with 180.

Playing today's game at Covenant College as a make-up game due to weather, the Pioneers will play Johnson once again on Thursday in Knoxville, Tenn., in a regularly scheduled game at 5:00pm.

Mike Walton Named Wesleyan Basketball Coach

MACON, Ga. – Wesleyan College selected Macon native Mike Walton as the institution’s new head basketball coach.

Walton leads the Pioneers after concluding a three-year term on the coaching staff at NCAA Division I member South Carolina State University. While with the Bulldogs, Walton played a role in nearly every facet of the program from developing game plans to coordinating recruiting efforts to budget management. During his three years, South Carolina State averaged 15 wins per season.

“Mike's past experiences as a player and coach will benefit the Pioneer Basketball program and raise us to new heights,” remarks Athletic Director Patty Gibbs. “His enthusiasm and passion for the sport is evident and his ability to interact with the players is natural and comfortable. I think they will respond well to his coaching.”

A graduate of Mount de Sales Academy, Walton was a standout on both the court and the gridiron for the Cavaliers. He would go on to become a four-year letter winner at Rice University for former University of Memphis assistant and current Texas A&M-Corpus Christi head coach Willis Wilson.

“It’s an exciting opportunity to be able to bring my family home to Macon and take on the task of building a winning program here at Wesleyan,” states Walton. “The quality of education here is second-to-none, and there is a lot of potential to build the same caliber basketball program and athletic department. With senior captains Bre’ Solmone and Erinn Williams, I feel we have a great core of returning players who are passionate about turning things around.”

“I think the first order of business will be to create an atmosphere that demands success. We will build this program on the 5 Pillars of Pioneer Pride: Commitment, Effort, Trust, Discipline and Team We,” Walton explains. “From there, I think the focus will be to build a recruiting pipeline in the Middle Georgia region that will allow us to capitalize on the area’s stockpile of talented student-athletes. There are far too many talented basketball players in our backyard for us not to build a winning program and garner devoted support from the Middle Georgia community. We need to bring those young ladies into our program.”

Wesleyan opens the 2011-12 campaign on November 19 when the Pioneers hit the road to face Toccoa Falls College.

Wesleyan Soccer Supports American Troops with Letters

The Wesleyan College soccer team is doing their part to say thank you to the men and women serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.  Through a program established by Atlanta radio station Q100's "The Bert Show," the ladies took a few moments to write letters of support, encouragement and gratitude to soldiers deployed abroad.

Dubbed "The Bert Show’s Big Thank You," individuals are asked to write a thank you note that will be sent to every soldier either stationed or deployed outside of the United States.  The letters will be delivered on Thanksgiving Day.  When this project was completed in 2007, more than 375,000 letters were distributed, and this year, they have set a goal to send 400,000.

If you are interested in participating in this effort to thank our troops, please mail your letters to:

The Bert Show’s Big Thank You
780 Johnson Ferry Road NE
Fifth Floor
Atlanta, GA 30342

The deadline for submissions is Friday, October 28, 2011.  For letter guidelines and regulations, please go to http://thebertshow.com/the-bert-shows-big-thank-you/.

Strong Second Half Propels Toccoa Falls Past Wesleyan

Macon, Ga. - The Wesleyan College soccer team played even with Toccoa Falls for 53 minutes before the Eagles dialed up their offense and pulled away from the Pioneers during the second half of today's match.  The Eagles would go on to win 4-1.

The lone Pioneer goal came late in the first half when sophomore Stephanie Rarick scored her first goal of the season on a cross from senior Azea Mustafa. 

The Eagles were paced by Danae Martin's two goals, while Wesleyan's Abby Stephens continued to pile up the saves by adding another 11 to her total for the season.

The Pioneers return to action on Monday afternoon when they take on Johnson University .  The game will be played at Covenant College at 5:00pm.

Cross Country Completes GSAC Tune-Up at Oglethorpe Classic

ATLANTA, Ga. - Christina Mayfield posted a top-25 finish to help lead Wesleyan College past Great South Athletic Conference rivals LaGrange and Spelman at the 2011 Oglethorpe Classic.

The Pioneers finished sixth overall and held a nine-point advantage over the Jaguars and 41-point spread over the Panthers. Mayfield placed 24th overall, covering the 5K course in 23:25.33. Maria Vasquez (27th), Kaitlyn Rentz (40th), Sable Phillips (44th), Aditi Dey (51st) and Christin Daniels (57th) competed for Wesleyan.

Wesleyan will take a week off before finishing off the 2011 season at the GSAC Championship on October 29.

Volleyball Hosts GSAC Tri-Match with League Leaders Maryville & Piedmont

MACON, Ga. - Wesleyan College hosted a Great South Athletic Conference tri-match at Porter Gymnasium with league leaders Maryville College and Piedmont College.

Piedmont d. Wesleyan 3-0 (25-7, 25-7, 25-15)
Piedmont head coach Sid Feldman earned his 400th career win as the Lady Lions won their fifth straight GSAC match.

Kaitlin Norman led a balanced attack from Piedmont (18-8, 5-0) with eight kills. Sophomore Adrianne Woodward picked up six kills and three digs to pace Wesleyan (1-11, 0-5).

Maryville d. Piedmont 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-14)
In a match-up of GSAC unbeatens, Maryville swept Piedmont to take control of the regular season standings.

The Scots (18-6, 6-0) got a match-high 14 kills from Kristin Findley while the team's defense limited the Lady Lions (18-9, 5-1) to just .078 hitting for the match.

Maryville d. Wesleyan 3-0 (25-8, 25-4, 25-4)
Maryville extended its GSAC winning streak to seven matches with a 3-0 victory over host Wesleyan.

Hope Johnson piled up 12 kills on 20 swings while Morgan Hall added 35 assists to pace the Lady Scots (19-6, 7-0 GSAC). Adrianne Woodward, La'Joi Battle and Rebecca Navarre each finished with a pair of kills for the Pioneers (1-12, 0-6)

Wesleyan returns to Porter Gym on Thursday when they host middle Georgia rival Fort Valley State. First serve is set for 6:00pm.

Pioneers "Soc' it to Cancer" in Loss to Agnes Scott

MACON, Ga. - Wesleyan College used a stout defense to stay in the match before falling to Great South Athletic Conference rival Agnes Scott College 2-0.

Photo Gallery | Schedule & Results

Playing in pink uniforms, Wesleyan participated in "Soc it to Cancer" night at the Mathews Athletic Complex to participate in Breast Cancer Awareness month. Additionally, the Pioneers (1-10-0, 0-6-0 GSAC) honored seniors Azea Mustafa and Cheyenne Foster at halftime for their career achievements.

Junior Verenice Gonzalez gave Wesleyan a great opportunity to take an early lead but Ashley Watts turned the shot away. Shortly after, Clara Kienzle put a rebound back into the net to gove the Scotties (3-9-1, 1-2-1) a one-goal advantage. Kienzle's goal in the 79' minute gave ASC the final margin.

Freshman goalkeeper Abby Stephens added 12 more saves, running her season total to 162 which is the second-best mark in the NCAA across any division.

The Pioneers wrap up the home portion of their 2011 schedule on Saturday when they host Toccoa Falls College. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00pm at the MAC.

Wesleyan College Athletics to Participate in 'Paint the Town Pink' Activities

Macon, Ga. - The Wesleyan College soccer and volleyball teams will participate in the Medical Center of Central Georgia's 'Paint the Town Pink' efforts to raise awareness for breast cancer during their upcoming matches this week.

On Wednesday, October 12, the soccer team will take on Great South Athletic Conference rival Agnes Scott College in a game that has been dubbed "Soc' It to Cancer." The Pioneers will wear pink jerseys and socks in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Furthermore, there will be a tailgate party sponsored by the Wesleyan College Alumnae Office prior to the game and Senior Night events during halftime to recognize the efforts of team captains Cheyenne Foster and Azea Mustafa.

On Saturday, October 15, the Pioneer volleyball team hosts a Great South Athletic Conference tri-match with Piedmont College and Maryville College beginning at noon. Following the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, we hope to "Pack Porter in Pink" in an attempt to show our support and further raise awareness for breast cancer awareness and research. The volleyball team will also don pink jerseys and socks, and we ask the public to join us in wearing pink and packing Porter Gymnasium for the afternoon's matches.

"We are thrilled to participate with the Medical Center in this very important effort to increase awareness," states Wesleyan Director of Athletics Patty Gibbs. "Our student-athletes see this effort as a way to be actively involved in finding a cure. Breast cancer is a real issue for the Wesleyan community and we hope by this effort we, in athletics, can be part of making a change."

Wesleyan Cross Country Out-Paces Conference Foes

MARIETTA, Ga. - Wesleyan College cross country placed two runners in the top-20 to finish third at the Southern Collegiate Challenge.

The Pioneers out-paced conference rivals Spelman College and LaGrange College to post their best finish of the season. Christina Mayfield led the Pioneers, placing 15th overall while Turhonda Williams claimed the 20th position.

Maria Vazquez (26th), Azea Mustafa (29th), Kaitlyn Rentz (32nd), Sable Phillips (36th), Aditi Dey (41st) and Christin Daniel (51st) rounded out the Wesleyan squad.

Wesleyan is back on the course next weekend at the Oglethorpe Invitational, the team's final tune-up before the conference championship.

Composed Wesleyan Battles Huntingdon in 2OT

MACON, Ga. - A composed Wesleyan College women's soccer team put together arguably its best performance of the season, extending Great South Athletic Conference rival Huntingdon College to double overtime before falling 1-0 at the Mathews Athletic Complex.

The Pioneers (1-9-0, 0-5-0 GSAC) built on the progress they have made on the defensive end of the field in recent weeks by clamping down on the Lady Hawks (5-4-1, 2-1-0). Freshman goalkeeper Abby Stephens recorded 15 saves to remain in the NCAA Division III top-5 in total saves. Defenders She-Marie Steadman and Charly Harris helped keep Wesleyan organized and effective in limiting Huntingdon's scoring opportunities.

As the confidence grew, Wesleyan tried to kick their offense in gear, possessing the ball and creating opportunities as well as they have all year. However, the Lady Hawks finally broke through with just less than four minutes remaining in the second overtime as Katlyn Reynolds drilled the game-winner past Stephens.

Wesleyan returns to action on Wednesday when they host Agnes Scott College at 7:00 pm. The Pioneers will host "Soc' It to Cancer Night" with the team wearing pink uniforms and the Wesleyan alumni office hosting a pre-game tailgate. Captains Azea Mustafa and Cheyenne Foster will be honored at halftime in Senior Night activities.

Maryville Soccer Too Much for Wesleyan

Macon, Ga. - The Maryville College soccer team brought too much offensive firepower to the field on Monday afternoon in a 9-0 win over Wesleyan (1-8-0, 0-4-0).

The Scots (7-2-2, 4-0-0) got off 55 shots in the match and saw six different players score goals.  Wesleyan's Abby Stephens managed 20 saves, pushing her season total to 137.

The Pioneers return to the pitch on Saturday night when they host Huntingdon College at 7:00pm at the Mathews Athletic Complex.

Aggressive Offense Carries Wesleyan Past Truett-McConnell

MACON, Ga. - Senior Alaina Avera finished with a team-high eight kills to lead Wesleyan College to its first win of the season, defeating Truett-McConnell College 3-0 at Porter Gymnasium.

The Pioneers (1-9) controlled play for nearly the entire match and limited the Bears (3-3) to a mere .010 hitting percentage in the victory. Wesleyan was coming off a disappointing GSAC tri-match performance, but it would have been hard to know based on their play.

"We took everything we didn't do well [Saturday], fixed it and put it into action today," commented Avera, one of two Wesleyan captains. "Our communication was so much better today. Winning in three sets feels amazing."

The balanced offense saw Adrianne Woodward and La'Joi Battle each contribute seven kills in addition to the captain's eight.

"The back row played well together. The team played well together. The offense played aggressively. Those three things are keys for us and will make the difference the rest of the season," stated head coach J.D. McAllister.

The team's setter rotation of newcomer Hannah Finch and Francie Galbraith worked as planned. Finch finished with nine assists and eight digs while Galbraith added nine assists and three digs. The service game played another key role in the victory as Wesleyan finished with 13 aces.

Liz Norton led the Bears with 14 kills.

Wesleyan travels to Andrew College for an exhibition match versus the in-state Junior College opponent on Wednesday.

Wesleyan College def. Truett-McConnell 3-0 (25-22,25-20,25-23)
Truett-McConnell (3-3) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Liz Norton 14-0-0; Jessica Epting 4-6-0; Emily Grooms 3-3-0; Ashley Phillips 2-0-0; Kaitlyn Lamb 1-2-0; Erin Camp 1-0-0; Jessica Porter 1-0-0; Kasey Ferrell 0-4-0; Totals 26-15-0.0. (Assists) - Kaitlyn Lamb 12. (Dig leaders) - Jessica Porter 20; Emily Grooms 12
Wesleyan College (1-9) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Alaina Avera 8-2-0; La'Joi Battle 7-3-1; Adrianne Woodward 7-1-0; Cecilia Cortez 3-2-0; Rebecca Navarre 2-3-0; Anna Plue 1-0-0; Francie Galbraith 0-2-0; Totals 28-13-1.0. (Assists) - . (Dig leaders) - Hannah Finch 8; Alaina Avera 8; Adrianne Woodward 8

Site: Macon, Ga. (Porter Gymnasium)
Date: Oct 02, 2011 Attend: 51 Time: 1:11
Referees: Kevin Wiemken, Andy Miller

Soccer and Volleyball Face GSAC Opponents

Defensive Improvements Show in Soccer Loss to Salem

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Although they lost to Great South Athletic Conference opponent Salem College 5-0, the Wesleyan College soccer team brought a much improved defensive effort to the pitch Saturday afternoon.

Goalkeeper Abby Stephens hauled in another 18 saves against the Spirits, moving her total for the season to 117.

"Abby had a fantastic game, making some very athletic and important saves for us," remarks head coach Michael Spivey.

The Pioneer defense held Salem scoreless through the first 44 minutes of play before surrendering a goal just before halftime.

"Our team defense was great today," adds Spivey.  "I'm ecstatic over our performance and think this was our defense's best game of the season."

The Pioneers return to action on Monday when they kick off a four-game homestand against Maryville College at 4:00pm.

Volleyball Drops GSAC Matches

DECATUR, Ga. - Adrianne Woodward and Alaina Avera finished with five kills as Wesleyan dropped GSAC matches to Agnes Scott College and LaGrange College on Saturday afternoon.

Avera added 10 digs in the loss at Agnes Scott.

The Pioneers return to the court on Sunday when they host Truett-McConnell College at Porter Gymnasium. First serve is scheduled for 2:00pm.

Stephens Adds to Saves Total vs. Piedmont

Demorest, Ga. - Freshman Abby Stephens turned away 22 shots as Wesleyan College was blanked 10-0 at Piedmont College in Great South Athletic Conference play..

The Pioneers (1-6-0, 0-2-0 GSAC) were run over by the undefeated Lady Lions (10-0-1, 2-0-0). Dilyn MacLean and Meghan Heim each scored two goals to pace Piedmont.

Wesleyan returns to action Saturday at Salem College. The GSAC match-up is slated for 4:00pm.

Three Wesleyan Teams Wrap Up Weekend Action

Cross Country Tours GSAC Championship Course
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Wesleyan College got its first look at the 2011 GSAC Championship course while competing in the conference preview meet, finishing seventh overall.

The Pioneers competed without Azea Mustafa and Christina Mayfield, two of their top performers during the first part of the fall campaign. Maria Vazquez stepped up in the pair's absence, posting Wesleyan's only top-40 finish by placing 36th overall in a time of 31:46.96.

Wesleyan returns to the trails next weekend at the Darton Invitational.

Soccer Falls to Spelman in First Match of GSAC Play
MACON, Ga. - The Wesleyan College soccer team squared off against Great South rival Spelman College on Saturday night, falling by a score of 6-1.

The Jaguars (3-3-1) possessed the ball for a majority of the game and were led by Jasmine Molin's two goals and two assists as well as Brittnee Gillespie's two goals.  The Pioneers lone goal came off of a Spelman own goal at the end of the first half.  Wesleyan's Abby Stephens had 15 saves for the game.

Wesleyan hits the road for a couple of GSAC matches this week before returning to Macon for a four game homestand beginning on Monday, Oct. 3 against Maryville College. 

Volleyball Opens GSAC Play With Tri-Match at Covenant
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. - Wesleyan Volleyball opened GSAC play falling to Spelman College and Covenant College in a tri-match hosted by the Scots.

The Pioneers were swept in both matches. La'Joi Battle and Adrianne Woodward each finished the day with five kills.

Wesleyan is back on the court Tuesday night at Fort Valley State.

Mustafa and Foster Propel Soccer to First Win of Season

Macon, Ga. – Playing down a man for the last 75 minutes of the game, the Wesleyan College soccer team defeated Tennessee Temple University by a score of 1-0 on Thursday night. Senior captains Cheyenne Foster and Azea Mustafa collaborated on the break-away goal scored in the 65th minute.


“I’m beyond excited about this win,” remarked Mustafa, who was credited with the goal on the play. “We had a lot of team unity tonight out on the field even though we were playing down a man.”

Foster picked up the ball near mid-field and carried it about half the distance to the goal before feeding it to Mustafa. Following a quick move to shake off the only Crusader defender in front of her, she chipped it over the goalkeeper’s head into the upper left hand corner.

Putting forth one of their best defensive efforts thus far this season, the Pioneers (1-4) held off a steady Crusader attack for 90 minutes with freshman goalkeeper Abby Stephens recording 19 saves in the match. Despite their good defensive showing, the effort proved costly as sophomore Stephanie Rarick went down with a knee early in the first half, adding to the Pioneers injury woes.

The game was delayed for one hour before the start of the second half due to lightning in the area. Returning to the field, the defensive back line fought hard to help the Pioneers end their 36-game winless streak dating back to the 2008 season.

“I think it’s a little ironic that we win the match where we had to play a man down,” added Foster. “The last time we won, which was during my freshman year, we beat Huntingdon with two players down, so I guess we just really focus in during those times when our backs are against the wall.”

Wesleyan returns to the pitch on Saturday, beginning Great South Athletic Conference play against rival Spelman College. The match begins at 5:00pm.

Woodward & Galbraith Lead Offense in Loss to Point

MACON, Ga. - Fourteen Wesleyan College services aces could not overcome Point University's advantage at the net in a 3-0 (18-25, 20-25, 19-25) loss at Porter Gymnasium.

Adrianne Woodward and Francie Galbraith combined to help produce the season's best offensive effort.  Woodward's 11 kills were the best by a Pioneer this season while Galbraith's 10 assists and four aces were career-highs. Rebecca Navarre finished with a match-best 15 digs and six aces. Kim Stephens racked up 15 kills while her setter Yolanda Marroquin had a double-double with 19 assists and 10 digs.

Wesleyan surrendered big leads to Point in each of the first two sets before rallying late. Navarre provided one of the highlights of the season when she reeled off five straight aces to close the gap before dropping set two.

Wesleyan travels to Tennessee on Saturday for Great South Athletic Conference competition. The Pioneers will face Covenant College and Spelman College in their first GSAC tri-match of the year.

Soccer Completes Weekend Swing to North Carolina

Raleigh, N.C. - The Wesleyan College soccer team played its most competitive game of the season on Saturday afternoon, falling short to Peace College with a 2-0 loss.

The Pioneers (0-4) got off a season-high eight shots, with sophomore Stephanie Rarick leading the way with five while Azea Mustafa and Verenice Gonzalez also contributed to the offensive attack.  Surrendering only 19 shots to the Pacers (1-5), Wesleyan's defense also stepped up its game as freshman goalkeeper Abby Stephens pulled in six more saves.

"The team played solid across the board," stated Wesleyan head coach Michael Spivey.  "It came down to two free kicks, and Peace was able to score on both of those which was the difference in the game.  We had a number of shots on offense and played really good defense but came up a little short."


On Sunday, Wesleyan squared off with Meredith College (3-3-2), falling by a score of 6-0.  The quick turn-around was not kind to the weary Pioneers, who have been battling injury and fatigue. 

The Avenging Angels put up a smothering defense that did not allow Wesleyan to formulate any kind of offensive attack, while keeping Stephens on her toes for most of the day.  The goalkeeper came away with 18 saves, as Meredith was able to put up 24 shots on goal.

The Pioneers return to the Mathews Athletic Complex for two home games this week, facing Tennessee Temple University on Thursday at 7:00pm and GSAC rival Spelman College on Saturday at 5:00pm.

Wesleyan Falls in Home Opener at the MAC

MACON, Ga. - Two goals in the opening 10 minutes gave Judson College all the cushion they needed in a 6-0 win versus Wesleyan College at the Mathews Athletic Complex.

Stephanie Landson scored a pair of goals for the Lady Eagles (4-3-0) who entered the week ranked No. 6 nationally in the USCAA.

The Pioneers (0-2-0) managed three shots on goal while freshman goalkeeper Abby Stephens recorded eight saves.

Wesleyan returns to the field Friday when they travel to Peace College in Raleigh, N.C.

Battle Adds to Block Total in Wesleyan Loss

FORT VALLEY, Ga. - NCAA Division II opponent Fort Valley State defeated Wesleyan volleyball in a middle Georgia matchup on Monday.

Freshman La'Joi Battle continued her impressive debut season with three kills and a solo block in the 3-0 loss. Adrianne Woodward and Rebecca Navarre added a pair of kills for the Pioneers (0-3).

Stephanie Brownlee finished with six kills on nine swings for the host Wildcats (1-6) who picked up their first win of the season.

Wesleyan returns to the court next week when they host Point University on September 20. First serve is set for 7:00pm at Porter Gymnasium.

Soccer Performs Community Service at United in Pink

On Saturday, September 10, the Wesleyan College soccer team spent the morning volunteering with United in Pink, a non-profit organization supporting families affected by breat cancer.

Team members spent their time working at the organization's office, performing tasks such as cleaning and organizing, writing thank you notes and wrapping prizes.

"Our team really embraces many causes, but not many effect so many women and their families as Breast Cancer," remarks head coach Michael Spivey.  "We were glad to be able to give back and learn about early detection of breast cancer thanks to United in Pink."

Cross Country Improves Times at GSW Remembrance Run

Americus, Ga. - The Wesleyan College cross country team competed in the GSW Remembrance Run hosted by Georgia Southwestern State University on Saturday morning.  The only Division III college competing in the event, the Pioneers raced against some of the state's top teams including Columbus State, Clayton State, Valdosta State and Mercer University.

Freshman Christina Mayfield once again completed the course as the Pioneer's top finisher (47th-24:15), while Maria Vasquez (55th - 25:17) improved her time by nearly 45 seconds to be Wesleyan's second place finisher. Rounding out Wesleyan's scoring competitors were Kaitlyn Rentz (57th - 25:48), Turhonda Williams (58th - 26:03) and Azea Mustafa (59th - 26:11).

"We competed against some really good teams today, which made the girls really push themselves through the course," remarked head coach Melissa Bush.  "Most of them improved their times, which is obviously what we are looking for, and they worked hard.  I'm proud of their effort and left the meet feeling really good about where we are right now."

Also competing for the Pioneers were Sable Phillips (65th - 28:18), Aditi Dey (66th - 28:24), LindaMarie Tonn (69th - 31:38) and Christen Daniel (70th - 31:53).

Wesleyan returns to action in two weeks when they compete in the Great South Athletic Conference pre-conference meet hosted by Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Ga.

Strong Service Game Not Enough for Wesleyan Volleyball

MACON, Ga. - Wesleyan volleyball racked up 21 services aces but fell 3-1 to Truett-McConnell at Porter Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.

The match was notable for both programs as the 21 aces are the most in a match for the Pioneers since re-instituting the sport three years ago and the Bears claimed the first win in school history.

Gabriela Silber notched a current era record seven aces for Wesleyan (0-2) while Alaina Avera added six of her own. Francie Galbraith narrowly missed a double-double finishing with 11 digs and nine assists. Liz Norton piled up 16 kills to go with four solo blocks for the Bears (1-2).

Wesleyan faces middle Georgia rival Fort Valley State on Monday. First serve is scheduled for 7:00pm.

Short Box Score (Match)


Truett-McConnell def. Wesleyan College 25-18,16-25,25-22,25-18

Truett-McConnell (1-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Liz Norton 16-2-4; Jessica Epting 10-4-1; Emily Grooms 9-7-0; Alicia Bechtel 2-0-0; Kasey Ferrell 2-2-0; Chelsey Smith 1-3-0; Ashley Phillips 1-0-0; Jessica Frye 0-2-0; Totals 41-20-5.0. (Assists) - Kasey Ferrell 21. (Dig leaders) - Jessica Porter 20; Emily Grooms 18



Wesleyan College (0-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Gabriela Silber 5-7-0; Adrianne Woodward 5-3-0; La'Joi Battle 5-2-1; Katie McIntosh 3-0-0; Cecilia Cortez 3-1-0; Alaina Avera 2-6-0; Rebecca Navarre 1-1-0; Francie Galbraith 0-1-0; Totals 24-21-1.0. (Assists) - Gabriela Silber 11. (Dig leaders) - Francie Galbraith 11; Alaina Avera 6



Site: Macon, Ga. (Porter Gymnasium)

Date: Sep 10, 2011 Attend: 157 Time: 1;24

Referees: Mike Freeman, David Griffin

Defending NCCAA National Champs Best Wesleyan

MACON, Ga. - Five-time defending NCCAA Division II national champion Clearwater Christian College swept Wesleyan College 3-0 in the team's season opening volleyball match.

Wesleyan (0-1) improved their offensive production each set and committed just one attack error in the third set. Newcomer La'Joi Battle tallied four kills and a pair of solo blocks in her collegiate debut while veteran Alaina Avera added three more kills.

The Cougars (7-0) got 13 kills from Georganna Little to extend their win streak to seven matches to begin 2011.

The Pioneers conclude their season-opening homestand with a match versus Truett-McConnell on Saturday afternoon. First serve is scheduled for 2:00 PM.

Six Freshmen Make Collegiate Debut for Soccer

WEST POINT, Ga. - Six Wesleyan College soccer players made their collegiate debut in the Pioneers' 7-0 loss at Point University.

The Skyhawks (2-1-0) were formerly known as the Atlanta Christian College Chargers, a rival in a variety of sports for Wesleyan (0-1-0).

Freshman goalkeeper Abby Stephens stepped into a big pair of shoes replacing NCAA record-setter Emily Epperson and made a mark of her own, recording 11 saves while facing 45 shots.

"This was the first match for us to really use our formations and approach against an opponent," said third-year head coach Michael Spivey. "We put people in new positions and I think the way that the players grasped our concepts is encouraging for the rest of the year."

Wesleyan returns to action on Tuesday when they host Judson College in the home opener. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00pm at the Mathews Athletic Complex.

Wesleyan Cross Country Posts Encouraging Marks in Season Opener

ALBANY, Ga. – Seven Wesleyan cross country runners posted top-20 finishes in the team’s season opener at the Darton College Invitational.

Freshman Christina Mayfield completed the 5000-meter course in 24:06 to place 11th overall, which marked the top finish by a Pioneer. Kaitlyn Rentz (13^th – 25:49.00), Maria Vasques (14th – 26:01.00) and Azea Mustafa (15th – 26:58.00) each finished in the top-15.

"I'm really proud of our performance today," remarked Wesleyan head coach Melissa Bush.  "We are starting this season with the times that we ended last season with, which is really exciting to see."

Team captain Aditi Dey (17th – 28:24.00) joined Rentz in establishing personal records in their 2011 debut. Sable Phillips (18th – 28:36.00), LindaMarie Tonn (21st – 30:41.00) and Christin Daniels (23rd – 34:08.00) rounded out the Wesleyan competitors. As a team, the Pioneers placed third.

Wesleyan returns to action next week at the GSW Remembrance Run in Americus, Ga.

Wesleyan Athletics Honors Student-Athletes at Year-End Banquet

The Wesleyan College athletics department recognized its student-athletes for their participation in the 2010-2011 school year at its year-end banquet last weekend.

The department's biggest award of the night, the Athlete of the Year Award, went to senior Emily Epperson.  A member of the soccer, cross country and softball teams, she proved to be the heart and soul of her teams as well as a consistent leader no matter which field she attacked.  Epperson, who was a four-year starter at goalie for the Pioneer soccer team, graduates from Wesleyan College as the NCAA's all divisions all-time leader in career saves, tallying 1,127 saves.

Wesleyan's Multi-Sport Athlete of the Year was awarded to Kaitlyn Rentz, who ran cross country in addition to being a member of the equestrian team.  Known for her great attitude, encouragement of teammates and impeccable work ethic, the junior from Quincy, Fla., consistently improved her times over the course of the cross country season and has qualified for nationals in the equestrian ring.
Anna Plue received the Scholar Athlete of the Year award for holding the highest grade point average of any Pioneer student-athlete. The junior from Augusta, Ga., maintains a 4.0 GPA while participating on Wesleyan's volleyball and equestrian teams.

The department's Pioneer Spirit Award was given to freshman DiAsia Rogers.  A member of the basketball and softball teams, the Savannah native is known on campus for her sense of humor, her positive attitude, and her encouraging words to teammates throughout the course of competition.  In addition to the Pioneer Spirit Award, Rogers was also recognized as the Most Improved Player for both the basketball and softball teams.

The team earning the Highest Team GPA Award for the 2010-11 school year was the cross country team.  The runners managed to combine for an impressive 3.45 overall GPA.

Each of the six teams that compete in the NCAA Division III Great South Athletic Conference took time to recognize their athletes for their effort and committment to Wesleyan Athletics.  Each team honored three athletes with post-season awards, which are listed below:

Cross Country:
Runner of the Year: Belle Thomas
Heart and Hustle: Emily Epperson
Coach's Award: Miriam Oakes

Soccer:
Most Valuable Player: Emily Epperson
Most Improved Player: She-Marie Steadman
Freshman of the Year: Charly Harris

Volleyball:
Most Valuable Player: Alaina Avera
Most Improved Player: Noelle Webster
Coach's Award: Adrianne Woodward

Basketball:
Offensive Player of the Year: Ciara Walker
Defensive Player of the Year: Bre Solmone
Most Improved Player: DiAsia Rogers

Tennis:
Most Valuable Player - Singles: Hannah Doan
Most Valuable Player - Doubles: Soshawn Blair
Most Improved Player: Yuzhe "Julia" Shen

Softball:
Most Dedicated Player: Kayla Lumley
Hardest Worker: Belle Thomas
Most Improved Player: DiAsia Rogers

Belle Thomas Named to the 2011 GSAC Softball All-Conference Team

Wesleyan College senior Belle Thomas has been named to the Great South Athletic Conference All-Conference Team.  The senior outfielder was the only Pioneer named to the team.

The Rydal, Ga. native wrapped up the regular season with a .426 batting average, accumulating 33 hits and scoring 18 runs over the course of 28 games.  Thomas struck out only three times in 77 at-bats, while drawing four walks. 

Defensively, Thomas played center field to near perfection, committing only two errors all seasons.

Thomas along with teammates Kayla Lumley and Dena Phillips were also recognized as members of the conference's All-Academic team.  These three ladies have maintained an overall grade point average of 3.25 or higher over the course of their collegiate career.

In addition, freshman DiAsia Rodgers earned Wesleyan's Sportsmanship Award from the conference.

Wesleyan Eliminated by Top-Seeded Piedmont at GSAC Championship

Top-Seeded Piedmont College nearly batted around twice in the bottom of the first on its way to a 19-0 victory over No. 6 Wesleyan College on day two of the Great South Athletic Conference Softball Championship.

[ Box Score ]

One of the best players in Wesleyan history wrapped up her outstanding career witha 1-for-2 effort from the leadoff position.

The top of the Lions' (23-13) lineup dominated offensively. Leadoff hitter Megan McClain went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and four driven in while Taylor Morgan added three more RBI and a pair of runs scored on her way to a very efficient 2-for-3 day.

Britteny Head and Morgan Studdard combined to hurl a one-hit shutout. Studdard picked up the win after relieving Head in the third inning.

The Pioneers (1-29) were eliminated from the championship with the loss.

Thomas Piles Up 7 Hits in Regular Season Finale

Despite seven hits from Belle Thomas in her final regular season home games, Spelman College swept Wesleyan College in a doubleheader 16-15 and 13-7.

Defensive lapses sabatoged the day's efforts as the Pioneers committed 20 errors in the two games combined. The struggles overshadowed several notable showings at the plate.

In game one, Ashley Jackson drove in four runs with a pair of doubles while Toni Butler finished 3-for-4 with three RBI. Wesleyan built a 9-4 advantage before the Jaguars used a six-run fourth inning to take control.

In the nightcap, a fast start from Spelman resulted in a 10-run first inning that put the Pioneers in a hole they could not recover from. Thomas dominated the second game for Wesleyan by going 4-for-5 and driving in four runs.

The Pioneers return to action next weekend when they host the Great South Athletic Conference Softball Championship at the Mathews Athletic Complex.

Tennis Drops Match to Salem

Salem College vs Wesleyan College (Apr 16, 2011)

Salem College 9, Wesleyan College 0

Apr 16, 2011 at Wesleyan College


Singles competition

1. Katherine Elliott (SAL) def. Kellie Cauley (WC) 6-0, 6-0

2. Kim Wison (SAL) def. Soshawn Blair (WC) 6-0, 6-0

3. Charlotte Neisler (SAL) def. Hannah Doan (WC) 6-0, 6-1

4. Cierra Young (SAL) def. Katie McIntosh (WC) 6-0, 6-1

5. Amy Allison (SAL) def. Venesha Drysdale (WC) 6-0, 6-0

6. Lauren Wisen (SAL) def. Lorikim Morris (WC) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles competition

1. Katherine Elliott/Kim Wison (SAL) def. Kellie Cauley/Soshawn Blair (WC) 8-1

2. Charlotte Neisler/Cierra Young (SAL) def. Hannah Doan/Katie McIntosh (WC) 8-0

3. Amy Allison/Lauren Wisen (SAL) def. Venesha Drysdale/Lorikim Morris (WC) 8-0

Softball Falls to Maryville College

Wesleyan College faced a tough day at the plate, overwhelmed by the pitching of Maryville College junior Sarah Reeder. Reeder threw a one-hit shutout in a 17-0 win in the first game of the day and a two-hit shutout in a 26-0 win in game two.

Kayla Lumley, Ashley Jackson and DiAsia Rodgers each picked up hits on the afternoon, but the Pioneers could not string enough offense together to produce runs.

Maryville improved to 8-2 in the Great South Athletic Conference, while Wesleyan drops to 1-11.

The Pioneers return to action on Monday, April 18 when they travel to Brenau for a doubleheader beginning at 5:00pm.  They will close out the regular season at home on Wednesday with another doubleheader against Spelman College.  First pitch is at 5:00pm.

Wesleyan Softball Earns First Win of the Season vs. Spelman

The Wesleyan College softball team earned its first win of the season on Wednesday night against Great South Athletic Conference rival Spelman College by a score of 30-11.

With the victory, the Pioneers move a step closer to securing a berth in the upcoming GSAC Softball Championship hosted by Wesleyan at the Mathews Athletic Complex on April 29-May 1.

Senior Belle Thomas once again led the way for the Pioneers going 5-for-5 from the plate with a double while scoring four runs.  Junior Kayla Lumley went 4-for-7 with a triple and four runs scored, and senior Ashley Jackson hit a double and added four runs to Wesleyan's total.  Freshmen DiAsia Rodgers and Toni Butler combined for a 4-for-6 offensive outburst that accounted for another seven runs.

The Pioneers 30 runs equals the most runs scored since current South Dakota State University head coach Joanna Lane's Wesleyan team defeated Fisk University by a score of 30-0 in 2005.  The run total is also the most runs scored by a Great South Athletic Conference team this season.

In the first game of the day, Spelman won by a score of 14-9, but the Pioneers once again posted some positive offensive statistics.  Thomas went 3-for-4 with a double and a triple, while Lumley piled on four more hits to her day's total. Rodgers, who has found her stride at the plate in recent games, had another three hits highlighted by a triple in the loss.

The Pioneers return to the Mathews Athletic Complex on Saturday, April 16, to take on Maryville College in a doubleheader beginning at 2:00pm.

Thomas's Four Hits Pace Wesleyan in Loss to Rhodes College

Wesleyan's Belle Thomas picked up four hits and scored two runs in the Pioneers doubleheader loss to Rhodes College on Sunday afternoon.  With her performance today, Thomas's batting average moved to .373 and she leads the Pioneers in nearly every offensive category.

In the first game of the day, the Pioneers picked up five hits but had trouble moving runs across the plate in a 17-2 loss.  Thomas, Kayla Lumley, Ashley Jackson, DiAsia Rodgers and Verenice Gonzalez all put the ball in play. 

Paced by Sara Bowen's 3-for-3, 5 RBI offensive performance, Rhodes took game two by a score of 15-1.  Thomas once again led the way for the Pionners, hitting three singles and scoring Wesleyan's only run of the game.

The Pioneers return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Atlanta to play Spelman College.  They return to Wesleyan on Saturday for a doubleheader against Maryville College beginning at 2:00pm.

Tennis Swept by Agnes Scott

Agnes Scott College 9, Wesleyan College 0

Singles competition
1. Rachel Storz (ASC) def. Kellie Cauley (WC) 6-0, 6-0
2. Mariel Herrera (ASC) def. Soshawn Blair (WC) 6-0, 6-0
3. Natalie Mayer (ASC) def. Katie McIntosh (WC) 6-0, 6-0
4. Danielle Patton (ASC) def. Venesha Drysdale (WC) 6-0, 6-0
5. Hannah Kraus (ASC) def. Ashley Jackson (WC) 6-0, 6-0
6. Alexis Mastmeier (ASC) def. Lorikim Morris (WC) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Mayer/Storz (ASC) def. Cauley/Blair (WC) 8-0
2. Herrera/Kraus (ASC) def. Jackson/McIntosh (WC) 8-0
3. Patton/Lauren Rives (ASC) def. Drysdale/Yuzhe Shen (WC) 8-0

Apr 09, 2011 - Mathews Athletic Complex


The Pioneers return to the court on April 16 when they host Salem College

Thomas & Lumley Spark Wesleyan Offense in Sweep at Agnes Scott

Belle Thomas and Kayla Lumley sparked the struggling Wesleyan offense with impressive performances despite Agnes Scott sweeping the Great South Athletic Conference doubleheader.

The duo both went 2-for-3 in the opener versus the Scotties (6-8, 2-6 GSAC) and scored all four Pioneer runs in the 13-4 defeat. Thomas led off the first inning with a double while Lumley then earned an infield single. Ashley Jackson and DiAsia Rodgers followed with back-to-back RBI singles to stake Wesleyan (0-20, 0-8 GSAC) an early two-run advantage. Agnes Scott responded with nine unanswered runs to take away Wesleyan's upset bid. Trish Velasco added a two-run single in the fifth inning of the opener.

Lumley's fourth inning bunt single broke up a no-hitter by the Scotties. ASC went on to an 8-0 victory.

Wesleyan returns to action tomorrow afternoon when they host Rhodes College. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for Noon at the Mathews Athletic Complex.

Tennis Drops Conference Match to Piedmont

Wesleyan College vs Piedmont College (Mar 29, 2011)

Piedmont College 9, Wesleyan College 0

Mar 29, 2011 at Demorest, GA (Burgen Tennis Courts)


Singles competition

1. Amanda Christian (PCW) def. Soshawn Blair (WC) 6-1, 6-0

2. Lauren Anderson (PCW) def. Hannah Doan (WC) 6-3, 6-1

3. Jennifer Granlund (PCW) def. Katie McIntosh (WC) 6-0, 6-1

4. Lauren Hodges (PCW) def. Venesha Drysdale (WC) 6-0, 6-1

5. Ashley Fannon (PCW) def. Ashley Jackson (WC) 6-0, 6-0

6. Melody Mitchell (PCW) def. Yuzhe Shen (WC) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition

1. Jennifer Granlund/Ashley Fannon (PCW) def. Hannah Doan/Ashley Jackson (WC) 8-0

2. Lauren Anderson/Amanda Christian (PCW) def. Soshawn Blair/Katie McIntosh (WC) 8-1

3. Melody Mitchell/Lauren Hodges (PCW) def. Venesha Drysdale/Yuzhe Shen (WC) 8-2



Wesleyan College 0-6

Piedmont College 3-4

T-1:45 A-20

Softball Drops Two to LaGrange

The Wesleyan softball team dropped both games of its GSAC doubleheader against LaGrange College.  Senior Belle Thomas provided a bright spot for the Pioneers with a triple and run scored in the second game.  The Pioneers return to the field on Saturday when they travel to Covenant College.

LaGrange College 15, Wesleyan College 0 (Mar 23, 2011 at Macon, Ga.) (Game 1)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

LaGrange College.... 708 00 - 15 13 1 (9-5, 3-0)

Wesleyan College.... 000 00 - 0 2 5 (0-13, 0-5)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Pitchers: LaGrange College - Woodard. Wesleyan College - Ashley Jackson.

Win-Woodard Loss-Ashley Jackson T-1:32 A-54




LaGrange College 26, Wesleyan College 1 (Mar 23, 2011 at Macon, Ga.) (Game 2)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

LaGrange College.... 36(10) 43 - 26 18 0 (10-5, 4-0)

Wesleyan College.... 000 10 - 1 2 7 (0-14, 0-6)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Pitchers: LaGrange College - LaDuron; Landrum(4). Wesleyan College - Kayla Lumley.

Win-LaDuron Loss-Kayla Lumley T-1:50 A-43

Pioneers Fall in Extra Innings to Agnes Scott

In their closest game of the season, the Wesleyan College softball team forced extra innings against Great South Athletic Conference rival Agnes Scott College before coming up short.

Down 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs already on the board, the Pioneers began their rally with a Kayla Lumley single.  Ashley Jackson advanced her to second with a single then Sara Dickson's single pushed Lumley across the plate, tying the game at three runs a piece.

In the top of the eighth inning, Agnes Scott scored three runs and then let their defense hold the Pioneers scoreless in the bottom of the inning.

The Pionners were led offensively by Belle Thomas (2-4, RBI), Kayla Lumley (2-4), Sara Dickson (2-4, RBI) and Ashley Jackson (1-2, RBI).

In the first game of the doubleheader, Agnes Scott jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, downing the Pioneers 17-2.

Wesleyan returns to the diamond on Wednesday to take on Great South Athletic Conference opponent LaGrange College at 5:30pm on the Wesleyan College campus.

Thomas's Offense Not Enough for Wesleyan Softball

In their first conference doubleheader, the Wesleyan College softball team improved its offensive performance but still fell short, dropping both games to #21 Piedmont College by scores of 8-0 and 14-0.

Seniors Belle Thomas and Dena Phillips both went 1-for-2 in the first game of the day, but the Pioneers were not able to plate any runs in the five inning shutout.  In the second game, Wesleyan once again had runners in scoring position but failed to bring them in.  Thomas again led the way with a 2-for-2 plate performance, while Ashley Jackson also picked up a hit for the Pioneers.

Wesleyan returns home on Monday afternoon to take on GSAC rival Agnes Scott at the Mathews Athletic Complex.  First pitch is at 5:00pm.

Pioneers Drop Two to Brenau

The Wesleyan College softball team squared off against a strong Brenau University squad on Thursday afternoon, dropping both games of a doubleheader.  The Golden Tigers moved to 18-2 for the season while the Pioneers fell to 0-8.

Brenau freshman Jenny Shepherd pitched a perfect game in her first collegiate outing, facing only 15 Pioneer batters and striking out six in the day's first game.  Brenau piled up 18 hits in the five inning game, led by Katie Bolin's 4-5 outing.  The Golden Tigers won 24-0.

The Pioneers lost the second game by a score of 18-0.  Kayla Lumley broke up a no-hitter by Brenau's Sally Duggan with a late game single.

The Pioneers open Great South Athletic Conference action on Saturday when they travel to Piedmont College.  They return to Macon on Monday to take on Agnes Scott in a doubleheader beginning at 5:00pm at the Mathews Athletic Complex.

Softball Drops Home Opener to Tennessee Wesleyan

The Wesleyan College softball team dropped its home opener to Tennessee Wesleyan on Friday afternoon.

In the first game of the day, the Pioneers (0-4) picked up three hits in a 20-1 loss to the Bulldogs.  Ashley Jackson's single to the outfield plated Belle Thomas in the first inning, but Wesleyan struggled offensively for the remainder of the game.

In the day's second outing, Tennessee Wesleyan's Brittany Monday threw a five inning shutout on her way to a 20-0 victory for the Bulldogs (5-5).

The Pioneers return to action on Saturday, March 12 against Birmingham-Southern College at 2:00pm on the campus of Wesleyan College.

Drysdale and Shen Pick Up First Collegiate Tennis Win

The Wesleyan College tennis team took two matches from Oxford at Emory in an exhibition loss on Saturday afternoon.

Despite losing the overall match-up 2-7, the point earned by the No. 3 double team of Venesha Drysdale and Julia Shen marks the first match win of the season for the Pioneers.  The pair came from behind to tie the doubles pro-set match at 8-8 and went on to win the tie-breaker 8-6.  In addition to taking one doubles point from the Eagles, the Pioneers also picked up a singles point by forfeit.

"Wesleyan tennis has really made some strides this spring in moving our program in a competitive direction," stated Head Coach Michael Spivey.  "After three non-conference matches, we have won more games combined (Singles and Doubles) from each of three teams than we did playing against the same teams last year with no changes in our lineup."
Wesleyan returns to the courts on March 3 when they travel to Columbia, S.C., to take on Columbia College at 3:45pm.

Doubles:
#1 Soshawn Blair/Katie McIntosh (WC) vs. Ayanna Groves/Vyjoo Lakshmipathy (EC) - 1-8
#2 Hannah Doan/Ashley Jackson (WC) vs. Etasha Srinivas/Adiiti Gulati (EC) - 0-8
#3 Venesha Drysdale/Julia Shen (WC) vs. Ngan Do/Annie Ngan (EC) - 9-8 (8-6)

Singles:
#1 Soshawn Blair (WC) vs. Ayanna Groves (EC) - Forfeit
#2 Hannah Doan (WC) vs. Vyjoo Lakshmipathy (EC) - 0-6, 0-6
#3 Katie McIntosh (WC) vs. Etasha Srinivas - 1-6, 0-6
#4 Venesha Drysdale (WC) vs. Adiiti Gulati (EC) - 0-6, 1-6
#5 Ashley Jackson (WC) vs. Ngan Do (EC) - 0-6, 1-6
#6 Julia Shen (WC) vs. Annie Ngan (EC) - 2-6; 3-6

Thomas Collects a Pair of Hits in Softball Opener

Senior Belle Thomas picked up hits in her first two at-bats of the year in Wesleyan College's season-opening doubleheader at Berry College..

The Pioneers were swept in the doubleheader 16-0 and 21-0.

First-year starters Kayla Lumley and Sara Dickson collected their first Wesleyan hits in the nightcap.

Wesleyan opens the home portion of the schedule on Monday when they host Southern Wesleyan University at the Mathews Athletic Complex. First pitch in the doubleheader is scheduled for 2:00pm.

Tennis Falls in First Match of 2011 to Southeastern Univ.

Wesleyan College vs Southeastern University (Feb 19, 2011)
Southeastern University 9, Wesleyan College 0
Feb 19, 2011 at Southeastern Univ.


Singles competition

1. Chelsey Lynn (SU) def. Kellie Cauley (WC) 6-0, 6-0
2. Alexandra Fraler (SU) def. Soshawn Blair (WC) 6-1, 6-0
3. Amanda Summers (SU) def. Hannah Doan (WC) 6-0, 6-0
4. Noelle Cotton (SU) def. Katie McIntosh (WC) 6-0, 6-0
5. Wendy Reade (SU) def. Ashley Jackson (WC) 6-0, 6-0
6. Autumn Housefield (SU) def. Venesha Drysdale (WC) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition

1. Chelsey Lynn/Alexandra Fraler (SU) def. Kellie Cauley/Soshawn Blair (WC) 8-2
2. Noelle Cotton/Wendy Reade (SU) def. Hannah Doan/Rebecca Navarre (WC) 8-0
3. Amanda Summers/Autumn Housefield (SU) def. Ashley Jackson/Lorikim Morris (WC) 8-1

Match Notes
Wesleyan College 0-1

Solmone Scores Nine Points in Season Finale

Twelve different players scored as Piedmont College handed Wesleyan College an 89-43 loss in its season finale.

A stifling defense limited the Pioneers (4-16, 0-14 GSAC) to less than 30% shooting from the floor. Junior Bre Solmone scored a team-high nine points. Laura Simmons scored 15 points to pace the Lady Lions (16-8, 10-3).

Wesleyan missed out on qualifying for the Great South Athletic Conference Championship which features the league's top six teams.

Three Pioneers Score Double Digits in Loss to Maryville

Three Wesleyan College basketball players scored in double figures in a 97-55 loss to Maryville College in the Pioneers last home game of the season on Wednesday night.  Bre Solmone led all scorers with 16 points on 4-5 shooting from the 3-point line.  Erinn Williams pitched in 12 points to go along with Ciara Walker's 14 point, 9 rebound performance.

Maryville jumped out to a 20-7 lead in the first five minutes of the game and their stifling defense forced the Pioneers into 18 turnovers in the first half while holding them to only 22 points.  However, in the second half, the Pioneers found a bit of an offensive rhythm with Solmone hitting four three-point baskets and Williams scoring all of her points for the game.

Maryville was paced by Tara Heyboer's 15 points while all Scots that saw action scored points.

The Pioneers wrap up their season on Tuesday, Feb. 15, when they travel to Piedmont College.

Walker's Double-Double Paces Wesleyan in Loss

Ciara Walker's 11 points and 10 rebounds led Wesleyan College in a 52-41 loss at Spelman College on Tuesday night.  The loss dropped the Pioneers to 4-14 (0-12), while the Jaguars improved to 6-13 (3-9).

Bre Solmone once again pulled down double digit rebounds for the fifth time in six games with 16 on the night.  Spelman was paced by Jasmine Taylor's 12 points and 9 rebounds.

The Pioneers return to action tomorrow night, Wednesday, Feb. 9 in their final home game of the season.  They will take on league-leading Maryville College at 6:00pm.

Wesleyan's Hunt Seat Team Off to a Strong Start

The Wesleyan College Equestrian Team traveled to Gainesville, Fla., for the University of Florida Hunt Seat Show held on January 22nd. Freshman Beth Hurst earned a second place ribbon in Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter, while sophomore Stephanie Jamison brought home a very respectable fifth place ribbon. In Beginner Walk/Trot/Canter, senior Lorikim Morris earned reserve place.

“I am so proud of Beth,” said Head Coach Courtenay Bunn, “She has worked hard since the beginning of the year, and this weekend that hard work paid off.”

The team then traveled to Georgia Southern University the weekend of January 29th and 30th to compete in two more Hunt Seat shows. In the first show, sophomores Chanda Chrzanowski and Stephanie Jamison each earned fifth place ribbons in Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter. In Beginner Walk/Trot/Canter, senior Lorikim Morris also placed fifth, while freshman Beth Hurst earned a sixth place ribbon in Advanced
Walk/Trot/Canter.

In the competition's second show, Lorikim Morris improved on her performance earlier in the day by earning a fourth place ribbon in Beginner Walk/Trot/Canter. In Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter, Stephanie Jamison
and Beth Hurst brought home fifth place ribbons, while Chanda Chrzanowski finished in sixth place.

Most recently, the Pioneers traveled to sunny Miami, Fla., to compete in another Hunt Seat show on February 5th. Sophomore Stephanie Jamison earned a very respectable third place ribbon in Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter. Sophomore Chanda Chrzanowski earned fourth place in Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter, and in Beginner Walk/Trot/Canter senior Lorikim Morris placed fourth.

“Stephanie did a great job,” said Bunn, “Her hard work and dedication paid off this weekend.”

Agnes Scott Uses Strong Second Half to Stop Wesleyan

Trailing by only six points to Agnes Scott at halftime, the Wesleyan College basketball team was unable to overcome a strong shooting performance by the Scotties in the second half, losing by a score of 67-39.

The Scotties used a 29-8 run to put the game away after the intermission, while holding the Pioneers to 27% shooting from the floor for the game and forcing them into 22 turnovers.

Wesleyan was led in scoring by Evgenia Korun's nine points, while Bre Solmone contributed five points and 15 rebounds.  The Scotties were paced by Genefine Sapateh's double-double (10 points/12 rebounds) performance.

The Pioneers travel to Atlanta on Tuesday, Feb. 8 to take on Spelman College at 6:00pm before returning to Porter Gymnasium on Wednesday for their final home game of the season against Maryville College.

Frigid First Half Hinders Wesleyan in Loss at Huntingdon

Point guard Erinn Williams scored a team-high 11 points in Wesleyan's 63-38 loss at Huntingdon on Tuesday night.

The Pioneers (4-12, 0-10 GSAC) managed to shoot only 12.5% from the floor in the first half and could not dig back out of the hole that resulted. Eve Korun put together her best game of the season, scoring nine points and grabbing six rebounds to go with four steals. Raven Prater's 14 points paced the Lady Hawks (8-10, 4-5).

Wesleyan returns to action on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Great South Athletic Conference rival Agnes Scott for a 2:00pm tilt.

Covenant Tops Wesleyan Basketball

The Wesleyan College basketball team could not overcome a poor shooting night and 26 turnovers in an 80-38 loss to Covenant College.

The Scots used a 19-5 run at the start of the game and a 26-5 run out of the intermission to put the Pioneers out of the game.  Covenant had four players in double digits, paced by Margaret Cross's 15 points.

Wesleyan's Ciara Walker once again led the Pioneers in scoring with 12 points (7 reb.), while Bre Solmone and Brie May each added 8 points.

The Pioneers return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 1, when they travel to Montgomery, Ala. to take on GSAC foe Huntingdon College.

Walker, Lewis Reach Double Figures in Loss to Piedmont

Ciara Walker (15 points) and Neivia Lewis (10 points) each notched double figure scoring nights in Wesleyan College's 77-41 loss to Piedmont College at Porter Gymnasium.

The Lady Lions (12-5, 6-1 GSAC) dominated the paint and the transition game to cruise to another Great South Athletic Conference victory. Behind potential GSAC Player of the Year Sada Wheeler, Piedmont outscored Wesleyan (4-10, 0-9) 46-14 in the paint while picking up 18 fast break points. Wheeler finished with a double-double after scoring 14 points and grabbing 16 rebounds to pace four Lady Lions in double figures.

Bre' Solmone added 11 rebounds and four blocks for the Pioneers.

Wesleyan returns to action Friday when they go for the season sweep of Covenant College. Tip-off is scheduled for 6pm on Lookout Mountain.

Wesleyan Basketball Falls to Salem College

The Wesleyan College basketball team was outscored by 13 points in the second half to lose 60-47 to GSAC rival Salem College on Saturday afternoon.  Despite a good defensive effort, the Pioneers shot only 25% from the field and 48% from the free throw line for the game.

Wesleyan was led in scoring by Toni Butler's 11 points (8 rebounds) to go along with nine from Ciara Walker and Erinn Williams.  The Spirits were paced by Shamaz Denerson's 21 points and 19 rebounds.

The Pioneers return to Porter Gymnasium on Wednesday, Jan. 26 to take on Piedmont College.  Tip off is at 6:00pm.

Four Pioneers Score in Double Figures in Victory Over Piedmont Baptist

The Wesleyan College basketball team began its North Carolina road swing with a balanced attack that led to a 66-50 victory over Piedmont Baptist College.

The Pioneers (4-8) were outscored 16-0 to start the game but gathered their composure and held the Conquerors to only 21 first half points following the slow start.  They took a 29-21 lead into the intermission and never looked back.

For the third consecutive game, sophomore Ciara Walker led the Pioneers in the scoring column, dropping 17 on the Conquerors this evening.  Wesleyan also received 15 points from Erinn Williams, 12 points from Toni Butler and 10 points from Bre Solmone.

Wesleyan returns to the court tomorrow afternoon at 2:00pm when they take on Salem College in Great South Athletic Conference action.

Walker's Double-Double Paces Wesleyan in Loss to Huntingdon

Ciara Walker's double-double performance was the highlight of the Pioneers home conference loss to Huntingdon College on Wednesday evening.  The Hawks hit nine 3-point baskets in the 72-55 win, and there appeared to be little Wesleyan could do to slow Huntingdon down from beyond the arc.

Scoring 24 points on 8-of-17 shooting (8-of-10 FT), Walker also pulled down 14 boards (10 offensive) in 33 minutes of play.  She was the only Pioneer that scored in double digits as several of her teammates were hampered by foul trouble for most of the game.

Down 13 points at halftime, Wesleyan allowed Huntingdon to begin the second half with a 17-2 run that eliminated any chance of a Pioneer comeback.  Scoring their first basket of the half with 13:58 remaining, the Pioneers settled down and found an offensive rhythm that produced 33 second half points.

Huntingdon was paced by a balanced attack that saw 18 athletes record playing time and 10 players make their way into the scoring column.  Led by LaTerial Williams 14 points and six rebounds, the Hawks improved to 6-8, 3-3 GSAC while the Pioneers fell to 3-8, 0-7 GSAC.

The Pioneers face a two game road swing through North Carolina this weekend, facing Piedmont Baptist College on Friday night and conference foe Salem College on Saturday.  They will return to Porter Gymnasium next Wednesday, Jan. 26 to face Piedmont College at 6:00pm.

Pioneers Drop GSAC Re-Match with LaGrange

Ciara Walker scored 10 points off the bench as Wesleyan College dropped a Great South Athletic Conference contest at LaGrange College 106-36.

Six different Pioneers (3-7, 0-6 GSAC) scored but the Panthers (11-1, 5-1 GSAC) kept their great season rolling behind the effort of Player of the Year candidate Heather Mills who finished with 33 points and six assists.

Wesleyan returns to Porter Gym on Wednesday evening when they host Huntingdon College. Tip is scheduled for 5:00pm and admission is free.

Solmone Posts Double-Double in Loss to Salem

Bre Solmone scored 16 points to go with a game-high 15 rebounds in Wesleyan College's 70-48 loss to Great South Athletic Conference foe Salem College on Saturday night.

The short-handed Spirits (4-7, 3-3 GSAC) stunned the Pioneers on their home floor. Playing without second leading scorer JoJo Hall (10.4 ppg), Salem's starting five carried the load by scoring 66 of the team's 70 points. Shamaz Denerson matched Solmone's effort with 18 points and 13 boards.

Ciara Walker added eight points and 10 rebounds while point guard Erinn Williams finished with eight points and five assists for the host Pioneers (3-6, 0-5 GSAC).

The defensive effort which had carried Wesleyan in the new year's first two games was noticeably absent against Salem as the Spirits shot nearly 44% from the floor and committed only 17 turnovers.

Wesleyan returns on short rest tomorrow when they travel to LaGrange College for another GSAC contest. Tip is scheduled for 2:00pm.

Agnes Scott Pulls Away from Wesleyan in 2nd Half

Wesleyan College's "tireless 5" kept it going for 30 more minutes against Great South Athletic Conference rival Agnes Scott College, but a frigid shooting spell late in the second half led to a 64-40 loss.

Bre Solmone, Neivia Lewis and Erinn Williams each played every minute of the game for the second straight contest while Brie May and Ciara Walker each logged 38 minutes. All told the quintet played 67:23 consecutive minutes together to start the new year.

Wesleyan (3-5, 0-4 GSAC) trailed by single digits as late as seven minutes remaining, but could not manage enough offense to claw all the way back into the game. May scored 10 of the Pioneers 13 second half points and accounted for all four of the team's field goals in the half. She would finish with a team-high 13 points. Solmone wrapped up an impressive weekend with nine points, 11 boards and five blocks.

Genefine Sapateh posted 17 points and 14 rebounds to pace the Scotties (4-7, 1-3 GSAC).

Wesleyan closes out a three-game homestand on January 15 when they host Salem College in a GSAC contest. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00pm and admission is free.

Wesleyan's "Tireless 5" Dominates End of the Game to Defeat Covenant

Playing with only five players for the entire game, Wesleyan College scored the final nine points of the contest to notch one of the program's signature wins, 58-49, over Covenant College.

Bre' Solmone scored 17 points and blocked a school-record 12 shots to lead the charge on both ends of the court. Wesleyan played its most complete game of the year, committing just 11 turnovers while shooting over 41 percent from the floor. On the defensive end, they limited the Scots (1-7) to just 29 percent shooting and forced 19 turnovers. Neither team led by more than four points until the final spurt by Wesleyan.

"Tonight is the first game where our offense and defense clicked at the same time," said head coach Jason Henry. "We changed some things and they completely bought into it. The players kept their focus for the whole 40 minutes."

Rust and a non-existent bench did not slow down Wesleyan. The Pioneers, who had not played a game since Dec. 7, dressed only five players due to a variety of reasons.

"Coach told us to have fun tonight and we just played our game with that in mind. Before we knew it, there was only a minute left in the game and we were winning," reflected Solmone.
Wesleyan will look to make it two in a row with a full compliment of players on Sunday afternoon against Great South Athletic Conference rival Agnes Scott College. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00pm and admission is free.

Follow the Pioneers at Twitter.com/GoWesleyan.