Plue Named Student-Athlete of the Week

STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Name: Anna Plue
Age: 21
Year: Senior
Sport: Equestrian and Volleyball
Position: Western (Equestrian)/Right Side (Volleyball)
Major: Studio Art
Minor: Art History

A native of Appling, Ga., senior Anna Plue is a dual sport athlete who competes for both the volleyball and equestrian teams at Wesleyan College. Known for excellence both athletically and academically, she earned the Scholar Athlete of the Year award at the end of her junior year for holding the highest grade point average of any Pioneer student-athlete. She has also earned a spot on the GSAC Academic All-conference team each of the last two seasons.

As a member of the equestrian team, Plue competes in the Western horsemanship division. She recently earned enough points to move up a division and qualified to compete at Regionals at Evermore Farm in Statesboro Georgia on March 4. Based on her performance there, she could potentially move on to compete and Zones and ultimately Nationals.

1. Why did you choose to attend Wesleyan College?
I chose Wesleyan because I really liked all the art professors and thought that a small program would give me a better education in a field that really is rather personal. I also loved that there were horses on campus. And I was able to get a good scholarship.

2. You have decided to participate in two sports during your time at Wesleyan. How has your participation in athletics helped enhance your collegiate experience thus far?
Having the support of teammates has been nice. Sometimes I don't know what I would do without them.

3. You have maintained a very high GPA while balancing the demands of athletics. How have you been able to achieve this?
I just get done what needs to get done. If it is something I want to do, I do it to the best of my abilities.

4. What are your plans for the future?I plan to graduate in May, but after that I don't really know just yet. I hope to eventually get into a career as an animator or working to make practical effects/ special effects for movies.

Wesleyan Softball Falls Short in Season Debut

Hardeeville, S.C. - In their first action of the season, the Wesleyan College softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader to USC-Beaufort, 16-0 and 21-1.

Anna Jones, Colleen DeGraff, Katy Trietsch, Hannah Finch, Hannah Jo Hacia, Chrissi Simons, Christina Mayfield and Morgan Cramer all saw their first collegiate action for the Pioneers during the season debut.

After shaking off first game jitters that saw the Pioneers get shut out during the day's opener, Wesleyan improved offensively in the second game.   Sophomore Anna Jones went 1-2 from the plate and scored the team's only run on Tricia Velasco's first inning single. Freshman shortstop Colleen DeGraff also picked up two hits during the game.

Wesleyan has a long lay-off before returning to the diamond at the Lauren Giddings Classic hosted by Agnes Scott College the weekend of March 3-4.

Wesleyan's Win Streak Reaches Three With 2nd Half Rally

MACON, Ga. - Lindsay Haggerty scored a career-high 29 points as Wesleyan College rallied for a 54-42 victory over Great South Athletic Conference rival Covenant College. The victory extended the team's win streak to three games, the longest for the program since the 2000-01.

Box Score | Season Stats | Postgame Video (Coming Soon)

The Pioneers registered their seventh win in the last 10 outings and even more important have put themselves in position for the program's first appearance in the GSAC Championship. Wesleyan holds a one-game lead over Spelman College for the sixth and final spot in the tournament. The Jaguars still have games with Salem College and Huntingdon College whle the Pioneers wrap up the conference slate at Maryville College.

The Pioneers showed a short memory in the contest as they managed to hit just three shots in the first 20 minutes of the game and trailed by seven at the intermission. It appeared a whole different team came out of the locker room as Wesleyan went 12-for-24 from the floor in the second half while limiting the Lady Scots to a paltry 30% shooting to cruise to the win.

Point guard Erinn Williams added 11 points while forward Bre Solmone finished with seven rebounds and seven steals.

Wesleyan wraps up the home schedule on Monday night when they host Trinity Baptist College at Porter Gymnasium. It will be the final home game for four-year starters Williams and Solmone. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00pm and admission is free.

Wesleyan Picks Up Sixth Win in Nine Games

Atlanta, Ga. - Wesleyan College held Spelman College scoreless for the final two-and-a-half minutes of their 48-44 victory to claim the team's sixth win in the last nine games. The win moved the Pioneers to 4-2 this year against their rival women's colleges in the Great South Athletic Conference.

In a back-and-forth contest that featured four ties and six lead changes in the second half alone, Nivea Lewis overcame illness to score 12 of her 16 points in the final stanza. The Pioneers (6-11, 4-10) shot 9-of-18 in its best offensive half of the season to hold off the Jaguars (5-13, 4-9).

First-year head coach Mike Walton continues to lead the program's impressive second semester turnaround. After starting the year 0-8 following a Jan. 16 loss to LaGrange, Wesleyan has notched six wins, the most since 2002-03.

Lindsay Haggerty added 17 points for the Pioneers and joined Erinn Williams and Sha'Vonda Jones as players logging all 40 minutes.

Wesleyan hosts Covenant College in its final GSAC home game on Saturday. Tip is scheduled for 4:00pm at Porter Gymnasium.

Late Basket Seals Another GSAC Win for Wesleyan

Macon, Ga. - What began as a slow paced, low scoring affair turned into a highly intense competition as Wesleyan College picked up a thrilling victory over Great South Athletic Conference rival Agnes Scott College, 40-38.

In the first half, the Pioneers held the Scotties to 3-19 (15.8%) shooting from the floor while forcing them into 17 turnovers.  Lindsay Haggerty provided Wesleyan with an early offensive spark, scoring 10 of her game-high 17 points in the half and leading the Pioneers to a 17-9 advantage at the intermission.

Agnes Scott came out of the locker room with a 16-7 run to take a one point lead with just over 10:00 to play.  The Scotties stretched their lead to six points, but Wesleyan continued to battle back over the final five minutes of the game.

Back-to-back buckets by senior Bre Solmone tied the game at 33 with 2:41 remaining before Agnes Scott's Arielle Register hit a lay-up and three pointer to extend the Scotties lead once again. 

Down two with 0:31 remaining, Agnes Scott fouled Lindsay Haggerty under the basket as she scored the game-tying bucket for Wesleyan.  Her free throw would put the Pioneers in the lead for good and she would add another to ice the game with 0:06 remaining.

The Scotties drove the length of the floor as time ran out, scoring a basket that was waved off by the officials, giving the Pioneers their first win over Agnes Scott since Dec. 7, 2002.

Seniors Bre Solmone and Erinn Williams were honored at halftime of the game and clearly proved they came ready to play.  Solmone scored 10 points to go along with seven rebounds, seven steals and five blocks, while Williams also pitched in 10 points and dished out four assists.

The Pioneers face a critical Great South Athletic Conference matchup with Spelman College on the road on Wednesday, Feb. 8 before returning to Porter Gymnasium next Saturday to play Covenant College.

Ward and Plue Earn Spot in Western Regionals With Equestrian Performance

The Wesleyan Equestrian Team traveled to Ocala, Fla., on January 29 to compete in two western shows hosted by the College of Central Florida. In the first show, sophomore Haley Ward placed second in Novice Horsemanship, earning enough points to proceed to Advanced Horsemanship. In Intermediate Horsemanship, senior Anna Plue brought home a fourth place ribbon which earned her enough points to advance to Novice Horsemanship.  Junior Catherine Jordan also earned a second place ribbon in Beginning Horsemanship.

In the second show, Haley Ward won a fourth place ribbon in Advanced Horsemanship, while Catherine Jordan brought home a fourth place ribbon in Walk/Jog Horsemanship.  In Novice Horsemanship, Anna Plue earned a respectable sixth place ribbon. Earning enough points to move up a division, Anna Plue and Haley Ward will be competing at Regionals this year at Evermore Farm in Statesboro Georgia on March 4.

The western team will be traveling back to Florida the weekend of Feb. 11-12 to compete at Florida State University and University of Florida.

Slow Start Hampers Wesleyan at Piedmont

Demorest, Ga. - Piedmont College jumped out to a big lead early and never looked back in Thursday night's 74-23 victory over Wesleyan College.

The Pioneers were held to 22% shooting from the floor, while the Lions shot nearly 48% from the floor and 46% from 3-point range.  Twelve of Piedmont's 13 players on the roster scored points and all 13 recorded at least 12 minutes in the game.

Wesleyan was led by Lindsay Haggerty's 10 points and four rebounds.

Wesleyan returns to Porter Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon to take on Great South Athletic Conference rival Agnes Scott College.  Tip off is set for 2:00pm.