Lady Braves rack up at PBC awards banquet

By Brandon Barber
Staff Writer

The UNCP women's basketball team kept winning even after their season had ended. Head coach John Haskins, in his first year as head coach of the Lady Braves, was named Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year, senior Danielle Richardson earned the conference Player of the Year award and junior Lindsay Bartholf was named to the all-conference first team at the Peach Belt Conference awards ceremony held in Augusta, Ga., on March 5.

Richardson is the first UNCP women's basketball player to garner the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year honor.

Haskins guided the team to their first No. 1 seed in the North Division, finishing 18-10 overall and 10-6 in Peach Belt play.

"It's a team award," Haskins said. "I got that award because they (the team) did a great job and all the credit goes to them."

The award is familiar ground for Haskins, as he was named Peach Belt Co-Coach of the Year in 2002, along with former Augusta State head coach Gary Tuell, in his last season at the helm of the UNCP men's basketball program.

Richardson's season-long dominance also landed her a spot on the all-conference first team.

"She was as good and probably more consistent than anyone in the league night-in and night-out," Haskins said.

On the year, Richardson averaged a double-double, ranking third in the Peach Belt with 16.6 points per game and first with 10.5 rebounds per game. Of the 28 games the Lady Braves played, Richardson registered a double-double in 17 contests. She also set a single-season UNCP record with 85 blocked shots, bringing her two-year career total to 157.

Despite the fact that some were saying that she would win, Richardson was very surprised to receive the award.

"When they called out my name I was in shock," she said.

Richardson credits her success to Haskins, her teammates, and the UNCP athletic department, namely strength and conditioning coach Jeff Bolles.

Bartholf set UNCP records for three-pointers made (71) and three-point accuracy (44 percent), on her way to 14.5 points per game - good for fifth in the conference. She was also among the national leaders in three-point shooting, a statistic echoed by Haskins. While leading the league in three-pointers made, Bartholf logged 1,006 minutes played, also tops in the Peach Belt.

"Lindsay had a great year for us," Haskins said.

Bartholf and Richardson are the first UNCP duo to be named to the Peach Belt first team.

Early exit

The Lady Braves' season came to a premature end in the quarterfinals of the Peach Belt Conference tournament, as they were upset by No. 4 seed Kennesaw State 78-66.

UNCP, led by 19 points and 11 rebounds from Richardson, could not overcome a school-record 13 three-pointers made by the Owls.

Four Lady Owls reached double figures, led by a game-high 22 points and 12 rebounds from junior Shavonder Clarke. Senior Malgorzata Morka poured in 18 points, going 6-of-7 from behind the three-point arc.

Juniors Tracey Lightfoot (17 points) and Kristin Vaughan (11 points) were the only other Lady Braves to reach double figures.

It was the second loss to KSU for UNCP on the season.

Basketball does not end here for Richardson, however. She plans to tryout for the WNBA if the opportunity arises. If not, she plans to play internationally.

"I want to continue playing ball, so I will go cross seas if I have to," she said.

Men lose in opening round

The sixth seeded UNCP men's basketball team came up short against eventual PBC champions Columbus State, 92-62, on March 2.

UNCP had three players reach double digits, led by junior Rollie Boone's 16 point, 8 rebound effort. PBC Player of the Year Yandel Brown scored a game-high 22 points in the Cougars' victory.