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BAILEY'S
TAKE ON PIRATE SPORTS
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From the
Anchor Desk
Tuesday,
November 30, 2010
By Brian
Bailey |
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Pirates get set
for bowl trip
By
Brian Bailey
©2010 Bonesville.net
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Conference USA will make
the official announcement later today. East Carolina will be the
league’s representative in the
Military Bowl in Washington, DC,
on December 29th at RFK Stadium.
The Pirates will play an
Atlantic Coast Conference team in the game. That team probably won’t be
known until after the ACC championship game this weekend in Charlotte.
“We are really looking
forward to the Pirate fans coming to D.C.,” said Military Bowl Executive
Director Steve Beck.
“If the invitation is
extended,” he added, probably smiling. I know he was winking.
Bowl games have really
never been very well kept secrets. Both the Military Bowl and East
Carolina brass were preparing for the upcoming ticket rush and all of
the planning on Monday. The announcement will come today.
Pirate coach Ruffin
McNeill had hoped for a later bowl game. The Military Bowl is the latest
among the games considering East Carolina. Both the New Orleans Bowl and
the Beef O’Brady’s Bowl are before Christmas.
The Pirates will probably
leave sometime Christmas Day. The team has a commitment with the
Military Bowl that night to open bowl week.
This will be the third
game in the history of this bowl in Washington, DC. Wake Forest beat
Navy 29-19 two years ago. Last year, UCLA defeated Temple 30-21.
The game will be telecast
on ESPN on December 29th at 2:30 p.m.
Pirate women split in
Invitational
The East Carolina women
lost to 23rd-ranked Maryland to open the Pirate Invitational on Friday,
but then came back to beat Massachusetts on Sunday.
East Carolina knocked down
a record a school record 13 three-point field goals in taking care of
UMass 97-83 Sunday afternoon at Williams Arena.
Allison Spivey and Kelly
Smith combined for eight of the triples. Spivey led ECU with 16 points.
“I knew it was just a
matter of time before we started shooting the ball better,” said first
year coach Heather Macy. “It was so good to see Allison Spivey and Kelly
Smith making some threes. This was really the first game that they’ve
gotten hot like that. It’s such a difference because it really spreads
the floor.”
Against Maryland the
Pirates missed 24 opportunities to score after steals. The Pirates lost
that game 76-60 on Friday.
“That is the difference in
how we play,” added Macy. “If we can convert when we get deflections and
touches then it really opens up the game. I’m really pleased with the 97
points, the way that we shot it. Our effort was much, much better.”
Macy likes where her team
is headed after splitting their first six games.
“I really just think that
the team is jelling,” she said. “They are really starting to play and to
execute much better. I think that’s what you saw with the assists. They
are learning where their teammates want the basketball, getting those
opportunities and finishing those opportunities.”
Morrow bounces back
East Carolina men’s Coach
Jeff Lebo wasn’t particularly happy with the play of his big man,
Darrius Morrow, after the Pirates'
win over Lenoir-Rhyne.
Lebo questioned Morrow’s
stamina. He said he was out of shape. Lebo pushed his junior forward.
That nudging paid
dividends on Saturday afternoon as the Pirates
beat UNC-Greensboro 81-53.
Morrow led the Pirates
with 21 points. He was 7-8 from the field.
“I was very pleased with
our effort tonight,” said Lebo after the game. “I think that is as well
as we’ve played maybe this year both offensively and defensively. We
were well balanced tonight.
"I thought Darius was
terrific. We got him the ball. He finished in there. He got to the foul
line. He was good.”
Morrow was a much
different player on Saturday. He worked to get the basketball. That work
must continue.
“We have to establish him
inside,” added Lebo. “Post players have to learn that every time they
are open they aren’t going to get the ball. They’ve got to continue to
work. They can’t get disappointed when they don’t get it. Our guys did a
nice job of finding him tonight.”
Next up for Lebo and
company is the rematch with Charlotte on Wednesday night at Williams
Arena.
The 49ers
beat East Carolina 74-63 at the
Charleston Classic just two weeks ago.
BB
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11/30/2010 03:05 AM |
