by Erika Plunkett | Feb 28, 2020 | BREAKING NEWS, News Slider
Lipscomb students studying abroad are feeling the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) as it approaches pandemic levels. After the virus reached areas of Northern Italy, which is reporting 400 confirmed cases, with only three of those cases coming as a result of travels to China, Lipscomb elected to evacuate the study abroad group staying in Florence. These students were moved to the Vienna campus for at least the next month, and then the situation will be reevaluated. President Randy Lowry said in an email to the Lipscomb community that the university has been monitoring the situation for weeks, and one option would have been to return the students to the U.S. and have them continue their spring classes in an online format. “Unfortunately, this option would also likely be the end of their study abroad experience,” Lowry said in the email. So the university decided upon Vienna. “This option is only possible because, fortunately, none of the Florence students have visited an area or region impacted by the COVID-19 virus,” Lowry said. “Because our students’ safety and well-being are of utmost importance, we would not make this decision if it put our Vienna students at risk by introducing another student population that could be impacted by the virus.” Students affected by this situation expressed gratitude that they are not being sent home, but the abrupt move is causing stress and disrupted plans that had been in place for months. As of right now the Vienna campus, as well as the country of Austria, remains safe with only two cases reported in the entire nation. However, Lipscomb will continue to...
by Erika Plunkett | Feb 16, 2020 | News Slider, Sports
The FGCU Eagles continued their conference winning streak, defeating the Lady Bisons 78-45 in Allen Arena Saturday afternoon for their 40th consecutive ASUN victory. With this win, the Eagles also secured at least a share of the ASUN regular-season championship and home-court advantage for the ASUN tournament. Despite the score, Lipscomb led for much of the first half, giving FGCU their first double-digit deficit in conference play this season, when the Lady Bisons were able to take a 17-5 lead with a minute left in the first quarter. Freshman guard Casey Collier stepped up with 12 of Lipscomb’s 29 first-half points. But beginning in the second quarter and continuing into the second half, FGCU flexed their muscles and put together a 45-point turnaround. Leading the Eagles to this masterful comeback performance was Eagles junior forward Tytionia Adderly, who finished the afternoon with 28 points, including seven three-pointers, and eight rebounds in only 28 minutes. For Lipscomb, Collier was the leading scorer with her 14 points, followed closely by junior forward Taylor Clark who put up 11 points. However, noticeably quiet in the scorers’ column for the Lady Bisons was freshman guard Jalyn Holcomb, who has not only led Lipscomb in scoring but is also the leading freshman scorer in the conference. Holcomb scored only six points and was 1-6 from the field, as the Eagles’ experienced upperclassmen domineered on defense. Lipscomb will likely have the chance to redeem themselves against FGCU in the tournament. The Lady Bisons are expected to finish seventh or eighth in the conference, while the Eagles have already clinched one of the top two seeds,...
by Erika Plunkett | Feb 13, 2020 | News Slider, Sports
Coming off of third-place in the ASUN a year ago, the Bisons will return to Dugan Field on Friday for Valentine’s Day opener against Bowling Green State University. But, it’s a new year for Lipscomb. “Last year’s momentum is probably gone. It’s a new team, a new setup, and a new environment,” said Lipscomb coach Jeff Forehand. Since the last time the Bisons stepped onto the diamond, 10 seniors graduated and five more players moved on from Lipscomb, including pitcher Chris Kachmar, who was drafted by the Chicago Cubs organization last June. But despite the changes from a season ago, Forehand is optimistic that this team, which he describes as “gritty,” is ready to step up to the challenge. “I think this team is focused. They [ASUN preseason poll] selected us as sixth, which gives us a little momentum to jump into the season and be ready to rock and roll,” said Forehand. Forehand’s confidence stems from the recruiting class and junior college transfers that he and his assistant coaches have brought in. “We just bring new people in. We knew those guys were leaving – some of them had been around for a long time – so we had been preparing for them to leave for a while now. Now it’s other folks time to step up and do their job,” said Forehand. Not only did Forehand bring in 15 players who can bring an immediate impact to the Bisons team, but he also has a network of sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are ready to take over the reins. “It’s just a chance for those new guys...
by Erika Plunkett | Jan 28, 2020 | News Slider, Sports
Disbelief and shock gripped the country Sunday afternoon when a helicopter, carrying Kobe Bryant, 41, and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Bryant, known affectionately as Gigi, crashed on the way to an AAU basketball practice, killing all nine people on board, according to ABC News. Kobe Bryant was already in the news on Sunday morning as Lebron James had passed him on the all-time scoring list Saturday, but the records and the points became irrelevant when the news broke. As tributes to his legacy, not only as a player but as a father, husband, mentor, and man of integrity poured in, everyone was reminded of what an incredible light was lost. Players across the NBA each found their ways to pay homage to the future hall of fame member. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks’ All-Star point guard, wore a No. 8 jersey — one of the two numbers Bryant wore for the Lakers — instead of his customary No. 11. He also held the ball and purposely got an 8-second violation, one of the common quiet salutes around National Basketball Association during Sunday’s game. For example, the Washington Wizards were one of many teams holding the ball for the full 24-second shot clock, an intentional rules violation to honor Bryant’s other jersey number. The self-dubbed “Black Mamba” inspired a generation of rising stars, including players and coaches for Lipscomb’s basketball teams. Senior guard Michael Buckland chimed in on Twitter, “I’m shook. Love always. You never know when you won’t be able to love someone again. RIP Mamba” I’m shook. Love always. You never know when you won’t be able to love...
by Erika Plunkett | Jan 10, 2020 | Galleries, News Slider, Sports
The Lipscomb Bisons opened there 2020 home slate on Thursday night hosting ASUN opponent, Kennesaw State in their third conference game of the year. Despite a late comeback attempt by the Owls, the Bisons were able to pull away with a 73-85 victory behind senior guard Michael Buckland’s career-high 25 points and redshirt sophomore center Ahsan Asadullah’s career-high 28 points. “For about 34 minutes, I thought we played really, really well – some of our best play offensively. We went 13-26 from the 3-point line; the reason we did that is that we moved the ball,” said Lipscomb head coach Lennie Acuff. The two teams played competitively for much of the first half with both sides going on scoring runs, however, it was the Bisons who went into halftime with the lead 31-39, due to several key defensive stops. “I can come in as a senior and demand that defensive mentality from the younger guys. Because that’s where we are going to get conference wins,” Buckland said. “We are going to get scouted, offense is going to be stagnant at times, and so when it does get stagnant you have to be able to make stops on the defensive end.” Coming out of the half, Lipscomb got off to a hot start and began to take control of the game, leading by 20 points with 10 minutes remaining in the game. But, Kennesaw State refused to go home quietly. “Our problem this year has been that we will have little lulls, and we have to learn to eliminate those lulls,” Buckland said. This lull cost the Bisons’ their large...
