by Erika Plunkett | Nov 20, 2019 | BREAKING NEWS, News Slider, Sports
Sparked by Lady Bisons’ turnovers, the visiting Murray State Racers staged a late-game comeback to walk away with a 67-57 victory in a game that has Lipscomb coach Lauren Sumski perplexed. After holding the edge in the turnover battle in the first half, Lipscomb allowed 15 second-half turnovers while Murray State only allowed three. “We are better than that,” Sumski said after the Tuesday loss. “We are better than giving up 19 and 25 points in the third and fourth quarter.” Despite the fact that the Lady Bisons were unable to hit a three-point shot until late in the second quarter, it was Lipscomb that jumped out to an eight-point early in the game. Going into the halftime break, Sumski and her team still held a six-point lead, led by sophomore guard Jane Deason’s seven points and sophomore center Dorie Harrison’s six points. Entering the second half, the Lady Bisons extended their lead to 10 before four consecutive turnovers cut the lead to three. “They made a lot of the shots that we gave them from poor communication and poor transition,” Sumski said. The Racers took advantage of these missed opportunities from the Bisons and went on 25-9 run to close out the game behind sophomore guard Macey Turley’s 20 points and freshman forward Macie Gibson’s 19 points. “We are better than that defensively,” Sumski said. “But tonight I felt like they beat us to 50-50 balls, and they turned it on when it mattered. We didn’t respond in the second half when they went on their run.” The Lady Bisons continue to play this weekend in the...
by Erika Plunkett | Nov 3, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Arriving on the heels of one of the worst seasons in program history, new women’s basketball head coach Lauren Sumski is embracing the doubters as the motivation for her team. “We were excited,” Sumski said.“I was fired up when they [the ASUN preseason poll] picked us ninth.” This is just the response you would expect if you have spent any time with the young head coach. Her excitement, enthusiasm and can-do attitude are a breath of fresh air for a team that many times last season seemed defeated before they even took the court. “Usually, all of those preseason rankings are just based off of the former season, and that’s exactly where we finished,” Sumski said. “We don’t make any qualms about it; we never have.” But Sumski knows something that the poll voters do not: this is an entirely new team. “We have a lot of returners who I think have stepped up and improved in different ways,” she said. “We have some transfers that I think are going to add to us tremendously. And I think we have some young kids who are really going to be able to step up and help us really early as well.” One of those returners is junior guard Taylor Clark, who was voted as ASUN preseason player of the year. Clark, who missed parts of last season with injuries, was Lipscomb’s leading scorer last season and the only player who averaged double-digit points. Adding to the Lady Bisons’ roster is former Kentucky guard and redshirt sophomore transfer Dorie Harrison, who played all 32 games for the Wildcats and averaged 6.7...
by Erika Plunkett | Oct 24, 2019 | BREAKING NEWS, News Slider, Sports
For the first time in the history of Lipscomb basketball, a former Bison played in a regular-season NBA game. Garrison Mathews took the court for the Washington Wizards in their season opener against the Dallas Mavericks. With just under a minute left in the 4th quarter, Wizards coach Scott Brooks brought rookies Mathews and former Virginia Tech standout Justin Robinson in to close out the game for Washington. Mathews signed a two-way contract with the Wizards earlier this summer, which allows him to play in the NBA for 45 days and with the Wizards’ affiliate, the Capital City Go-Gos, for the remainder of the season. In his one minute of playing time, Mathews assisted fellow two-way player, Chris Chiozza, on a three, cutting the Mavericks winning margin to only eight, 108-100. However, Mathews was not the only player to make his NBA debut Wednesday night; across the court, fellow former Bison, Zach Flener, opened the season as a member of Dallas’s player development team. Prior to the game, Mathews and Flener were able to meet to wish each other luck as they both begin their new careers. Continue to follow the Washington Wizards as Garrison continues his NBA career and check back for updates on his career here at Lumination...
by Erika Plunkett | Oct 8, 2019 | Galleries, News Slider
After a long, hot summer and early fall, the weather has finally cooled down to average temperatures. With this, the season of corn mazes, haunted houses, and all things pumpkin has begun. During the month of October, Nashville is filled with countless activities for both the fearless and faint of heart to enjoy. One such excursion is just a five-minute drive up Granny White Pike and into the 12 South neighborhood. Across the street from Urban Grub, Nashville Pumpkin Co. has set up a miniature pumpkin patch in the heart of the city. The displays are filled with the typical orange pumpkins, but also with numerous heirloom pumpkins and beautifully speckled squashes each in varying shades of green, pink, white, red, and yellow. While you browse, you have the option to play pumpkin bowling, a game where you attempt to knock down 10 wooden ghosts with a miniature pumpkin. There is also the opportunity to take pictures with the pumpkin photo backdrop to pass the time. Not only does the pumpkin patch have cute photo opportunities and a great selection of fall decor, but the patch is only a few yards away from Frothy Monkey, Portland Brew, and White Bison. These are popular spots for all your fall beverage needs, which will further get you into the fall spirit. Whether you need decor for your house, apartment, or dorm room or you just want to take cute fall photos, Nashville Pumpkin Co. should be your go-to stop. Continue to check back in Lumination Network to see all the fun activities going on around Nashville this fall....
by Erika Plunkett | Sep 30, 2019 | BREAKING NEWS, News Slider, Sports
Sunday afternoon, with temperatures rising to nearly 100 degrees, the Lipscomb Lady Bisons faced off against fellow ASUN women’s soccer powerhouse the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles in their second conference game of the year. Neither team was ever able to fully gain control of the match as play stretched into overtime and then double overtime, where the final result was a 1-1 tie after 110 minutes of play. The Eagles seemed to take control of the game in the 15th minute when senior midfielder Marjorie Boilesen put the ball in the back of the net off of sophomore midfielder Ashlee Brentlinger’s assist, but sophomore midfielder Kristi Jones was able to respond shortly before halftime for the Bisons leveling the score once again. Entering the second half, it was clear to see why these two teams were ranked first and second in the preseason ASUN poll, as impenetrable defense and smart possession fought through the heat to keep both teams scoreless for the final 45 minutes of regulation. Lipscomb was able to do this by keeping FGCU’s all-American senior forward Evdokia Popadinova quiet. “We highlighted two players, 17 [senior forward Evdokia Popadinova] and 25 [senior midfielder Marjorie Boilesen]; 25 got the goal so we didn’t do quite exactly as we game-planned, but they are super talented,” Lipscomb’s head coach O’Brien said. “As far as shutting down Evie [Popadinova], our defenders knew that those two were their primary point-getters, the ones that lead their team in all the offensive statistical categories. When those two are around the ball, I know that there is an extra level of focus, and I...
