by Russell Vannozzi | Nov 10, 2017 | News Slider, Sports
There are plenty of reasons to believe that this could be the year for the Lipscomb men’s basketball team to make its first-ever NCAA tournament. However, a tough schedule, multiple injuries and Florida Gulf Coast stand in the way of the Bisons’ dream of an ASUN title. Those obstacles aren’t keeping coach Casey Alexander from being excited to start the season this Friday against Emory University. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. at Allen Arena. “It’s about having the mentality of trying to get better every day, rather than looking at the big picture,” Alexander said. “We’re looking at what’s right in front of us and our guys have had a great mentality this offseason.” Six storylines to watch this season: How can Lipscomb navigate its tough schedule? The Bisons scheduled a challenging non-conference slate that includes the likes of Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, Purdue and Navy. Last December, Lipscomb upset Missouri on the road by beating the Tigers 81-76 and also played a tight game with Tennessee – a 92-77 loss in Knoxville. “We’ll go into each of those preparing and expecting to win,” Alexander said. “We saw last year at Missouri that we can win those kinds of games. The most important thing is to be who we are, no matter who we are playing.” When will point guards get healthy? Senior guard Nathan Moran and sophomore guard Kenny Cooper will both miss Friday’s season opener. Moran is still recovering from offseason surgery, while Cooper suffered a lower-leg injury during preseason practice. It’s unclear when either player will be healthy, but Alexander said Cooper could return to the...
by LeBron Hill | Nov 9, 2017 | News Slider, Opinion
With the holidays coming up, people will often spend some time giving back; one of the most popular ways to do this is by volunteering at a homeless shelter. This time of the year brings back memories of my experience in a shelter…not working there, but living there. When I first arrived at the shelter at the age of 18, I began to fall into a depression. The cold and dark November days represented how I felt — alone and without a home. The shelter was just a house, filled with strangers who were there through a common experience of abandonment. We would spend time around the table, talking about our favorite Thanksgiving memory. The table had people from all walks of life. There were soldiers who came back from war to no home and homosexuals who were kicked out of their home due to their sexual orientation. My heart was still hurt by the actions of my family, so I did not contribute a memory during this time. Instead, my focus would be on their stories, seeing the happiness hit their faces, hearing the joy in their voices as they would share. For that designated time, we were not homeless or abandoned; we were a family who came together on the premise of joy. During the week of Thanksgiving, many people came to the shelter, either to give food or spend time with us. I was ashamed to be there, afraid that I was going to see someone I knew. Families brought their kids with them to show them the “other side” of society. I felt like I was on display for people...
by Russell Vannozzi | Nov 9, 2017 | News Slider, Sports
The Lipscomb women’s basketball team hasn’t had a winning record since the 2003-04 season, when the Bisons went 20-12 and advanced to the NCAA tournament. That isn’t keeping sixth-year head coach Greg Brown from pointing out the positives – even if his team went 6-24 last year. Lipscomb had 10 new players on its roster in 2016-17, including six true freshmen and four transfers. “You go from 10 newcomers last year and having to introduce everything, but now they know what’s going on,” Brown said. “It makes things easier and the players know what to expect as far as travel and game preparation go.” This year’s roster features seven seniors and a wealth of experience. Brown hopes that will help the Bisons improve, despite being picked to finish last in the ASUN. “We have to do three simple things defensively: keep the ball out of the paint, contest shots and block out,” Brown said of the team’s keys to success. “I feel good about our shooting, so we just need to take care of the ball and get some [defensive] stops.” Five things to watch this season: Coaching staff shakeup Lipscomb overhauled its coaching staff with the additions of new assistants in Hannah Phillips and Aaron Holland. Phillips played for the Bisons from 2009-13 and briefly played professionally in Australia following her collegiate career. Holland was the head coach at Motlow State Community College before joining the Lipscomb staff this offseason. “We’ve had more energy and the players have enjoyed having [the new coaches],” Brown said. “Both coaches bring tons of energy to what we’re doing and we needed that.” New...
by Lorena Coleman | Nov 6, 2017 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
“She Loves Me,” a pleasant musical centered on friendship, romance and the power of love, is the latest show to be put on by students in the George Shinn College of Entertainment and the Arts. The musical, directed by Beki Baker, tells a classic, simple love story, while keeping the audience roped in with some unexpected twists and plenty of light-hearted, humorous moments. The story, based on the blockbuster film “You’ve Got Mail,” follows two competing shop clerks, Amalia and George, who get off on the wrong foot from the moment they meet. The two are always clashing at work. But after they both answer a “lonely hearts advertisement,” Amalia and George begin exchanging love notes with each other, unbeknownst to them who the identity of their admirer is. The musical follows the clerks’ paths to discovery as they realize their true love might have been literally around the corner all along. The cast excels at bringing this story to life. Scott Wilson is endearing and lovable as George, and Lauren Yawn plays a sweet and spunky Amalia. Kaylea Frezza and Logan Dozier are funny and effervescent as George and Amalia’s confidantes and fellow shopkeepers, Ladislav and Ilona. Yawn says her favorite part about playing Amalia is “her spunk and her passion for life.” “She feels so strongly about everything,” Yawn stated. “When she loves something, she loves it with everything she has. She puts her whole self into whatever she does, and is determined and driven.” Sam Kell is suave and charismatic as shop clerk, Mr. Steven Kodaly. Jonathan Killebrew adds a pleasant amount of humor to the storyline with delivery boy, Arpad, and Connor Weaver rounds...
by Jade Spilka | Nov 6, 2017 | News Slider
On Nov. 1 last week, the Title IX office held an event in Ward Hall titled “Taboo Talks with Title IX.” The event focused on the Title IX office, sexual misconduct and the Amnesty Clause. Senior Christian Monyei hosted the evening and introduced spoken word performances, facts, discussions, audience polls and film clips. Monyei opened the night with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. that states, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Kathy Hargis, Title IX Coordinator, was also in attendance. She spoke to the small crowd and answered questions that participants had about sexual misconduct on campus. Hargis and Monyei both said that they thought this event would be an excellent way to inform students about this prevalent worldwide issue. “As a faith based institution, it is important that we address the harder, more uncomfortable topics because that is what we are called to do as Christians,” Monyei said. One issue that was addressed was Lipscomb’s faculty-wide unequal representation. When asked if they felt males and females had equal representation on campus, 74% of the students in attendance said they felt women were underrepresented. Many other polls were conducted to understand the climate of safety and inclusivity on campus. ‘Taboo Talks’ served as a safe place for students to address their concerns and to tell their own personal stories of abuse while being surrounded by a supportive group of people. Hargis then urged all in attendance to go to the Title IX office to voice any requests for help or resources they may need regarding discrimination or sexual misconduct. Many students...
by Hannah Pipher | Nov 6, 2017 | News Slider, Sports
The Lipscomb Men’s soccer team has not seen an ASUN Final since 2010, but they ended this spell after defeating the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles this afternoon, 2-1. Just eighteen seconds into the game, senior Ivan Sakou sailed a seemingly harmless shot through the FGCU keeper’s legs into the back of the net. During the 28th minute, FGCU’s Dennis Zapata evened the score with a cross into the back of the net. The Eagles, attempting to take the lead, sent four more shots towards junior keeper Christopher Zappia during the remainder of the half. At the halftime break, the Bisons and Eagles still remained tied 1-1, but the Eagles led in shots 7-4 and shots on goal 3-1. With twenty minutes remaining in the half, junior Logan Paynter received the ball off of sophomore defender Austin Eager’s foot, before heading it into the right corner of the net, leading the game 2-1. The Eagles refused to give up without a battle and continued firing shots on the Bisons. However, when the buzzer sounded, the Lipscomb Bisons were the champions of the 2017 ASUN Semifinals. This victory is the first time Lipscomb has defeated FGCU since the 2007-2008 season, and the first ever triumph in the ASUN tournament. The Bisons will play at No. 5 seed Jacksonville for the ASUN title on Saturday, November 11 at 7 p.m. Photo courtesy of Lipscomb...
