by Erika Plunkett | Jan 12, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
For the first time this season, Lipscomb’s women’s basketball team was able to dress its entire team. But the return of redshirt sophomore forward Emily Kmec and freshman guard/forward Taylor Hammack did not prove to be enough to defeat the Stetson Hatters. Saturday’s 65-80 loss moved the Lady Bisons to a 2-14 record, while Stetson improved to 7-9. Lipscomb has now lost 13 straight games. Leading Stetson to the win was junior guard Addi Walters, who shot 7-of-12 from behind the arc and totaled a season-high 25 points. When asked how he was going to address this defensive lapse moving forward, Lipscomb coach Coach Greg Brown said that his focus is on “awareness and communication.” “We just didn’t communicate very well. There was nothing [offensively] where they would get us in a bind. We just weren’t aware out there to take care of those things.” Offensively, the Lady Bisons’ leading scorer, sophomore guard Taylor Clark, was able to contribute only six points. She got into foul trouble early, which limited her playing time. Despite these mistakes, there were a number of bright spots for Lipscomb, including freshman guard Jane Deason, who led the Lady Bisons with twenty points. Although this was a career high, her performance was no surprise to her coaches who have time and time again observed her work ethic. “Jane just continues to play hard,” Brown said. “Like all freshmen there is a learning curve, but she listens. She was one of the last ones to leave here last night. After practice she was playing some pickup, and then she turned around and was on the...
by Erin Franklin | Jan 10, 2019 | News Slider
Welcome back to campus! Christmas break is over, and we’re already revved up for another semester. 2018 was a big year for Lipscomb, but I’m excited to see what this year holds. This will be my last semester at Lipscomb as I am graduating this May, so I’m looking forward to a great and final semester with Lumination. I’m excited to share with you some news regarding our leadership staff. Our co-managing editor Cole Gray graduated in December, and while Lumination will sincerely miss his boldness, curiosity and knack for investigative journalism, I am pleased to introduce Spencer Boehme as our new co-managing editor. Russell Vannozzi will continue to serve as our co-managing editor as well. Lebron Hill is our A&E coordinator, bringing you the latest in Arts and Entertainment at Lipscomb, Nashville and beyond. Kathryn Farris will be working as our news coordinator, bringing you more breaking stories such as her most recent piece on Cyntoia Brown receiving clemency. Mckenzi Harris will bring her expertise in the digital realm as our social media director. Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook! In addition to these hardworking editors, we have a talented staff of writers, photographers, videographers and more ready to bring you the news throughout the semester. If you are interested in joining the Lumination staff, please feel free to contact me to find out more information by emailing editor@luminationnetwork.com. We welcome all majors! Meetings are at 10 a.m. on Mondays and at 11 a.m. on Fridays in Ezell 155. Feel free to stop by one day to check it out! I’m looking forward to a great...
by Russell Vannozzi | Dec 25, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
Jeffrey Passantino spent his minor league baseball season living out of a suitcase. In a span of three months, he moved from Arizona to Indiana to Oregon and, finally, back to Indiana. “One side is dirty, one side is clean,” he said of the makeshift dresser on wheels. His former Lipscomb teammates Brady Puckett and Lee Solomon had more stable living situations, at least by minor league standards. Puckett was with the Greensboro (N.C.) Grasshoppers for one month before he was promoted to the Jupiter (Fla.) Hammerheads, while Solomon headed west to Peoria, Arizona, after being selected by the San Diego Padres in June’s MLB Amateur Draft. “There are no complaints whatsoever,” Puckett said. “It was really hot [in Florida], and I sweated through like three shirts every day, but I had a good time.” All three players had standout seasons and are now one step closer to becoming Lipscomb’s next crop of talent to reach the big leagues – a group that includes Caleb Joseph, Rex Brothers and Josh Smith. Cheap hotels, long bus rides and fast-food meals aside, each of the former Bisons said they are thrilled to be chasing a dream that so few are afforded. “It’s hard to beat,” Solomon said of minor league life. “Our manager is always reminding us that we’re making money by hitting batting practice and taking ground balls instead of living in an office.” Passantino logged the most miles of the trio this season. He began the year in the Chicago Cubs’ extended Spring Training, but he was added to the Class-A South Bend Cubs for 10 days in June....
by Spencer Boehme | Dec 13, 2018 | News Slider, Opinion, Sports
Let’s all take a moment and acknowledge how much this one hurt to watch. Lipscomb’s men’s basketball team (7-3) took an exciting road trip to face a tough ACC squad in Louisville (7-3) and lost an excruciating nail-biter, 72-68, on Wednesday night. The Bisons proved that they have the talent to compete with the majority of schools in college basketball. They were just too sloppy to get it done. “[Louisville’s] one of the nation’s best,” Lipscomb coach Casey Alexander said following the loss. “[Louisville coach] Chris [Mack] has done an amazing job with them up to this point. I’m glad we came in here and fought.” And it might have played out differently had Bisons junior guard Kenny Cooper collected an open defensive rebound and then avoided a turnover — all within the last 66 seconds. But let’s get justifiably optimistic here. The fact that the Bisons stayed as competitive as they did against an ACC powerhouse just might be the final straw in proving that this year’s team is the most legitimate Lipscomb men’s basketball program since the NAIA days. “We beat a really, really, really good team tonight,” Mack said. “And our team knew that coming in. All you have to do is look at last year with them being in the tournament, playing Carolina tooth-and-nail, bringing back virtually their entire team.” But it was a sloppy, sloppy game for the Bisons. They had so many opportunities to score in the paint, but they couldn’t handle the ball well. The Bisons were also out-rebounded, and they watched some of their tallest players get in foul trouble (senior...
by Russell Vannozzi | Dec 13, 2018 | News Slider, Sports
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – When Jordan Nwora scored Louisville’s first 11 points on Tuesday, it appeared it might be a long night for the Lipscomb men’s basketball team. But after making some defensive adjustments, the Bisons gave the Cardinals all they could handle in what was nearly a massive upset. However, a Kenny Cooper turnover with 1:03 left was followed by a fadeaway jumper from Louisville’s Christen Cunningham, giving the Cardinals a narrow, 72-68 victory at the KFC Yum! Center. Lipscomb guard Garrison Mathews led the Bisons with 20 points after producing a combined 10 in his last two outings against Belmont and Navy. The senior said he hopes the Louisville experience will help prepare the Bisons for March basketball. “I think we can play with anybody,” Mathews said. “I don’t think we can beat everybody, but I think we can play with anybody and give everybody a game. It’s good experience for hopefully when we make the [NCAA] tournament.” Lipscomb (7-3) shot just 35 percent (23-of-65) from the floor – well below its season average of 47 percent. But the Bisons went on an 8-0 run just before the break to cut Louisville’s halftime lead to 34-33. “It wasn’t our best performance by any stretch,” Lipscomb coach Casey Alexander said. “Louisville had a lot to do with that, obviously. We put ourselves in position where we had a chance late. That shows a lot of grit and fight, so I’m proud of our team for that.” Lipscomb trailed by as many as 12 with 14:35 left to play, but a pair of threes from Mathews and baskets by Cooper...
