Men’s BasketballLowe released from hospital, expected to return to sidelines
After suffering dehydration and flu-like symptoms that forced him to miss the second half in Wednesday’s 83-64 loss to North Carolina, coach Sidney Lowe is expected to make a return in time for the team’s next game.According to a press release from N.C. State Media Relations, “Coach Lowe will be back at work and with the team tomorrow.”Lowe was at home Thursday and will join the team today as it leaves for Saturday’s game at Florida State, according to the release. The team was already scheduled for the NCAA-mandated one day off per week on Thursday.
-compiled by J. Mike Blake
Men’s BasketballSeminoles stumbling into home finale
Florida State ended January with consecutive wins against Wake Forest and then Maryland. The Seminoles defeated the Terrapins 96-59, and then they started off February with a 68-67 win against the Blue Devils in Durham.Since that win on Feb. 4 against Duke, Florida State has lost its last five — including Wednesday night against Maryland, 73-55.The Seminoles have been without sophomore guard Toney Douglas since Feb. 11. Douglas, the team’s second leading scorer, is a transfer from Auburn.Coach Leonard Hamilton, who is in his fifth season at Florida State, said the loss of his guard has played a major role in the team’s failures as of late.Hamilton said he doesn’t know when to expect Douglas to return.”Those types of injuries are all based on an individual bases,” Hamilton said during a teleconference Monday. “The plan was after about 10 days to two weeks was to get back in and X-ray it again and get a status report as to where we are.”While the team has removed his cast and put him in a brace, the sophomore still is not ready for contact, according to Hamilton. The coach said they don’t want to rush him into playing. Even though the coach didn’t rule out Douglas not returning for one of the team’s final two games, he said the Seminoles were planning without him.”We just have to figure out a way to win the remainder of our games,” Hamilton said. “But we definitely miss him.”However, N.C. State is expected to have coach Sidney Lowe back on the sidelines for Saturday’s game. After being taken to the hospital during Wednesday’s 83-64 loss against North Carolina, the first-year coach has been released, according to Assistant Athletics Director for Media Relations, Annabelle Myers.The team had practice off Thursday, and Lowe is expected to return with the team today as it leaves for Coral Gables, Fla., Myers said.Saturday’s game is set for 1 p.m. Florida State is 17-11 overall and 5-9 in the conference — half a game ahead of State.
SoftballNo. 22 Pack to make trip to No. 5
After claiming one tournament championship last weekend, the softball team will look to duplicate results again this week when it travels to Alabama to play in the 2007 Hampton Inn Crimson Classic.Last week, the Wolfpack (7-2) went to Gainesville, Fla., and defeated Florida twice in as many days to take the Cox Communications Classic title.The tournament results bumped the Pack up two spots in the polls to No. 22.Participants in the Crimson Classic are Indiana State, Western Kentucky, Winthrop and host No. 5 Alabama.The undefeated Crimson Tide (10-0) will be the highest-ranked team that State has faced all year.Tournament play starts with two games Friday and Saturday. If State makes it to the championship game, it will be held on Sunday.
-compiled by J. Mike Blake
Women’s SoccerState signs nine for next year
Nine high school seniors are set to join the women’s soccer team in the fall, the team announced on Thursday.The signings follow last year’s eight-player freshman class, and match the number of seniors that will have graduated from last year’s 9-9-2 team. Six of the soon-to-be freshmen were local products, coming from nearby Athens Drive, Apex, Sanderson, Garner and Durham Jordan High Schools.Headlining the class is goalie Rachel Barnette, a member of back-to-back 5-A Georgia state championship teams in 2005 and 2006.Barnette was also a 2006 NSCAA High School Scholar All-American.
-compiled by J. Mike Blake
