EAGLES HOST SHIP IN PSAC-WEST OPENERS WEDS

Clarion University's men's and women's basketball team will get the 2001-2002 PSAC-West season underway Wednesday, Jan. 9, when they host Shippensburg. The women's game starts at 6 p.m. followed by the men's game at 8 p.m.

CLARION MEN SEEK SIXTH STRAIGHT PSAC PLAYOFF SPOT

With the start of conference play, Clarion's men's team is looking to earn its sixth straight PSAC Playoff spot. In order to do that, the Golden Eagles will need to finish in the top four in the PSAC-West.

Clarion is currently 4-4 on the young season and is coming off a 64-55 loss at Millersville Monday. Last year the Golden Eagles were 19-10 overall and 7-5 in the PSAC-West. Clarion finished third in the PSAC-West before defeating IUP, Bloomsburg and West Chester to win its first ever PSAC championship. The Golden Eagles then advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs where they lost 77-72 to Salem International.

The Golden Eagles are led by a balanced attack that has five players scoring in double figures. Senior guard Steve Serwatka leads Clarion with a PSAC best 21.9 ppg, while senior forward Allen Stevens is adding 13.9 ppg and a team-high 7.3 rpg. Junior point guard Rollie Smith is contributing 10.6 ppg and 5 apg, and senior forward Dale Thomas is chipping in with 10.1 ppg and 6.9 rpg. Senior forward David Shearer, who has been limited to only four games this season because of a foot injury, is adding 10.5 ppg and 5.0 rpg. Shearer is questionable for the game against the Red Raiders.

As a team, the Golden Eagles are averaging 80.5 ppg while allowing 73.5. Shippensburg, meanwhile, is 6-5 on the season. Last season Shippensburg went 10-16 overall and 6-6 in the PSAC-West. The Red Raiders lost to Edinboro 99-81 in the opening round of the PSAC Playoffs. Shippensburg split a pair of games over the weekend defeating East Stroudsburg 83-51 Saturday before losing to Kutztown 64-62 Sunday.

The Red Raiders are led by junior point guard Ron Banks who is averaging 15.0 ppg 3.7 apg. Junior forward Aleksanda Pavlovic is adding 13.7 ppg and a team-high 6.3 rpg, while junior guard Jeff Madara is chipping in with 9.8 ppg and 4.2 rpg.

Last season, Clarion swept the season series from Shippensburg defeating the Red Raiders 72-58 at Shippensburg and 89-81 at Tippin Gym. The Golden Eagles have won the past six meetings against Shippensburg last losing 55-52 at the end of the 1997-98 season.

EAGLE WOMEN LOOKING TO RETURN TO PSAC PLAYOFFS

The Golden Eagle's women's team is looking to return to the PSAC Playoffs for the first time since the 1994-95 season when they open PSAC-West play against Shippensburg.

Clarion is 4-7 this season and is coming off a 91-87 loss at Millersville Monday. Last season the Golden Eagles were 10-16 overall and 3-9 in the PSAC-West.

This season the Golden Eagles are led by senior forward Christina Lantz, who is averaging 15.4 ppg and 8.9 rpg. She is tied for sixth in the PSAC in scoring and is also sixth in the conference in rebounding. Twice this season Lantz has scored 25 or more points. She scored 32 against Mansfield and 25 vs. Tiffin.

Freshman forward Heather Cigich is right behind Lantz with 12.5 ppg and 8.5 rpg. The rookie has produced five double-doubles in her young career including a career-high 20 points against Bloomsburg and 13 rebounds against Cheyney. Junior guard Allison Stodart is third on the team in scoring with 9.6 ppg and has hit a team-high 25 three-pointers. Another junior guard, Tameka Washington, is chipping in with 9.1 ppg, while junior forward Courtney Willman is adding 8.8 ppg and 6.2 rpg.

Shippensburg comes into the game with a 10-2 record. The Lady Raiders are once again one of the favorites to win both the PSAC-West and the PSAC. Last year, Shippensburg went 28-5 overall and 10-2 in the PSAC-West. The Lady Raiders won their sixth straight PSAC title with an 86-77 overtime win against California. Shippensburg then advanced to the NCAA Division II semifinals before losing to North Dakota 76-71.

This season Shippensburg is led by senior center Jessie Gordon, who is averaging 15.6 ppg and 9.2 rpg. She is fifth in the conference in scoring and fourth in rebounding. Four other Lady Raiders are averaging in double figures including freshman guard Jennifer Scaffidi (14.2 ppg), sophomore guard Emily Swingler (11.3 ppg), junior guard Christan Kelly (10.6 ppg) and sophomore guard Katie Bray (10.3 ppg). Kelly is adding 8.8 rpg, while Swingler is grabbing 5.7 boards per contest.

Last season Shippensburg swept the season series from Clarion winning 78-42 at Shippensburg and 88-60 at Tippin Gym. The Lady Raiders have won the past 10 meetings between the schools. Clarion's last win came during the 1995-96 season when it got an 85-84 decision over Shippensburg.

GODLEN EAGLE NOTES: Both of Clarion's teams will be back in action this weekend when they host East Stroudsburg Saturday and Kutztown Sunday. The women's games start at 1 p.m. each day with the men's games slated for 3 p.m.… The Golden Eagles will return to PSAC-West action next Wednesday (Jan. 16) at Edinboro and Jan. 19 at IUP. Game times are 6 p.m. for the women's and 8 p.m. for the men's both days … The five consecutive PSAC Playoff appearances for Clarion's men's team is the second longest active streak among PSAC-West schools. Only IUP, who has nine straight PSAC Playoff appearances, has a longer streak … During Clarion's run of five straight PSAC Playoff appearances, the Golden Eagles have averaged 20 wins per season … Clarion's women's team won five straight PSAC-West titles from 1991-95 and three PSAC titles in that stretch while making it to two NCAA Division II "Elite Eights" … The Golden Eagles were 117-33 overall and 50-10 in the PSAC-West during that stretch … Clarion head coach Margaret "Gie" Parsons needs only two more wins to get to 300 in her career … Parsons, the winningest coach in school history, is 298-231 in her career including 188-158 at Clarion.