FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gary Holden, Sports Information Director
(540) 365-4306
 
January 21, 2003
 
 
Panthers Sweep Shenandoah in Dixie Doubleheader
Both Teams Post Wins After Trailing at Halftime
 
Ferrum, Va. –  The Ferrum College men's and women's basketball teams swept Shenandoah University in a Dixie Conference doubleheader tonight in Ferrum.  The women opened the night with a 78-67 win, while the men followed with a heart-stopping 61-59 win in which the Panthers trailed by as many as 14 points.
 
In the men's game, freshman guard RaRa Cunningham (Asheville, N.C./AC Reynolds ) hit a three-point field goal as the shot clock expired with just :06 remaining in the game for the win.  Cunningham, pictured above, led Ferrum with 12 points on 5-9 shooting, converting two of three shots from behind the arc.
 
Junior forward Kevin Aigbe (Nashville, Tenn./Volunteer State) and sophomore forward Justin Harris (Danville, Va./George Washington) had 11 points each.
 
Freshman guard Chris Jackson (Clayton, N.C./Garner), who is this week's Dixie Conference Men's Basketball Rookie of the Week, was 2-2 from the line tonight, extending his consecutive free-throw streak to 14.  He was 12-12 in three games last week.  Jackson had four points, five rebounds, three assists, and no turnovers tonight.

 In the women's game, sophomore point guard Tara Toland (North, S.C./North), pictured at left, led Ferrum with 18 points to lead five Panthers in double figures.  Junior forward Tanisha Durham (Roanoke, Va./Patrick Henry) had 16 points and six assists, and junior center Shermika Harris (Martinsville, Va./Laurel Park) had 15 points and 15 rebounds.
 
Senior guard Tina McBride (Glade Hill, Va./Franklin County) had 12 points and eight rebounds, while sophomore guard Amber Triplett (Bassett, Va./Bassett) had 10 points and six assists. 

Shenandoah led 34-31 at halftime, only to see Ferrum outscore the Hornets 45-35 in the second half.  The win is the Panthers' 11th in their last 12 games.  Ferrum improves to 11-2 overall and stays unbeaten in the Dixie at 3-0.  Shenandoah is now 5-5 overall, 1-2 in league play.
 
Shenandoah led by as many as 14 points at 39-25 with 2:25 left in the first half, and held a 43-34 lead at halftime.  Ferrum outscored the Hornets 27-16 in the second half.  Ferrum improves to 5-9 overall and 2-1 in the Dixie.  Shenandoah is 8-4, 1-2 in league play. For more information, please contact the Ferrum sports information office at (540) 365-4306.
 
 
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