Trevecca Nazarene gets Owls' Bennett

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Ooltewah senior Loren Bennett signed a volleyball scholarship recently with Trevecca Nazarene University. Bennett said she liked the Nashville campus from the first time she visited but didn't get to spend much time then. "I went again last weekend and it was just amazing," Bennett said. "I took a tour around campus, got to play with some of my teammates and spent the night there. I like the Christian atmosphere. I think it's a really good fit for me." Bennett is expected to play setter in college, and she had 616 assists this past season for the Lady Owls, but she has all-around skills, illustrated by contributions of 252 kills, 225 digs and 49 aces. "Her knowledge, her work ethic and her experience on the court have been a key to our program's success the last four years," Ooltewah coach Elaine Peigen said. "Having coached her the last seven years, through middle school first, it's been enjoyable watching her develop into an outstanding high school player." Bennett said another reason for choosing Travecca Nazarene was its physical therapy curriculum.

Basketball

• DAYTON, Tenn. - Shorter University defeated Tennessee Wesleyan 86-77 and Bryan beat Truett-McConnell 84--72 in the Bryan College Classic men's basketball tournament Friday night. C.J. Davis and Anthony Banks scored 19 and 18 points and Walter Hill added 15 points, eight rebounds and five steals for Shorter (10-0), which is ranked No. 5 in the NAIA Division I poll but needed a late 12-2 spurt to get past the NAIA Division II Bulldogs. Quincy Scates and Matt Harper scored 21 and 19 for Wesleyan (6-5). For Bryan (4-9), Lavonte Henderson had 20 points, four steals and five assists and T.J. Smith scored 19 points on 7-of-7 shooting, including 5-of-5 on 3-pointers. Rob Riley scored 15, and Caleb Parsons had six assists. Anthony Dorsey and Roderick Bombard led the Bears with 21 and 16 points.

• PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Bryan women's team improved to 9-1 by defeating Pensacola Christian 66-39 Friday night.

• BARBOURVILLE, Ky. - Union College defeated the visiting Tennessee Temple women's basketball team 81-50 Friday night, dropping the Lady Crusaders to 0-11 for the season. Lindsey Waters had 21 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks for the Lady Bulldogs (8-2). Briana Reeves had 11 points, Jessica Salera grabbed 10 rebounds and Amber Charles had six assists and four steals in defeat.

• YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. - Freshman Keta Robinette from Marion County scored 21 points with seven 3-point baskets in 12 tries as Young Harris College beat Southern Wesleyan 66-61 in women's basketball Friday. Robinette hit one 3 to tie the game at 57 and back-to-back long shots to break a 59-59 tie and send the Mountain Lions to their seventh win in eight games.