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News Nuggets, 02.24.06
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

ECU home hoops finales bring promotions

East Carolina athletics will stage several promotions in conjunction with Senior Night and the season's final home games of both the men's and women's basketball teams, the school's sports information office said in a release.

The Lady Pirates' Friday game against Southern Miss has been designated as National Girls and Women in Sport Day. To coincide with the national NCAA promotion, ECU will give away 100 purses at the game and during half time will recognize Bo Batts of the Pitt County Girls Softball League for his contribution to women's sports in the Pitt County area.

The women's game against the Golden Eagles has also been designated as Fan Appreciation Day, with all fans receiving free admission. Pirate fans can meet and greet the 2005-06 Lady Pirates following the game at an autograph session inside Minges Coliseum.

Saturday night, the men's team will square off against Tulane at 7 p.m. on Senior Night. Before the game, seniors Mike Castro, Will O'Neal and Corey Rouse will be honored at halfcourt for their contributions to the program.

During the first half of the ECU-Tulane matchup, newly appointed women's golf coach Kim Lewellen, who is staring on the Golf Channel's Big Break V, will be introduced to the crowd. At halftime of the Conference USA matchup, all qualifiers of the Pepsi/Quixote Travel/WITN shootout will compete against each other for two airline tickets to any destination US Airways flies, with the exception of Europe.

On Sunday, Feb. 26, the Lady Pirates will close out the season against Central Florida on Girl Scout Day with a scheduled tip-off set for 1 p.m. All Girl Scouts will receive a free ticket to the game. Prior to the game, ECU head coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener and her staff will recognize seniors Catherine Coley, Ebonee Downey and LaToya Horton, who will be playing their final home game at ECU.

For more information on any of these promotions, call the ECU Athletic Ticket Office at 1-800-DIAL-ECU or 252-328-4500.

Juco hoops coach climbs to 1,000-win plateau

Three Rivers Community College head coach Gene Bess became the first college basketball coach to record 1,000 wins when his junior college team defeated Forest Park, 77-60, on Wednesday, according to a Sports Network report.

Now in his 36th season as athletic director and head coach at Three Rivers, Bess holds a 1,000-258 career mark and is the all-time winningest junior college coach.

Bess has led the Raiders to two National Junior College Athletic Associations national championships (1979 and 1992), 13 tournament appearances, seven final four showings and has been named NJCAA Coach of the Year twice.

Bess' mark is unequaled in college hoops, though there are two active head coaches over the 900 mark. Harry Statham, head coach at NAIA member McKendree College for the last 40 years, has compiled 912 wins, while Tennessee women's coach Pat Summitt has 906 career victories.

Former UNC-Chapel Hill coach Dean Smith tops all NCAA Division I men's coaches with 879 wins.

C-USA Basketball Standings, Scores & Schedule

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from other sources. Copyright 2006 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:45 PM