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Sports on campus

UT's focus on berth in NCAAs

TAMPA -- Heading into today's Sunshine State Conference tournament, few similarities can be found when comparing this season's University of Tampa women's basketball team to those that took the court the past two seasons. Although players from those teams still make up the core of this group, the Spartans open the tournament at Florida Southern in Lakeland with an almost completely different attitude -- courtesy of first-year coach Tom Jessee.

If any similarity can be found, it might be in the Spartans' potential second-round matchup with Rollins. A thorn in UT's side in the conference tournament the past two seasons, the Tars and the Spartans could face-off again if both win their opening contests. Rollins easily won those previous tournament meetings.

The second-seeded Spartans (21-6 overall, 11-3 SSC) face No. 7 Eckerd (12-15, 3-11) at 5:30 p.m. at the George Jenkins Fieldhouse. In the other opening-round games, No. 3 Rollins plays No. 6 Saint Leo, No. 4 Florida Tech faces No. 5 Lynn and top-seeded Florida Southern plays No. 8 Barry.

And if the seeds hold true and UT and Rollins meet, the Jessee effect could be key. UT has had eight winning seasons in the past 10 years but has advanced to the NCAA Division II tournament only twice.

"We wanted to come in here and establish a new attitude," Jessee said. "We wanted to get headed in a new direction and I told this group even though I'd have this particular team only one year, they'd always be remembered as the team that started a turnaround."

The Spartans set a team record for victories this season and hold the No. 3 ranking in the South Region. With the top four teams advancing to NCAA play, a strong showing this weekend could ensure the Spartans a trip to the postseason. Florida Southern is ranked fifth in the South and Rollins is seventh.

"The seeding doesn't matter," Jessee said. "All of these teams are close and they know each other. It all boils down to execution. And for us, defense. We've hung our hat on that all season."

The Spartans have received excellent defensive play from senior center Jessie McDowell, who averaged three blocks, nine rebounds and 17 points per game during the regular season. Junior forward Yushonda Morse and senior forward Andrea Nordholt have played strong as well, combining for 23 points and 12 rebounds a game, and guard Liz Wetenkamp has dished out five assists per game.

BASEBALL: After helping the Spartans erase memories of a 2-2 start, put together a 10-game winning streak and dominate Rollins and Saint Leo, two players have earned SSC weekly honors.

Senior shortstop Gene Reynolds was named player of the week and sophomore pitcher Eric Beattie was named pitcher of the week. Reynolds hit .429 last week and had eight RBIs, a double, a home run and scored twice in three games. Beattie had a complete game victory against No. 23 Rollins on Feb. 18, allowing one earned run on eight hits while striking out seven and walking none. Beattie is 4-0 on the season with a 1.30 ERA.

UT, 12-2 and ranked second in Division II by Collegiate Baseball, plays Florida Tech Saturday and Sunday at home.

SOFTBALL: Kristen Law was 3-for-7 with two home runs against North Alabama and Alabama-Huntsville as the Spartans went 1-4 to open their season at the Crossover Tournament in Valdosta. Nicole Fenno was 2-for-3 at the plate in an 8-0 loss to Valdosta State.

ETC.: McDowell has been named to the 2003 Verizon Academic All-District first team. ... Cross-country runner Erin Wilson set a school record in the 1,500 meters at an outdoor track meet at Florida Southern on Feb. 22. Her time was 4:48.0, eight seconds off NCAA qualifying with four meets remaining. ... The cheerleaders took first place in the Florida State Fair competition for all-female college teams.

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