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Spartan shortsBy ROD GIPSON © St. Petersburg Times, published January 5, 2001 TAMPA -- After averaging 20 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2.5 steals in three games, Spartans junior forward Nichole Blair earned Sunshine State Conference Player of the Week honors. Blair, a 5-foot-11 transfer from St. Petersburg Junior College, shot 40 percent from the floor and was 13-of-15 from the free-throw line. Blair's performance comes as the 10-2 Spartans prepare to begin defense of their Sunshine State Conference title with their first league game Saturday at Eckerd. Eckerd enters the matchup at 11-1 but has not beaten UT since the 1990-91 season. UT is coming off a 57-54 home loss Dec. 30 against No. 12 Michigan Tech that saw the Spartans give up the lead during the final five seconds. The loss ended UT's 12-game home winning streak. The overall nine-game win streak tied the school record. The 10-2 start is the team's best since the 10-3 start during the 1980-81 season. Freshman guard Yushonda Morse continues to lead the team in scoring at 15 points per game, putting her ninth in the SSC. MEN'S BASKETBALL: UT owns the No. 7 spot in the Division II poll, but that didn't stop it from being tripped up by the top team in Division III at home Tuesday. Carthage (Wis.) made 5 of 6 free throws in the last 30 seconds to hang on for a 80-74 win, ending the Spartans' 11-game win streak. The 11-1 Spartans open SSC play Saturday at Eckerd (10-2). The Spartans ended its non-conference schedule with 11 wins. It's average margin of victory was 28 points, but not all of those wins were against patsies. Salem International lost 97-74 to Tampa for its lone loss and remains ranked. American International was ranked as high as No. 16 and still has a winning record after losing 75-50 to the Spartans. Also, UT beat Pace and Miles, two teams that still have winning records, at the SSC/Disney Classic last month. SWIMMING: The men's and women's teams each placed second Wednesday in a tri-meet with Louisiana State and Ouachita Baptist. The men got three first-place finishes from Steve Foster (200 back), Jim Kiner (200 breaststroke) and the 400 free relay team of Jeff Gilwreath, Phil Murray, Thomas Lowenthal and Foster. The women were led by Mandy Smith, who won the 200 breaststroke. UT hosts Truman State and Utah at 1 p.m. today.
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