Weekly Lyon

Men's Basketball (2-0) Wins Sixth Wheaton Tip-Off Crown Behind MVP Coppola

The Wheaton College men's basketball began the season by claiming the 13th Wheaton Tip-Off Tournament title, winning for the sixth time at its own tournament. Freshman Anthony Coppola (Watertown, MA/Watertown) capped a stellar weekend by being named most valuable player and joined sophomore Jaxon Leo (Leesburg, VA/New Hampton School) on the all-tournament team. Wheaton downed Norwich University, 84-50 on Friday before defeating Plymouth State University, 95-88 in Saturday's final in Emerson Gymnasium.

With 17 points against Norwich, Coppola matched the highest scoring output by a Lyon freshman in his debut since Harrison Bush '00 also had 17 on November 23, 1996. Twelve Lyons scored, as nine had at least six points apiece. Coppola's game-high point total and trio of three-pointers came in 18 minutes, while junior Mark Sullivan (West Roxbury, MA/Catholic Memorial) had 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting in 13 minutes. Freshman Bud Gaffney (Berkley, MA/Northfield Mount Hermon School) totaled six assists, six rebounds and two steals, as Wheaton turned the ball over only eight times. Senior Jake Otto (Glastonbury, CT/Glastonbury) turned in nine points, while Leo had eight.

In a rematch of last year's Plymouth State tip-off tournament title game, won by the host, Wheaton fended off a late Panther charge in a high-scoring duel. The teams combined to shoot 52.1 percent from the field, including 40 percent from three-point range, and hit 45 free throws. Coppola again turned in a game-high point total, scoring 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting with three steals. Leo went 6-of-8 for 16 points with five rebounds, while Gaffney added 13 points behind a 9-of-10 effort from the charity stripe to go along with four assists. Senior Brent DiGiovanna (Hanover, MA/Hanover) nearly turned in a double-double with 11 points and eight rebounds, while freshman Ryan Sasso (Peabody, MA/Bishop Fenwick) had a well-rounded line with 10 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Women's Basketball (1-1) Splits at ECSU Tournament, Aitchison Receives Honor

The Wheaton College women's basketball team split a pair of games over the weekend at the Eastern Connecticut State University Tip-Off Tournament, falling to Colby College, 85-80 in double overtime on Saturday before winning the third-place game against Husson College, 68-47 on Sunday. Senior Becky Aitchison (Norwalk, CT/Trinity Catholic) was named to the all-tournament team.

Against Colby, the Lyons trailed by 14 points in the first half and by as many as 10 with less than 10 minutes remaining in regulation to force two overtimes before falling. It was the Blue and White's first double-overtime contest since December 1, 1998. Wheaton led by as many as four points in the first extra session before succumbing to a 13-2 run that carried into the next stanza. Aitchison finished with 22 points and game highs of seven steals and four assists, while junior Krystin Hickey (Manchester, NH/New Hampton School) added 20 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore Jenny Champney's (Bedford, MA/Bedford) first collegiate double-double came thanks to 14 points and 14 boards. Classmate Andrea Bailey (Needham, MA/Needham) added eight points, six caroms and two blocks.

Wheaton led for the final 37:36 during a win over Husson. Bailey tallied 11 points, hitting all five of her field goals, while Aitchison and Hickey each turned in 10 points, three assists and two steals. Champney had six points and seven rebounds in 15 minutes, sophomore Ida Kruse (Vershire, VT/Rivendell Academy) contributed eight points and six rebounds in 11 minutes, and junior Bri Smith (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) notched five assists without committing a turnover.

Smith moved into a tie for sixth place at Wheaton in career three-pointers (83) over the weekend.

Men's (2-4) and Women's (4-2) Swimming Each Fall to NEWMAC Foe Springfield

The Wheaton College men's and women's swimming and diving teams each fell at New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) heavyweight Springfield College on Saturday, as the women lost to the seven-time defending league champion, 165-135, while the men lost, 158-99.

Freshman Dania Piscetta (Belmont, NH/Belmont) turned in a pair of individual victories for the women, besting the 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard freestyle fields. Senior Abby Pratt (Melrose, MA/Melrose) won the 100-yard free event and helped the 400-yard medley relay quartet to victory, combining with classmate Meg Miller (Duxbury, MA/Duxbury) and sophomores Iris Meehan (Bar Harbor, ME/Mount Desert Island) and Emily Sweatt (Portland, ME/Deering). Senior Matt Jordan (Ellsworth, ME/Ellsworth) won twice for the men, pacing the 50- and 100-yard backstroke fields.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 12/3/07.
Questions about this page? Use our query form.

News

Women's Soccer: Hough's tally sends Wheaton past Emmanuel, Leddy notches third shutout (more)

Women's Tennis: Geocaris and Teague draw weekly tennis honors from NEWMAC (more)