Life University Athletics

MARIETTA, Ga. ---- The Life University athletics teams were nearly all in action over the weekend. Below is a brief recap of each team and the performances this weekend.
 
Women's Indoor Track & Field
The women's indoor track and field team returned back in action over the weekend as they competed in the KMS Invitational in Birmingham, Ala. The team had some solid finishes as Ianthe Wright tallied her first career NAIA "A" qualifying time.
 
Wright, in her first ever collegiate meet, qualified with a time of 7.54 in the 60-meter semifinals. She finished fourth overall in the finals of the event. Later in the meet, she also qualified in the 200-meter with a time of 25.28, which earned her ninth.
 
Sands, who qualified in the first meet of the year, debuted in the long jump with a distance of 5.61 meters, which marked another NAIA "A" qualifying distance. She finished fourth in the event. In the triple jump, she reached a distance of 11.77 meters and was third overall.
 
"We had some solid performances this weekend. Everyone gave a great effort and nearly everyone improved upon their performances from last weekend," head coach Nyles Stuart stated.
 
The women's indoor track and field team will return to action this weekend, February 1 and 2, as they travel to Columbia, S.C. to compete in the South Carolina Challenge.
 
Women's Basketball
The women's basketball team fell at home on Saturday to No. 20 nationally ranked Lindsey Wilson 81-71 in Mid-South Conference action.
 
The Running Eagles had three players finish in double figures as Tierra Tullis led the way with 12 points, four steals and two assists. Shikiya Brown added 11 with three assists and a block as Maeisha Teasley picked up 10 points with six steals, five boards and an assist. 
 
Tierra Lindsey also added 10 rebounds with seven points as Naomi House added nine points with three steals. Life U never led in the game, however the Running Eagles held the Blue Raiders to a close game through all four quarters.
 
In the first, a deep three from Brown brought the game to within one, 22-21, however Lindsey Wilson finished the first ten-minute period ahead 26-21. Lindsey Wilson continued to hold the lead throughout the second quarter, but just before the half Life U recorded a short 4-0 run with a pair of steals to trail by six, 41-35 at the half. The Running Eagles were only outscored 40-36 in the second half, 18-17 in the third, and eventually fell to the Blue Raiders 81-71.
 
The women's basketball team will return to action on Thursday, January 31, when they host No. 10 nationally ranked Shawnee State University at home in Mid-South Conference play at 6 PM.
 
Men's Basketball
The men's basketball team hosted Lindsey Wilson after the women's game and fell 72-60 in the Mid-South Conference matchup. The Running Eagles were unable to overcome a struggling effort from the floor with their lowest offensive performance of the season.
 
Two Running Eagles finished in double figures as Deven Dorsett nearly had a double-double with 17 points and nine boards. Tory Ferguson added 12 with three steals and was 4-for-8 from the field. No other Life U player finished with more than six points.
 
Life U held a late 25-24 lead in the first half with 6:08 on the clock as White recorded the steal and fed Dorsett ahead for the layup. Lindsey Wilson finished the first half on an 11-3 run to lead by seven, 35-28 at the break.
 
The Blue Raiders held the lead the entire second half, however Life U cut the lead to three, 35-32, early in the half with a layup from Ashmeade. Leading 49-39, Lindsey Wilson exploded for a 10-2 run to lead by 18. The Blue Raiders finished the game ahead by double digits the rest of the way to earn the 72-60 win over the Running Eagles.
 
The men's basketball team will return to action on Thursday, January 31, when they host Shawnee State and continue MSC play at 8 PM.
 
Bowling
Both bowling teams were in action over the weekend in their final events of the regular season at the Cincinnati Classic. Both teams competed in very difficult lane conditions. All schools struggled, but the Running Eagles seemed to have problems with spare shooting.
 
This event was open to schools outside the conference, however counted towards Mid-South Conference seedings.
 
The men's team finished 15th out of 24 team while the women finished 14th out of 21.
 
Juwan Wallace was the top finisher on the men's side in 60th place out of 245 bowlers averaging 193 for the nine games.
 
Jasmine Nash was the women's top bowler finishing in 29th place out of 184 bowlers averaging 184 for the nine-game weekend.
 
The team will prepare itself for the Mid-South Conference Championships that will take place February 22^ndand 23^rdin Bowling Green, Ky.
 
Men's Wrestling
The No. 3 nationally ranked men's wrestling team also returned to action in the Cumberland Open over the weekend. The team tallied four second place finishes with a total of 11 Running Eagles placing at the open. Below are the results at each weight class:
 
125: 
Stephen Moreno 5-1 3rd
 
133:
Randy McCray Jr. 4-1 2nd
Dashaniel Porter 3-2 4th 
Ricky Moraques 0-2
Bryce Farmer 2-2
Ethan McDonald 2-2
 
 
141:
Adarius Pruitt 4-2 4th 
Marcus Abreu 4-1 3rd
Robby Earick 1-2 
 
149:
Colton Lampe 2-2
Broc Bailey 1-2
Ian Clark 2-2
 
165:
Phillip Mcbride 3-1 2nd
Mike Edouard 3-2 4th 
Kiesean Stephens 1-2
 
174:
Edwin Vergarra 0-2 
 
184:
Yakariel Judah 3-1 2nd
Jonathan De la Cruz 2-2 4th
 
197:
Austin Brown 5-1 3rd
Baker Hadwan 2-2
 
285:
Eric Conquest 4-1 2nd
 
The men's wrestling team will return to action on Saturday, February 2, when they travel to Williamsburg, Ky. to face No. 5 nationally ranked University of the Cumberlands at 7 PM in a dual that will decide the Mid-South Conference regular season champion.
 
Women's Wrestling
The No. 4 nationally ranked women's wrestling team also competed over the weekend in Lebanon, Ill. In the Bearcat Open. 
 
Tyesha Topps finished in sixth at 116 as Julia Vidallon won in the third-place match with a TF (11-1) at 130. Erica Sotelo fell in finals at 136 to capture second. Zoe Wight won a 7-2 decision at 143 in the third-place match.
 
The Running Eagles had two wrestlers place at 170 as Stephanie Pantoja came away with fourth and Taeler Green finished in sixth. 
 
The women's wrestling team will return to action on February 8 and 9 as they host the WCWA Nationals in Marietta, Ga. at the Cobb County Civic Center. Action will begin both days at 9 AM.