MEN’S BASKETBALL: Carson-Newman’s Bush earns TSWA Player of the Week honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman’s EJ Bush was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, averaging 16.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in earning tournament MVP honors for the Eagles.
The Oak Ridge, Tenn., native netted 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting with four boards, two assists and four steals versus Wingate University in the quarterfinals of the South Atlantic Conference Tournament. The senior followed that with 23 points (11-of-18 field goals), five rebounds and three assists at Tusculum University.
Bush collected 15 points and four boards in the championship game at Queens University, earning MVP honors and helping Carson-Newman win its first SAC Tournament title since 2015. The Eagles extended their winning streak to 11 games and ended a 13-game losing stretch to Queens as well.
Bush averages 12.9 points and 5.0 rebounds in 21 games this season for the Eagles.
2020-21 TSWA MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
December 9 – Tavon King, Cumberland University
December 15 – Luke Smith, Belmont
December 22 – Devin Whitfield, Lincoln Memorial
January 5 – Ben Sheppard, Belmont
January 12 – Kavon Blankenship, Bryan College
January 19 – Ren Dyer, Carson-Newman
January 26 – Tripp Davis, Carson-Newman
February 2 – Kevin Chong, Maryville College
February 9 – Luke Brenegan, Carson-Newman
February 16 – Hunter Vick, Union University
February 23 – Tripp Davis, Carson-Newman
March 2 – Trenton Gibson, Tusculum University
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Tusculum’s Sutton garners TSWA Player of the Week accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tusculum University’s Maddie Sutton was voted the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, recording 23.0 points, 13.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists in three games to earn tournament MVP honors for the Pioneers.
The Walland, Tenn., native collected 20 points and 18 boards against Newberry College, making all 12 attempts at the foul line in the quarterfinals of the South Atlantic Conference Tournament. She registered 22 points, 10 caroms and five assists versus Catawba College, hitting 8-of-15 shots overall with a pair of 3-pointers.
In the championship game Sutton posted 27 points, 11 rebounds and three assists against Lincoln Memorial, connecting on 9-of-17 field goals and 8-for-9 at the foul line. It marked the second straight conference tournament title for the Pioneers.
Sutton averages 17.3 points, 15.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 21 outings this year for Tusculum.
2020-21 TSWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
December 9 – Allissa Mulaski, Bryan College
December 15 – Anastasia Hayes, Middle Tennessee
December 22 – Eboni Williams, Chattanooga
January 5 – Anastasia Hayes, Middle Tennessee
January 5 – Chelsey Perry, UT Martin
January 19 – Chelsey Perry, UT Martin
January 26 – Lindsay Taylor, Carson-Newman
February 2 – Anastasia Hayes, Middle Tennessee
February 9 – Braelyn Wykle, Carson-Newman
February 16 – Maddie Sutton, Tusculum University
February 23 – Maddie Sutton, Tusculum University
March 2 – Destinee Wells, Belmont
BASEBALL: Tusculum’s Furr, Tennessee’s Pleasants named TSWA Players of the Week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tusculum University’s Fuzzy Furr and Tennessee’s Elijah Pleasants earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively, for games from March 1-7.
Furr belted three home runs with nine RBIs and five runs scored in his only two outings of the week. He did not play the final two contests of the week because of injury.
The Marietta, Ga., native was 2-for-4 with a double, a two-run homer, two runs scored and four RBIs in the first game of a doubleheader against Mars Hill University. The senior collected a pair of hits with three runs scored in the second contest versus the Lions, including two-run and three-run homers.
Furr is batting .400 (6-for-15) with three doubles, three home runs, 10 RBIs and nine runs scored in six games this season for the Pioneers.
Pleasants tossed 8.1 shutout innings over two relief appearances against Austin Peay and Georgia State, picking up the win in both games, allowing just four hits with no walks and nine strikeouts.
The Clarksville, Tenn., native worked the final six innings at APSU for the win, giving up three hits with a career-best six strikeouts. The junior right-hander retired the side in order just once, working around a pair of errors and a hit better. The Vols scored five times in the fifth inning to erase an early deficit in the 5-3 victory.
Pleasants pitched 2.1 shutout frames against Georgia State, allowing one hit with three strikeouts. He got the final out of the fourth and gave up a single in the fifth and hit a batter in the sixth. He improved to 2-1 in 15.1 innings over four appearances this season, giving up two walks with 11 strikeouts.
2021 TSWA BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 23 – Andrew Keene, Lincoln Memorial (Player); Gunner Becker, Tusculum University (Pitcher)
March 2 – Dominic Keegan, Vanderbilt (Player); Joshua South, Belmont (Pitcher)
SOFTBALL: King’s Turner, Trevecca’s Hall garner TSWA Player of the Week honors
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – King University’s Carly Turner and Trevecca University’s Raygn Hall earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week accolades, respectively, for games from March 1-7.
Turner batted .727 (8-for-11) with five doubles, 10 RBIs and five runs scored in four games for the Tornado.
The Springfield, Ohio, native posted two hits with a two-run homer, a walk and a run scored in the first of two games versus Lees-McRae. She was 1-for-3 with a run in the second contest of the doubleheader.
The junior doubled, drove in two runs and scored another in the first outing of a twinbill against West Virginia State. In the second contest Turner was 4-for-4 with two RBI doubles and a pair of two-run doubles as well, driving in six and scoring twice in the sweep.
She is batting .552 (16-for-29) with six doubles, three homers, 14 RBIs and eight runs scored in 10 games for King this season.
Hall collected three victories and tossed a pair of shutouts over three appearances for Trevecca, giving up just two earned runs with 13 strikeouts in 18.2 innings.
The Kingston, Tenn., native worked six shutout frames against Union University, allowing five hits with two walks and three strikeouts. The senior righthander then worked five scoreless innings versus Purdue Northwest, giving up four hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
Hall ended the week scattering 10 hits in 7.2 innings against Grand Valley State, allowing two earned runs with two walks and five strikeouts in a 4-3, eight-inning victory for TNU. She is 4-4 in eight appearances covering 38.0 innings this season, striking out 28.
2021 TSWA SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 23 – Katie Eakes, Carson-Newman (Player); Nikole Counts, King University (Pitcher)