Tuesday’s roundup: Abbey women’s basketball nationally-ranked, Forestview wins cross country meet, Forestview and Piedmont Charter take volleyball matches
By Richard Walker
Belmont Abbey College’s women’s basketball team enters the 2020-21 season ranked No. 23 in the D2SIDA preseason poll, the committee announced on Tuesday.
Coach Jason Williams’ Lady Crusaders return 12 players from a team that went 27-3 last season and was ranked as high as No. 10 nationally.
Belmont Abbey, which also is ranked No. 3 in the Southeast region, opens it season on Friday at 6 p.m. at UNC-Greensboro.
College women’s basketball
Auburn 97, Gardner-Webb 61: The Tigers 14 straight points in the middle of the first quarter and roared to the home win to improve their record to 3-0.
Gardner-Webb (0-2) was led by Ki’Ari Cain (13 points), freshman Emma Capps (12) and freshman Alasia Smith (10). The Bulldogs played again on Friday at 5 p.m. at Richmond.
High school boys basketball
Providence Day 59, Gaston Day 55: The visiting Spartans dropped their first game of the season in overtime on the road at perennial power Providence Day. Gaston Day (4-1) hosts Metrolina Christian Academy next Tuesday in its next game.
High school cross country
Big South 3A boys: Forestview’s Oussama Ajada (16:24) was the top men’s runner on its home course and led the Jaguars to 28 team points and a victory over Kings Mountain (44) and Stuart Cramer (58). Kings Mountain’s Parker Key finished fifth with a time of 19:14.
Big South 3A girls: Forestview’s Emma Hughlett (21:58) was the top women’s runner on its home course and led the the Jaguars to 24 team points a victory over Kings Mountain (31) and Stuart Cramer (no team score). Kings Mountain’s Thalia Kushman finished second in 23:44.
Forestview 3, Hunter Huss 0 (25-10, 25-11, 25-9): Anna Townsend (8 kills, 2 aces), Lily Harmon (6 kills, 3 aces, 14 assists), Emma Davis (5 kills, 2 aces), Kya Edwards (8 digs) and Jessie Curtis (8 digs) led Forestview (3-1), which hosts Kings Mountain on Thursday.
Crest 3, North Gaston 0: The Chargers improved to 5-0 entering Wednesday’s home non-conference game against Shelby.
R-S Central 3, South Point 1: The Hilltoppers (4-0) downed visiting South Point to remain atop the Southwestern 2A Conference standings.
Piedmont Charter 3, Cherryville 0 (25-21, 25-14, 25-14): The top performer for Cherryville (1-4) was Rileigh Kiser (3 aces, 7 assists, 6 digs).
Highland Tech 3, Thomas Jefferson 0: The Rams (5-0) beat visiting Thomas Jefferson and remain atop the Southern Piedmont 1A Conference standings.