Running the show with authority  
Mike Boteilho Managing Editor  

When this season started for the Lady Mountaineers, many critics looked at the roster and asked, “Who could possibly fill the shoes of Beth Schoolfield?”  Enter 5-foot-9-inch senior co-captain guard Noel Dolan. 

Heading into Saturday’s action against UNC Greensboro, Dolan was second on the team in points per game, averaging 10.9, and first in team minutes averaging 28.6 per game. 

Noel is also in contention for the all-time career leader in three point field goals. After Saturday’s game against Greensboro, Dolan is currently in third place with 146 threes, two behind Karolina Karqvist (148) and 16 behind Beth Kilby (162). 

“I didn’t even know I was close to the record,” said Dolan. “I would love to be a name in the record books for other shooters to chase, but if I don’t get it, it won’t be any skin off my back.” 

While this three-year varsity member has been a winner in every aspect on the court for the Lady Mountaineers, the road she took to Boone wasn’t the easiest. 

Dolan comes to Boone from Gull Lake High School in Augusta, MI, where she averaged 12 ppg, 3 assists and 4 rebounds per game, earning MVP status in her senior year. 

“I didn’t even hear about Appalachian. They found and recruited me when I was in a tournament in Dallas, TX,” said Dolan, who was being sought after by schools such as Temple and Western Michigan. 

“I hadn’t ever heard of Appalachian, let alone how to pronounce it, but they sold me with the real sweet southern accent, and they were really nice people.” 

Basketball wasn’t the only thing that Dolan excelled in during high school, as she was a four-time all-conference softball selection at shortstop. 

“I was a softball player, and I probably could have gone to a bigger school in softball, but my heart was in basketball,” said Dolan. “You just have to follow what you want to do.” 

Her first year with the Lady Mountaineers, Dolan scored in double figures in five games, and was one of the two freshman on the team to score more than lOO points that season. 

“Freshman year I had to adjust from being the big fish in the small pond, and there were nice juniors and seniors to help me do that,” said Dolan. 

“I came in as a role player and got a few minutes here and there, but after that season, when some people graduated or quit, I was thrown into a starting position.” 

That year, Dolan led the team in assists, three point field goals, steals and blocked shots. 

Dolan ranked second in the conference in steals as a sophomore. 

“My sophomore year made me grow up really quick, and that helped a lot last year,” said Dolan. 

“I really enjoyed my sophomore year, because there was so few of us, and when we did win a game, it was an upset. It was fun going into a gym where a team thinks you are a nobody, and go and upset them.” 

While Noel continued leading the team in assists, three pointers and steals last year, she was also one of the key contributors in the Cinderella run through the conference tournament. 

“We were the underdogs last year going into the tournament, and it was a wonderful surprise to win the title,” said Dolan. 

“I thought we could do it the whole time.” 

Although the run ended the following week in Knoxville, TN during the NCAA tournament’s first round, Dolan will always member the feelings that she had during the game. 

“I hate that we didn’t put on a better performance, but to see 7,000 people get on their feet when their head coach comes walking out is awesome,” said Dolan. “You see these girls on TV and you think that they are good, but to get out there and try to guard them is a different story.” 

While this season the Lady Mountaineers are 6-6 in the Southern Conference, and 10-11 overall, Noel believes that a run like last year can happen again. 

“We are coming together more and more every game. Although UTC was a setback, we will come back stronger,” said Dolan. 

Whatever happens when this season comes to a close, Appalachian will lose one of the best guards and leaders ever to come to this school. 

After graduation, does Noel see herself entertaining offers from the WNBA, or any other professional leagues for women? 

“I don’t see myself continuing athletic-wise, but I would like to consider coaching,” said Dolan. 

“I have nothing set, though, except that I know that I am going to go home; but I don’t know if I am going to get a 9-to-5 job, or take a year off to travel, I am just not sure yet.” 

Whatever it is, Noel will surely excel the same way she did at Appalachian. 

And next year, the question on everyone’s mind will be, who will fill the shoes of Noel Dolan? 

Cougars ravage Mountaineers  

Jeff Garstka Contributing Writers  

Appalachian State got a little dose of reality and a taste of their own defensive medicine yesterday at Kresse Arena in Charleston, SC. 

College of Charleston had four players score double figures as they defeated the Mountaineers 69-64 in front of a home capacity crowd of 3,711. 

Appalachian (16-5, 9-1) came into the game as the number one offense in the Southern Conference and met its match against the Cougars, who boast the toughest defense in the conference. 

Charleston dominated the inside game and outrebounded the Mountaineers 44-34. 

Jody Lumpkin led the Cougars (17-4, 8-2) with 16 points, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots. It was Charleston’s defense, however, that provided the lift. 

Appalachian finished the first half with a 15-5 run and appeared to have the momentum going in to the second half. Despite Lumpkin’s 14 first half points and Appalachian’s 34 percent shooting, the Mountaineers somehow scrapped their way to a three point halftime lead. 

Appalachian stretched the lead to 47-41 with 13 minutes left in the game. The Cougars’ Leighton Bowie came out firing and gave Charleston the lead with just over eight minutes remaining. 

Once Charleston took the lead in the second half, their defense increased the pressure and frustrated the Mountaineer offense. 

Saturday’s game was much like the Charleston victory in last year’s Southern Conference Tournament Championship.  “Last year we really lost the same way,” said Tyson Patterson in the Winston-Salem Journal. 

Patterson led the Mountaineers with 17 points but was held to one assist, six below his season average. 

Cedrick Holmes contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. 

Appalachian had dreams of going undefeated in conference play this year, but Saturday’s loss might have given the Mountaineers the fire they needed to maintain their focus with the conference tournament just around the corner. 

“I told our kids to let this hurt a little bit…but not to let it have a snowball effect,” said Buzz Peterson in the Winston-Salem Journal. 

Despite the loss to Charleston, Appalachian still holds a three game lead over arch rival Davidson as they lost to The Citadel Saturday night 87-74. 

Appalachian returns to Varsity Gymnasium on Wednesday to face the UNC-Greensboro Spartans. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m, and can be heard live on 97.3 FM. 

Don't worry women will turn it around  

Mike Botelliho Managing Editor  

When the final buzzer sounded on Saturday afternoon, and UNC Greensboro celebrated their 500th victory, the Lady Mountaineers walked off the court depressed, yet mad. Mad because they let the Spartans claw back into the game with poor execution and turnovers. 

“When I look at the free throw totals and I see they went to the free throw line 25 times to our twice” said coach Barbie Breedlove. “It tells me that we have to be more aggressive, and look to penetrate more, and become the aggressors.” 

Although in defeat, the women are finding out more and more that the top teams in the Southern Conference are not any better than they are, but more importantly that they can beat the top teams in the league. 

“Sometimes we can’t seem to put two halves together” said Noel Dolan, “we are just trying to work to put together a whole game.” 

The Lady Apps are also finding out that their bench is a real reliable assets. 

Backup point guard Lauren Romano hit two big threes to keep the Lady Mountaineers close. 

More importantly played strong defense against ChoRhonda Gwaltney during the Appalachian second half run. 

“She is tough to guard, because she is a good penatrator” said Lauren Romano “but we just beat ourselves today.” 

ASU football recruits...cream of the crop  
Compiled from ASU SID  

Appalachian State head football coach Jerry Moore announced the signing of six high school student-athletes to national letters of intent for the 2000 football season last Wednesday. 

This group is the first part of the signees for the Mountaineers this spring. 

 Also, Appalachian announced the addition of one mid-year scholarship transfer who is already enrolled in classes at Appalachian and will be available for spring practice. 

“This might be the best class we’ve recruited since I’ve been at Appalachian,” Moore said. 

“We felt we filled some needs on defense and at wide receiver. I’m very pleased with the quality we’ve signed. 

These players are outstanding athletes, but, more importantly, they are outstanding individuals with good character.” 

In this first group of signees, Appalachian has added three defensive backs, two quarterbacks and an athlete who can play a number of different positions. Included in the group is Samad Razzak, brother of ASU’s starting tailback, Karim Razzak. 

 The transfer is Marco Bryant, who originally signed at North Carolina in 1998. 

Below are Coach Moore’s comments on the signees: 

•Rydell Cowan (5-11, 180, DB, Troutman, NC/South Iredell HS) “Rydell is an excellent athlete who can play a number of positions. We’ve recruited him as a defensive back. He’s a good cover man with good quickness.” 

•Sterling Hayward (6-0, 180, WR, Summerville, SC/Stratford HS) “Sterling is a versatile player who can play offense or defense, but we are going to use him at wide receiver. He’s a big, fast receiver who made some big plays on both sides of the ball this season.” 

•Jonathon Lyles (6-1, 180, DB, Camden, SC/Camden HS) “Jonathon may be the sleeper out of this group. He will probably play safety here. He is extremely aggressive and well-coached.” 

•Brian Moriarty (6-2, 200, QB, Bexley, OH/Bexley HS) “When we first saw Brian, we compared him to ASU quarterback coach Scott Satterfield. 

He’s a big quarterback with a strong arm. Also, we don’t get many from Ohio.” 

•Samad Razzak (5-11, 209, athlete, Winston-Salem, NC/Glenn HS) “The more I watched Samad, the more impressed I was. 

He’s very versatile and could fill in at a number of positions. But more importantly, we like his stock. 

We know he’s a hard worker. He’s a good person from a solid family.” 

•Andrew Stamey (6-3, 205, QB, Canton, NC/Erwin HS) “Andrew is a big, strong quarterback with a strong arm. 

He did a good job of getting his high school into the playoffs last season. He has always shown a genuine interest in attending Appalachian State.” 

•Marco Bryant (6-2, 190, DB, Morganton, NC/Freedom HS) “Marco came to us at the beginning of the semester. He originally signed at North Carolina and transferred to a community college and stayed on track, academically. He’s a versatile player who will play safety, but could also play linebacker.” 

For more information on signings in the Southern Conference, and schedules of teams, go to www.sonconsports.com  for all the details. 

Hangin' with Mr. (Corey) Cooper 

Brian Meadows Club Sports  

Home is where the heart is. For ASU center Corey Cooper, this adage has proven to be true. 

“I love it here,” said Cooper. 

“Being coached by a great coach like Coach (Buzz) Peterson, being close to home, so my family can come see me play and just being around the great group of guys I have in my teammates are wonderful opportunities for me,” said Cooper. 

The 6-foot-8-inch junior spent the last two years at the junior collegiate level before coming to Appalachian this year. Cooper has become the most recent junior college transfer in the ASU lineup, joining teammate transfers Cedrick Holmes and Rufus Leach. 

After his senior season at Hunt High School in Wilson, NC, where he averaged 15.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, Cooper was faced with a tough decision. 

“Every other player coming straight out of high school wants to go to Division I, but my grades weren’t good enough and I had to make the decision of whether to go to Division II or go to junior college,” said Cooper. 

“I felt like if I could go to junior college and be successful for two years, then I could go to any (Division I school) I wanted to,” said Cooper. 

And that is just what the ASU center did. 

During his first year of junior college, Cooper played at Southwest Missouri-West Plains Community College (CC). 

Then in 1998, he spent his sophomore season at Allen County CC. 

There he averaged 15.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game for the Red Devils, while shooting just under 60 percent from the field. Along with being named All-Kansas JC, his impressive statistics helped raise his stock in the recruiting market. 

Tennessee, UAB, Clemson, Hawaii, SE Missouri St., Iowa State and ASU were among the schools that clamored for Cooper, which proved to be his next big decision. 

 “It was kind of a tough situation because my junior college coach (at Allen Co. CC) really wanted me to go to SE Missouri State and he was telling everybody else I’d already signed,” said Cooper, who added that he had made no such commitment yet at that point. 

The indecision, however, was short-lived when Cooper replied to associate head coach Houston Fancher’s inquiry about him. 

Fancher told Cooper that he was glad the center had not signed anywhere yet, and encouraged Cooper to check out ASU, because he believed that he would enjoy being close to home. 

Cooper also said that it is great to be playing for App because it allows him to be close to his son in Winston-Salem, adding that it was disheartening being so far from him during his junior college days. 
Cooper, expected to be a starter in the post area for the Mountaineers, immediately took the role of center. 

“It’s been pretty big. I wanted to come in and get in shape, because Coach (Peterson) told me when I signed he was looking for a big guy to come in and start right away, and they wanted me to be that person,” said Cooper. He added that it felt great knowing that the coaching staff had that much confidence in him already. 

“It was tough at first, but the more games that went on, I felt like I was learning the system. Right now, I feel like  I’m coming along pretty well,” said the man who is referred to as “Coop” by his teammates, a name that he picked up from his 14-and-under AAU coach. 

In his first year in a Mountaineer uniform, Cooper is establishing himself as an inside force. He is averaging about 24 minutes a game, with averages of eight points and 5.4 rebounds. He is also one of only six Mountaineers shooting 50 percent or better from the field. 

A large part of Cooper’s ability to score is the touch on his shot. 

“At a young age, I tried to shoot a lot of baskets, which helped me develop that soft touch,” said Cooper, adding that he still gets in the gym before and after practice to get a few jump shots in and preserve his touch. 

Cooper, who said he strives on his defensive abilities and being able to play against the bigger guys, said he also desires to help ASU more on the offensive end as the year progresses. 
 
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