Men's Basketball 1/11/2021 12:30:00 PM

This week in Lees-McRae Athletics: Jan. 11-17

BANNER ELK, N.C. - Lees-McRae opens up the 2021 calendar with a trio of Conference Carolinas basketball doubleheaders starting on Wednesday as the women's basketball team hosts Southern Wesleyan at 5:00 p.m., while the men's basketball team battles Erskine at 7:30 p.m. The Bobcats then hosts Mount Olive in a pair of basketball doubleheaders on both Friday and Saturday, starting at 5:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. respectively.

The Lees-McRae men's volleyball team open their regular season on Saturday, Jan. 16 with a non-conference contest in Harrogate, Tenn. against Lincoln Memorial starting at 2:00 p.m.

Click on the links below for live coverage of the Lees-McRae Bobcats:

WATCH LIVE | LIVE STATS

Lees-McRae: 0-0 (0-0 Conference Carolinas)
Southern Wesleyan: 0-0 (0-0 Conference Carolinas)
Players to Watch:
Destiny Johnson (Lees-McRae): 12.8 points/game, 4.6 rebounds/game (2019-20 season stats)
Makayla Smith (Lees-McRae): 7.7 points/game, 2.3 assists/game (2019-20 season stats)
Brooke Hendricks (Southern Wesleyan): 7.3 points/game, 2.7 rebounds/game (2019-20 season stats)
Caroline Reese (Southern Wesleyan): 3.7 points/game, 1.0 rebounds/game (2019-20 season stats)

The Series:
Lees-McRae holds an 8-4 advantage over the Warriors since the start of the 2005, winning five of the previous seven meetings.
The Bobcats claimed a 77-53 win in the most recent meeting on Feb. 12, 2020, behind a combined 39 points from Johnson and Jala Holloman.

Previewing the 2020-21 season:
Lees-McRae returns six of its top seven scorers of last year's squad, including Johnson who was named to the All-Conference Carolinas Third Team after reaching double figures in 21 games last season.
Davinique Campbell and Aurora Roberts are both poised for a breakout year in 2021 after being recognized as Preseason Players to Watch, alongside Johnson, on Dec. 8.
The Bobcats host eight games in Banner Elk this season, including conference contests against Mount Olive, Erskine, North Greenville, Emmanuel, King and Belmont Abbey. Click HERE to see the full schedule

Previewing the Warriors:
Southern Wesleyan returns only two of its seven top scorers from last season's squad, who finished 4-24 overall and 2-12 away on the road.
Hendricks, Reese and Lonesha Lee were all recognized as Preseason Players to Watch by the Conference Carolinas on Dec. 8.
Lees-McRae: 0-0 (0-0 Conference Carolinas)
Erskine: 0-0 (0-0 Conference Carolinas)
Players to Watch:
Quay Kimble (Lees-McRae): 16.3 points/game, 3.6 assists/game (2019-20 season stats)
Andrew Gardner (Lees-McRae): 11.5 points/game, 5.4 rebounds/game (2019-20 season stats)
Emandi Brooks (Erskine): 13.4 points/game, 3.6 rebounds/game (2019-20 season stats)
Rod Culver (Erskine): 7.5 points/game, 2.7 rebounds/game (2019-20 season stats)

The Series:
Lees-McRae is 15-16 all-time against the Flying Fleet, including seven of the previous eight meetings.
The Bobcats claimed the most recent meeting with a 93-84 victory in the Williams Gymnasium on Jan. 24, 2020. Kimble, Gardner and Anthony Hicks all scored in double figures in the conference win.

Previewing the 2020-21 season:
Lees-McRae returns three of its top six scorers of last year's squad, including Kimble who led the Bobcats in multiple statistical categories en route to earning All-Conference Carolinas Second Team honors.
Anthony Hicks, who shot over 60% from the floor and 50% from distance last season, joins Kimble as Preseason Players to Watch and players poised to have a breakout 2021 season.
The Bobcats host eight games in Banner Elk this season, including conference contests against Mount Olive, Erskine, North Greenville, Emmanuel, King and Blemont Abbey. Click HERE to see the full schedule

Previewing the Flying Fleet:
Erskine finished 8-19 overall (4-16 Conference Carolinas) last season, including a 2-10 record away from Due West, South Carolina.
The Flying Fleet were picked 10th in the Preseason Poll on Dec. 8, Caleb Shackleford, Uzziah Dawkins and Travis Walters were all recognized as Preseason Players to Watch.
Lees-McRae: 0-0 (0-0 Conference Carolinas)
Mount Olive: 0-0 (0-0 Conference Carolinas)
All notes, stats and standing written prior to Wednesday's game at Southern Wesleyan
Players to Watch:
Destiny Johnson (Lees-McRae): 12.8 points/game, 4.6 rebounds/game (2019-20 season stats)
Makayla Smith (Lees-McRae): 7.7 points/game, 2.3 assists/game (2019-20 season stats)
Azariah Fields (Mount Olive): 11.7 points/game, 2.8 assists/game (2019-20 season stats)
Ivanda Hudjakova (Mount Olive): 9.7 points/game, 5.0 rebounds/game (2019-20 season stats)

The Series:
Lees-McRae is 4-15 all-time against the Trojans, losing five of the previous six meetings.
The Bobcats last win over Mount Olive came on Jan. 26, 2018 when they outscored the Trojans, 25-17, in the fourth quarter to claim an 81-63 home victory.

Previewing the 2020-21 season:
Lees-McRae returns six of its top seven scorers of last year's squad, including Johnson who was named to the All-Conference Carolinas Third Team after reaching double figures in 21 games last season.
Davinique Campbell and Aurora Roberts are both poised for a breakout year in 2021 after being recognized as Preseason Players to Watch, alongside Johnson, on Dec. 8.
The Bobcats host eight games in Banner Elk this season, including conference contests against Mount Olive, Erskine, North Greenville, Emmanuel, King and Belmont Abbey. Click HERE to see the full schedule

Previewing the Trojans:
Mount Olive returns three of its top six scorers off a team that finished 18-9 overall and earned a spot in the Conference Carolinas tournament.
Fields, Hudjakova and Cotten were all recognized as being Conference Carolinas Preseason Players to Watch.
Lees-McRae: 0-0 (0-0 Conference Carolinas)
Mount Olive: 0-0 (0-0 Conference Carolinas)
All notes, stats and standing written prior to Wednesday's game at Southern Wesleyan
Players to Watch:
Quay Kimble (Lees-McRae): 16.3 points/game, 3.6 assists/game (2019-20 season stats)
Andrew Gardner (Lees-McRae): 11.5 points/game, 5.4 rebounds/game (2019-20 season stats)
Johnny Hughes III (Mount Olive): 12.4 points/game, 1.3 rebounds/game (2019-20 seasons stats)
Darius Spragley (Mount Olive): 13.0 points/game, 1.3 assists/game (2019-20 season stats)

The Series:
The Bobcats are 8-23 all-time against Mount Olive, but have won four of the previous eight meetings.
Lees-McRae's last win in the series came on Jan. 19, 2019, when Kimble, Morgan and Hicks combined for 46 points to lead the Bobcats to the road victory.

Previewing the 2020-21 season:
Lees-McRae returns three of its top six scorers of last year's squad, including Kimble who led the Bobcats in multiple statistical categories en route to earning All-Conference Carolinas Second Team honors.
Anthony Hicks, who shot over 60% from the floor and 50% from distance last season, joins Kimble as Preseason Players to Watch and players poised to have a breakout 2021 season.
The Bobcats host eight games in Banner Elk this season, including conference contests against Mount Olive, Erskine, North Greenville, Emmanuel, King and Belmont Abbey. Click HERE to see the full schedule

Previewing the Trojans:
Mount Olive returns three of their top six scorers from last year, including Spragley who garnered All-Conference Carolinas honors last season.
Spragley, Hughes III and Matthias Caver were all selected as Preseason Players to Watch by the conference on Dec. 8.
Lees-McRae: 0-0 (0-0 Conference Carolinas)
Mount Olive: 0-0 (0-0 Conference Carolinas)
All notes, stats and standing written prior to Wednesday's game at Southern Wesleyan
Players to Watch:
Destiny Johnson (Lees-McRae): 12.8 points/game, 4.6 rebounds/game (2019-20 season stats)
Makayla Smith (Lees-McRae): 7.7 points/game, 2.3 assists/game (2019-20 season stats)
Azariah Fields (Mount Olive) - 11.7 points/game, 2.8 assists/game (2019-20 season stats)
Ivanda Hudjakova (Mount Olive) - 9.7 points/game, 5.0 rebounds/game (2019-20 season stats)

The Series:
Lees-McRae is 4-15 all-time against the Trojans, losing five of the previous six meetings.
The Bobcats last win over Mount Olive came on Jan. 26, 2018 when they outscored the Trojans, 25-17, in the fourth quarter to claim an 81-63 home victory.

Previewing the 2020-21 season:
Lees-McRae returns six of its top seven scorers of last year's squad, including Johnson who was named to the All-Conference Carolinas Third Team after reaching double figures in 21 games last season.
Davinique Campbell and Aurora Roberts are both poised for a breakout year in 2021 after being recognized as Preseason Players to Watch, alongside Johnson, on Dec. 8.
The Bobcats host eight games in Banner Elk this season, including conference contests against Mount Olive, Erskine, North Greenville, Emmanuel, King and Blemont Abbey. Click HERE to see the full schedule

Previewing the Trojans:
Mount Olive returns three of its top six scorers off a team that finished 18-9 overall and earned a spot in the Conference Carolinas tournament.
Fields, Hudjakova and Cotten were all recognized as being Conference Carolinas Preseason Players to Watch.
Lees-McRae: 0-0 (0-0 Conference Carolinas)
Lincoln Memorial: 0-0 (0-0 Conference Carolinas)
Players to Watch:
Michael Marsans (Lees-McRae): 67 kills, nine serving aces (2019-20 season stats)
Bradley Peters (Lees-McRae): 367 set assists, 27 serving aces (2019-20 season stats)
Johansen Negron (LMU): 117 kills, 25 set assists and 23 serving aces (2019-20 seasons stats)
AJ Risavy (LMU): 457 set assists, 18 total blocks (2019-20 season stats)

The Series:
Lees-McRae is 1-4 all-time against the Railsplitters, falling to LMU in each of the three previous meetings in Harrogate, Tennessee.
The Bobcats lone win came on Jan. 13, 2017 with a straight-sets sweep in Banner Elk.

Previewing the 2020-21 season:
Lees-McRae returns nine members of its 2020 team, including Peters, Steven Nalls and Ethan Gardner who were all recognized at Preseason Players to Watch.
The Bobcats were 3-12 before seeing their 2020 campaign cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including winning three of their final six contests
Lees-McRae returns to the Williams Gymnasium on Jan. 30 for a non-conference contest against Bluefield College, to kick-off a three-game homestand that includes conference contests against King and North Greenville. Click HERE to view the full schedule.

Previewing the Railspitters:
Lincoln Memorial was 14-4 before the pandemic started, including wins over Conference Carolinas rivals Mount Olive, Belmont Abbey (twice), King and Emmanuel (twice).
For more information on the Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters, click HERE.
Lees-McRae: 0-0 (0-0 Conference Carolinas)
Mount Olive: 0-0 (0-0 Conference Carolinas)
All notes, stats and standing written prior to Wednesday's game at Southern Wesleyan
Players to Watch:
Quay Kimble (Lees-McRae): 16.3 points/game, 3.6 assists/game (2019-20 season stats)
Andrew Gardner (Lees-McRae): 11.5 points/game, 5.4 rebounds/game (2019-20 season stats)
Johnny Hughes III (Mount Olive): 12.4 points/game, 1.3 rebounds/game (2019-20 seasons stats)
Darius Spragley (Mount Olive): 13.0 points/game, 1.3 assists/game (2019-20 season stats)

The Series:
The Bobcats are 8-23 all-time against Mount Olive, but have won four of the previous eight meetings.
Lees-McRae's last win in the series came on Jan. 19, 2019, when Kimble, Morgan and Hicks combined for 46 points to lead the Bobcats to the road victory.

Previewing the 2020-21 season:
Lees-McRae returns three of its top six scorers of last year's squad, including Kimble who led the Bobcats in multiple statistical categories en route to earning All-Conference Carolinas Second Team honors.
Anthony Hicks, who shot over 60% from the floor and 50% from distance last season, joins Kimble as Preseason Players to Watch and players poised to have a breakout 2021 season.
The Bobcats host eight games in Banner Elk this season, including conference contests against Mount Olive, Erskine, North Greenville, Emmanuel, King and Belmont Abbey. Click HERE to see the full schedule

Previewing the Trojans:
Mount Olive returns three of their top six scorers from last year, including Spragley who garnered All-Conference Carolinas honors last season.
Spragley, Hughes III and Matthias Caver were all selected as Preseason Players to Watch by the conference on Dec. 8.

Lees-McRae College

This week in Lees-McRae Athletics: Jan. 11-17

Here is the full breakdown of this week's schedule:

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