SAU Visits Virginia Union Monday, Jan. 8, In Third Straight Road Basketball Doubleheader

RALEIGH, N.C. (Jan. 7) – Saint Augustine's University concludes a three-game, five-day basketball road schedule Monday, Jan. 8, against Virginia Union University at Barco-Stevens Hall in Richmond, Va. The doubleheader starts with the women's game at 5:30 p.m. followed by the men's contest at 7:30 p.m.

Below are the live stat links. They are also on saintaugfalcons.com, the University's official athletic website, and vuusports.com.

Women - http://www.sidearmstats.com/vuu/wbball/

Men - http://www.sidearmstats.com/vuu/mbball/

The Falcons (4-1 CIAA, 7-9 overall) enter the men's game on a roll, having won five of their last six contests including a 60-53 road win over Lincoln (Pa.) University on Saturday, Jan. 6. They look to avenge a 58-56 non-conference defeat to Virginia Union earlier in the season in the VUU Thanksgiving Classic. This is a matchup between the CIAA Southern Division (Saint Augustine's) and Northern Division (Virginia Union) leaders.

Led by Quincy January (Sr./Atlanta, GA) and a bevy of shooting guards, the Falcons rank second in the conference in field goal percentage (46.9) and three-point field goal percentage (38.1). January, who averages 14.8 points and 12.2 rebounds, leads the CIAA in rebounds per game and field goal percentage (64.3).

Nationally, January ranks sixth in rebounds per game, 9^th in offensive rebounds per game (4.1), 10^th in total rebounds (144), 12^th in defensive rebounds per game (7.9), 20^th in field goal percentage and 14^th in double-doubles (7) including 10 points and 14 rebounds against Lincoln (Pa.) Saturday. He has 46 career double-doubles which ranks second among active Division II players.

Tyre Gathright (Jr./Wilmington, NC) averages a team-high 16.9 points on 47.5 percent shooting. Rashad George (R-Fr./Raleigh, NC) shoots 51.2 percent from the floor and 50 percent from the three-point line while Kasey Bryant (Sr./Raleigh, NC) makes 48.6 percent from three-point land and 82.1 percent from the charity stripe.

Kenneth Collins (Sr./Clayton, NC) has made 33 three-pointers and 85.7 percent of his free throw attempts. He is one of five Falcons who have made 10 or more three-pointers this season. On Saturday, Collins and Bryant combined to hit four free throws in the final 17 seconds to beat Lincoln (Pa.).

The Falcons will face one of the nation's toughest defenses Monday. The Panthers (4-0 CIAA, 9-7 overall) rank eighth in the nation in field goal percentage defense (39.3) and 18^th in three-point field goal percentage defense (30.6). They lead the CIAA and rank ninth in the nation in total rebounds.

Kory Cooley leads the Panthers in scoring with a 13-point average. James Paige averages 12.2 points and 5.9 rebounds. On Saturday, the Panthers routed Fayetteville State University 88-59.

The Lady Falcons (1-4 CIAA, 4-10 overall) are coming off a 72-61 loss to Lincoln (Pa.) on Saturday. NCAA Division II free throw leader Kaaliya Williams (So./Richmond, VA) leads the Lady Falcons with a 13.4 scoring average. She shoots 96.4 percent from the free throw line for the Lady Falcons, who lead the CIAA and rank 11^th in the nation in turnovers forced.

They face a formidable opponent in Virginia Union, ranked ninth nationally in the WBCA Division II Coaches Poll. Last year's national finalists, the Lady Panthers (5-0 CIAA, 13-1 overall) have won 13 straight games after losing their season opener. Rachel Pecota averages team-highs of 17.4 points and 9.6 rebounds for the Lady Panthers, who rank among the top 15 teams nationally in several categories including offensive rebounds per game, steals per game and scoring offense. The Lady Panthers beat Fayetteville State 85-65 at home on Saturday.

After Monday's doubleheader, the Falcons and Lady Falcons begin divisional play Saturday, Jan. 13, against Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem, N.C.

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