BASKETBALL
SEC acknowledges UA’s Brooks
Arkansas sophomore guard Kelsey Brooks on Monday was named SEC player of the week for the second time this season.
Brooks, averaging 16.8 points on the season, helped the Razorbacks (8-2) win two road games last week when she scored 19 points at Missouri State and 17 at Tulsa. She had seven rebounds at Tulsa and three steals in each game.
Arkansas plays Oklahoma at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Verizon Arena as part of the SEC-Big 12 Challenge. Texas A&M and Texas play at 12:30 p.m.
Harding’s Saunders gets weekly honor
Harding senior forward Arielle Saunders of Valley Springs has been named the Great American Conference women’s player of the week. Saunders became the 14th Harding player to surpass 1,000 points in her career as she scored 23 points in a 66-48 home victory against Henderson State.
Philander Smith edges SAU women
Philander Smith (9-1) overcame 25-percent shooting to beat Southern Arkansas 61-58 Monday afternoon in Little Rock.
The Lady Muleriders (4-6) made 23 of 63 from the field, but were 1 of 14 on three-point attempts. Philander Smith made 4 of its 14 three-point attempts. Philander Smith outscored SAU 25-11 at the free-throw line. SAU was 11 of 21 while Philander Smith was 25 of 34. SAU outrebounded Philander Smith 53-41. Barvion Wyatt led SAU with a season-high 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting while Rosa Bryant scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
UALR basketball radio show to begin
The Shields/Foley Radio Show will debut at 7 p.m. on Jan. 6 from Dugan’s Pub in Little Rock and will be broadcast on KARN-AM, 920.
The show, featuring UALR men’s coach Steve Shields and women’s coach Joe Foley and hosted by Ray Tucker, will typically air on Monday night from 7-8 p.m. Fans can listen online at sportsanimal920.com.
The Steve Shields Television Show will air on ME-TV and will debut at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 6.
SOCCER
Ozarks names women’s coach
Natalie Dreyer is the new head women’s soccer coach at the University of the Ozarks, Athletics Director Jimmy Clark said Monday. Dreyer has spent the past five years as the assistant women’s coach at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Mo., helping the program to a 46-33-12 record during that span.
TRACK AND FIELD
ASU’s Nelvis up for elite honor
Former Arkansas State NCAA champion Sharika Nelvis is one of three finalists for the Bowerman Trophy, which will be handed out Wednesday night in Phoenix, Ariz. Nelvis, Laura Roesler of Oregon and Courtney Okolo of Texas are up for the award.
Nelvis, the 2014 NCAA Outdoor 100-meter hurdles champion and the indoor national 60-meter hurdles champion, is the first Sun Belt athlete to be a finalist. The Bowerman Trophy is named for noted Oregon track and field and cross country Coach Bill Bowerman and is presented to the most outstanding male and female track and field athletes.
FOOTBALL
Reddies Rodgers, Davis make all-star rosters
Henderson State quarterback Kevin Rodgers has been selected to play in the Medal of Honor Bowl on Jan. 10, and wide receiver Darius Davis will participate in the Conquistador Bowl on Jan. 31.
The Medal of Honor Bowl takes place at 1:30 p.m. Central at Johnson Hagood Stadium on the campus of The Citadel in Charleston, S.C. The Medal of Honor Bowl, which will be televised live by the NBC Sports Network, features some of the nation’s top draft-eligible college football players.
Rodgers, the state’s all-time leading college passer, threw for 13,678 yards, which ranks fifth all-time in NCAA Division II.
Davis will travel to Cancun, Mexico to participate in the Conquistador Bowl, another showcase of draft-eligible athletes. Davis was led the Great American Conference with 18 touchdowns, 1,261 yards receiving for an average of 114.6 yards per game.