State briefs

Richardson pegged as Travelers skipper

The Los Angeles Angels announced its minor league coaching staffs for the 2015 season Tuesday, and it includes another new manager for the Arkansas Travelers.

Bill Richardson will take over the Travs next season after spending last season as manager of the Class A Burlington Bees.

He replaces Phillip Wellman, who led the Travs to the second-half Texas League North Division title in his one season as manager. Richardson will be the Travs' sixth manager in as many years, following Wellman, Tim Bogar (2013), Mike Micucci (2012), Bill Mosiello (2011) and Bobby Magallanes, whose final year was in 2010.

Richardson, 54, led the Bees to a 68-71 record and an appearance in the Midwest League playoffs for the Class A affiliate of the Angels last season. He joined the Angels organization in 2013 as manager at rookie-level Orem, which followed five seasons in the Texas Rangers organization.

Pitching coach Pat Rice and hitting coach Tom Tornincasa will return to Arkansas for their second seasons.

BASKETBALL

Gault player of the week

UALR senior guard Taylor Gault was named Tuesday as the Sun Belt Conference's player of the week.

Gault scored 10 points in the final six minutes to help UALR hold off Oklahoma for a 66-62 victory Sunday in Little Rock. She finished the game with 16 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block and 1 steal.

She is the third UALR player to be honored this year, joining guard Ka'Nesheia Cobbins (Nov. 18) and forward Kaitlyn Pratt (Dec. 2).

UAM men lose exhibition to Nicholls State

Nicholls State defeated Arkansas-Monticello 81-75 in an exhibition game Tuesday at Thibodeaux, La.

UAM (3-4), a member of the NCAA Division II Great American Conference, led Nicholls State (2-5), a member of the Division I Southland Conference, 40-39. But Nicholls State took a 48-41 lead early in the second half and never trailed in the final 20 minutes.

Richard Benedyth led the Boll Weevils with 18 points. Cameron Blue and Sharif Hudson followed with 16 and 15 points, respectively.

Amin Torres had a game-high 26 points for Nicholls State.

Arkansas Tech women remain in top 25

The Arkansas Tech women are ranked No. 17 in the Division II D2SIDA media poll and No. 20 in the WBCA coaches' poll.

The Golden Suns (8-1, 3-0 Great American Conference) beat Southern Arkansas 87-81 and lost to Benedict 67-60 last week. They will play Southwestern Oklahoma at 5:30 today.

Philander Smith's Baynard honored

Philander Smith College forward Aquill Bynard was named Tuesday as the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men's player of the week.

Baynard, a 6-9 senior from Houston, had 22 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocked shots Saturday in the Panthers' 96-73 victory over John Brown.

Philander Smith (8-2) hosts Campbellsville University on Thursday.

GOLF

Landry earns Web.com status for 2015

Former Arkansas golfer Andrew Landry shot a 3-under 68 to finish second Tuesday in the final stage of the Web.com Tour qualifying school at PGA National Champion Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Landry finished the six-day event at 20-under par and was the only player in the field of 150 players to shoot in the 60s each of the final five rounds (71-67-67-69-67-68). His scorecard included a tournament-best four eagles and a double-bogey. Landry is exempt through the first three Web.com Tour re-rankings in 2015 based on early season performance. He will join former Razorback standout Sebastian Cappelen on the Web.com Tour in 2015. Cappelen finished 26th on the Web.com Tour money list last year and is fully exempt in 2015 after winning the Air Capital Classic.

Sports on 12/17/2014

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