To say Tuesday was a good night for Western Maryland College basketball would be something of an understatement.
The Green Terror women knocked off Dickinson -- the defending Centennial Conference champions and a team that was ranked 11th in Division III in one preseason publication -- and the men traveled to Carlisle, Pa., to beat their Red Devil counterparts.
The women improved to 5-1 overall and stand atop the CC's West Division at 3-0 after their 71-64 win at the Gill Center. The win snapped a four-game losing streak against Dickinson (3-2 overall and 2-1 in the conference).
The Western Maryland men (3-3, 2-2 in the CC) got a balanced effort, as all five starters reached double figures in their 81-73 win at Dickinson. Sophomore forward Daveiid St. Rose hit for 20 to lead the way. It was the third straight game he has scored 20 or more points.
The women's win was the bigger surprise and shakes up the West Division a bit going into the winter break.
The CC coaches picked Dickinson to win the West Division going into the season, while they had the Green Terror finishing last.
A very young Green Terror team -- featuring five sophomores, four freshmen and just one senior -- may have the conference coaches thinking twice.
Freshman forward Katie Haley is averaging 16 points a game to lead the Green Terror and she's still getting acclimated to the college game. Sophomore Sandi DeJager (14.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game) and senior Denise Spangler points, 11.2 rebounds) provide leadership as co-captains and do a little of everything else.
DeJager scored 20 points and Spangler added 12 more to go with 14 rebounds in the win over Dickinson.
Haley had 13 points and nine rebounds, and sophomore Erin Murphey (Francis Scott Key) contributed 12 points and four assists to help offset the 33-point, 15-rebound effort Dickinson got from junior forward Annie Guzek.
The Green Terror will close out the 1994 portion of its schedule tonight at York.
St. Rose has been the story for the men. The big question was who would replace graduated forward Rolando Welch -- a first-team All-CC pick. St. Rose has been the surprising answer.
At 6 feet 3, St. Rose is averaging 17 points and 6.3 rebounds. The most impressive stat is his shooting percentage from the field, nearly 65 percent.
The Green Terror will be at home tonight against St. Mary's with its first-year coach, Bob Flynn, returning to the county he called home for a long time.
Flynn was the head boys basketball coach at North Carroll High before becoming an assistant at Mount St. Mary's under coach Jim Phelan.
The Green Terror will visit Gallaudet on Saturday in its last game before the break.
Wrestling
The John Lowe era got off to a solid start as the Green Terror won two out of three matches on Saturday to open its dual-meet season. The Green Terror beat Albright and Rutgers-Camden and lost to host Swarthmore. Freshmen Steve Smiddy (134 pounds) and Paul Scott (142) each posted three wins, along with junior Joe Fleming at 190.
Lowe, a 1987 Washington & Lee grad, took over the program from Paul Johnson.
Swimming
The swim team had its share of success against Dickinson over the weekend. The Green Terror men (2-2) defeated Dickinson for the first time in 23 tries, a 59-36 decision, and the Western Maryland women (4-1) defeated Dickinson for the first time since the 1980-81 season, 55-40.