Minor Makes Major Impact at Virginia School

There were some loud cheers coming from fans at The Smith Center at George Washington University. But the fans were not screaming for the Colonials, who hosted Old Dominion University in a recent non-league women's basketball contest.

The cheers were for Tiffany Minor, who is from Upper Marlboro and is now a freshman for Division I ODU of the Colonial Athletic Association.

"It was very exciting. I felt very supported, even from people I didn't know," Minor said after the game, in which she scored seven points.

Minor, who played at The Maret School in Northwest Washington, said she had about 30 family and friends at the game at Foggy Bottom.

"I felt energy," said Minor, who made two three-point shots that drew cheers from fans behind the ODU bench.

The Monarchs, however, gave up a big second half lead and lost 58-52 in overtime Nov. 29 to GW and Brooke Wilson, who played at Eleanor Roosevelt High in Greenbelt.

Minor is one of three freshmen seeing a lot of action for ODU, which appeared in the NCAA title game in 1997 and won 17 CAA titles under former head coach Wendy Larry.

Under first-year head coach Karen Barefoot, a former assistant at the school, Minor is an outside threat who can also rebound.

"It has been a learning experience," she said of her freshman season. "I am taking it as a challenge. I just work hard in practice."

Minor was recruited by several Division I schools, including CAA rival James Madison, along with Temple and Clemson. But she ended up at ODU. "I like the family feeling. It is not too far from home and not too close," she said.

She has impressed associate head coach Amaka Agugua, who played at Oakton High in Northern Virginia and in the CAA with Hofstra.

"Tiffany is going to be a really integral part of what we do," Agugua said. "She has a great shot from the outside. She just has to get confidence. By the time she gets confidence she will be rolling."

Minor had two points, one assist and one steal in an 85-69 loss on Sunday at George Mason in Fairfax, VA. ODU is now 1-8 and Minor is averaging 15 minutes and 3.4 points per game.

Allen, Mason beat Towson

George Mason point guard Bryon Allen had 10 points and three assists as the Patriots won, 65-53, on Saturday night at Towson. It was the first CAA game of the season for both teams in men's basketball.

Allen, who grew up in the Largo area, was one of five starters to score in double figures for Mason. The Patriots, under first-year head coach Paul Hewitt, improved to 6-2 while Towson fell to 0-7. Robert Nwankwo (Parkdale High) of Upper Marlboro started for Towson and had one point and seven rebounds.

"Towson is a very good, athletic team," Allen said. "We all clicked together" in the win.

Largo's Bailey has strong game

Brandon Bailey, a Largo High School graduate, made all six shots from the floor and had six points for Howard University in a 71-53 loss to Hampton on Sunday in men's college basketball in New York.

Prince Okoroh (Roosevelt High) had nine points for Howard and Brandon Ford (Gwynn Park) added two. Hampton guard Chris Tolson, a Laurel High School graduate, had 15 points for the Pirates.

Howard is now 2-5 this season while Hampton is 4-4.

Towson falls in football playoffs

Towson University lost, 40-38, to Lehigh at home on Saturday in the Division I-AA national playoffs.

The Tigers won the regular-season title in the CAA this year after going winless in league play in 2010. The cornerbacks coach for Towson is Derrick Johnson, a 2003 graduate of North Carolina who is from Upper Marlboro. 

Maine, which like Towson is in the CAA, is the only team from the league that is still alive. Towson was one of four teams from the league that lost in the playoffs on Saturday. Maine will play this Saturday at 2 p.m. at Georgia Southern, which beat ODU of the CAA last weekend in the playoffs.

Najee Green (Gwynn Park High) is a freshman wideout for Maine. Derek Session, from Dunbar High in Baltimore, has 36 catches this season for Maine. "He is probably as versatile a football player we have had here," Maine head coach Jack Cosgrove said Monday. "This year Derek has been more of a receiver for us. He is an outstanding blocker."