#SummitMBB: South Dakota State Rolls to Win in Exhibition Opener

SDSU's Deondre Parks (Photo by Inertia Sports/Dave Eggen)

South Dakota State 76, South Dakota Mines 54 (Exhibition) | Box Score

BROOKINGS, S.D. - In The Summit League’s exhibition opener, South Dakota State rolled past the South Dakota Mines Hardrockers, 76-54, Thursday night. Deondre Parks led the Jackrabbits with 15 points while Cody Larson added 10. Thirteen of 15 SDSU players who suited up scored in the contest.

SDSU hosts Dakota Wesleyan Nov. 4 in its second, and final, exhibition contest of the season.

WIU's Luke Named 2014 Lincoln Laureate Award Winner

Western Illinois women's basketball player Ashley Luke has been named the Western Illinois University recipient of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois' Student Laureate Award for 2014. 

The award, presented annually to an outstanding senior of each of Illinois' four-year degree-granting institutions, honors a student's overall academic excellence and extracurricular activities. Luke, a senior political science and journalism double major, will also be named the College Scholar for the WIU College of Arts and Sciences this semester and plans to pursue a master's degree in economics from Western. 

"I am very honored to have been chosen as this year's Lincoln Laureate for WIU," Luke said. "I am grateful to both the staff and the students who helped me achieve this through their support and collaboration with me. I hope to represent WIU in a positive way through this award."

Luke is the president of the Associated Students of Political Science and Pi Sigma Alpha, the vice president of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the founder of the WIU Athletic-International Ambassadors, the public relations director for the Gold Key International Honour Society, committee member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, the student athlete representative of the WIU Council on Intercollegiate Athletics, political science student representative for "Discover Western," a member of Phi Eta Sigma and a volunteer for the McDonough County Humane Society, McDonough District Hospital, Rocky's Reach, Adopt-a-Classroom, "We Care" campus revival, Trick the Town and the Stuff the Bus food drive.

USA Today Projects #SummitMBB

USA Today’s 2014-15 College Basketball special edition hit newsstands today and its analysis of The Summit League race projects Denver as champion and Oral Roberts’ Obi Emegano as Player of the Year. Below is a summary of the league picks:

PREDICTIONS

1. Denver
2. South Dakota State
3. Oral Roberts
4. North Dakota State
5. Fort Wayne
6. South Dakota
7. Omaha
8. Western Illinois
9. IUPUI

ALL-SUMMIT TEAM

Korey Billbury (G), Oral Roberts
Obi Emegano (G), Oral Roberts
Steve Forbes (F), Fort Wayne
Cody Larson (F), South Dakota State
Brett Olson (G), Denver

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Obi Emegano (G), Oral Roberts

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Daniel Amigo (C), Denver

To read the full analysis of The Summit League, pick up a copy of USA Today College Basketball Special Edition at your local newsstand or order online.

Blue Ribbon Yearbook Releases #SummitMBB Forecast

Blue Ribbon Yearbook, widely known as the "bible" of college basketball has released its forecast for the 2014-15 Summit League Basketball Season. The publication tabs Denver as the league favorite and the Pioneers' Brett Olson as its pick for Player of the Year. Below is a synopsis of Blue Ribbon's picks:

PREDICTIONS

1. Denver

2. Oral Roberts

3. South Dakota State

4. Fort Wayne
5. North Dakota State
6. South Dakota

7. Omaha

8. Western Illinois
9. IUPUI

ALL-SUMMIT TEAM

Cody Larson (F), South Dakota State

Steve Forbes (F), Fort Wayne
Brett Olson (G), Denver
Brandon Bos (G), South Dakota
Obi Emegano (G), Oral Roberts

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Brett Olson (G), Denver

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Deondre Parks (G), South Dakota State

To read the full analysis of The Summit League, purchase a copy of Blue Ribbon Yearbook by ordering online at blueribbonyearbookonline.com The book ships mid-October with digital downloads available starting Monday, Sept. 29.

Athlon Sports Previews #SummitMBB

The 2014-15 Athlon Sports College Basketball Yearbook hit newsstands today. Its analysis of the league race projects Fort Wayne as champion. In the national rundown, IUPUI's Jason Gardner is listed as one of "Five Notable First-Time Coaches". Below is a summary of the league picks:

PREDICTIONS

1. Fort Wayne

2. North Dakota State

3. Denver
4. Oral Roberts
5. South Dakota State
6. Omaha
7. South Dakota
8. Western Illinois
9. IUPUI

ALL-SUMMIT FIRST TEAM

Lawrence Alexander (G), North Dakota State
Garret Covington (G), Western Illinois
Steve Forbes (F), Fort Wayne
Cody Larson (F), South Dakota State
Brett Olson (G), Denver

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Steve Forbes (F), Fort Wayne

To read the full analysis of The Summit League, pick up a copy of Athlon Sports College Basketball Yearbook at your local newsstand or order online.

Fort Wayne Adds Cantillo, Kaneshiro to Softball Coaching Staff

IPFW head softball coach Germaine Fairchild announced the hiring of Chelsea Cantillo and Kelley Kaneshiro to her staff. Cantillo and Kaneshiro previously worked together at Utah State where Cantillo took her first coaching position while Kaneshiro was a junior on the team.

Cantillo spent the 2014 season on the staff at Army in West Point, New York, where she helped the Black Knights earn the fourth seed in the Patriot League Tournament en route to posting 23 wins. She helped guide two members of the squad to earn All-NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) honors, including a first-team selection. Cantillo worked primarily with the infield during her stints at Army and Utah State.

Kaneshiro comes to IPFW after most recently being employed by the City of Boise (Idaho) working with at-risk youth. During her time in Boise, Kaneshiro also worked for the local YMCA as the lead membership representative.