91ÁÔÆæ

Basketball teams aim high in 2024-25

October 28, 2024
First-team All-PBC guard AJ White, a junior, and the 91ÁÔÆæ men's basketball team open the season Nov. 2-3 at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Lakeland, Florida.

Article By: Clark Leonard

The University of North Georgia's (91ÁÔÆæ) basketball teams tip off their seasons in early November with their sights set on national and Peach Belt Conference (PBC) supremacy.

"We can't wait to see our basketball teams in action this season," Athletics Director said. "Building off our men's program's history-making run in 2024 and our women's team's consistent postseason success, 2024-25 has a chance to be one of our best seasons yet."

Nighthawks seek to build on history

Under sixth-year head coach ' direction, the 91ÁÔÆæ men's basketball team is coming off its first-ever PBC tournament championship and first NCAA Division II championship appearance after hosting and winning the Southeast Regional.

The Nighthawks open the season Nov. 2-3 at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Lakeland, Florida. They take on St. Thomas Aquinas at 8 p.m. Nov. 2 before facing reigning national champion Minnesota State at 8 p.m. Nov. 3. Their home opener is at 7 p.m. Nov. 12 against Tusculum.

First-team All-PBC selection and NCAA Southeast Regional Most Outstanding Player lead six returnees from the Nighthawks' rotation on the history-making 2023-24 team. The group also welcomes three freshmen and two transfers. has joined Evans' staff with returning assistant coach .

Two-time first-team All-PBC selection Emily Trushel leads the 91ÁÔÆæ women's basketball frontcourt.

Burson’s team looks to return to postseason

Women's basketball head coach starts her 31st season seeking a seventh NCAA tournament appearance in eight seasons. Former national Player of the Year has joined Burson's staff alongside returning assistant coach and former teammate .

The Nighthawks tip off their season Nov. 8-9 in the Peach Belt/Conference Carolinas Challenge at home in the Convocation Center, facing Emmanuel at 6 p.m. Nov. 8 and Young Harris at 4 p.m. Nov. 9.

Graduate student guard and graduate student forward , both two-time All-PBC performers, lead the Nighthawks. Martin returns after missing the entire 2023-24 season, and Trushel is back for a second season with 91ÁÔÆæ after playing her first three seasons at fellow PBC school USC Aiken.

Rifle team has pair of home matches

The 91ÁÔÆæ rifle team began its season in October and hosts two home matches: Nov. 9 against Wofford and Jan. 26 against Kentucky.

It will compete in the Southern Conference championship Feb. 8-9 at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia.

Junior leads the 91ÁÔÆæ rifle team, coming off a first-team all-conference season in 2023-24 and a fifth-place national finish in air rifle as a freshman in 2022-23.


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