Central State hosts the Theresa A. Check Tip-Off Classic this weekend

WILBERFORCE, Ohio – The Central State women's basketball team will embark on another season of Lady Marauder basketball this weekend when the school hosts the four-team Theresa A. Check Tip-Off Classic this weekend.

CENTRAL STATE OUTLOOK
After an impressive run to the SIAC semifinals last season, CSU head coach Sheba Harris and the Lady Marauders were ranked second in the SIAC West Division preseason projections behind rival Kentucky State University.

CSU returns six players from last year's team including starters Sierra Harley and Destinee Russell. Harley, who joined the team for the second half of the 2016-17 season, led all players with 11.4 ppg and 2.9 apg. Russell led the team in steals with 46 and is regarded as one of the best defenders in the SIAC. Ghameerah McCullers, who was named the All-SIAC Tournament Team, also returns is expects to be a key contributor in a deep CSU backcourt.

Incoming players to the program include transfers Zana Godoy, Jasmin Dancy and Rhani Bell. The trio transfers in after helping Virginia Union University to a 28-3 overall record last season. Godoy gives CSU another threat from the perimeter to go along with Harley. Dancy provides a much needed post presence left void by last year's departing seniors Kourtni Perry and Meshia Smith. According to Harris, Bell has an opportunity to one of the top players on the team and in the SIAC. Standing at 5'10, Bell has the skills to be handle the ball and score in a variety of ways. She averaged 9.4 ppg at VU last season while converting 35% from beyond the arc and shooting 89% from the free throw line.

Other newcomers to the program include Tamara Sellers (Camden, N.J.), Cierra Moran (Toledo, Ohio), Hilary Dietahin (Chicago, Ill.) and Chavon Banks (Chicago, Ill.).


THERESA A. CHECK CLASSIC SCHEDULE

Game 1 - Saturday, Nov. 12
Ohio Valley vs. Kentucky State
Tip-Off: 5:30 pm
Coverage:
Radio -  Gem City Sports Network (http://www.gemcitysports.com/radio-1/)
Live Stats -  Marauder Live Stats site (http://www.sidearmstats.com/centralstate/wbball/)

Game 2 - Saturday, Nov. 12
Salem International vs. Central State
Tip-Off: 7:30 pm
Coverage:
Radio -  Gem City Sports Network (http://www.gemcitysports.com/radio-1/)
Video -  CSU Sports Streaming Channel (http://maraudersports.com/watch/)
Live Stats -  Marauder Live Stats site (http://www.sidearmstats.com/centralstate/wbball/)

Game 3 - Sunday, Nov. 13
Kentucky State vs. Salem International
Tip-Off: 1 pm
Coverage:
Radio -  Gem City Sports Network (http://www.gemcitysports.com/radio-1/)
Live Stats -  Marauder Live Stats site (http://www.sidearmstats.com/centralstate/wbball/)

Game 4 - Sunday, Nov. 13
Ohio Valley vs. Central State
Tip-Off: 3 pm
Coverage:
Radio -  Gem City Sports Network (http://www.gemcitysports.com/radio-1/)
Video -  CSU Sports Streaming Channel (http://maraudersports.com/watch/)
Live Stats -  Marauder Live Stats site (http://www.sidearmstats.com/centralstate/wbball/)


ABOUT COACH THERESA CHECK
Theresa Check, a legendary athletic administrator and women's basketball coach in Southwest Ohio, made a reputation for herself as the women's basketball coach at Alter High School and as head coach and athletic director at Central State University and Cincinnati State Community College.

After playing three years at Adelphi and one at Central State, Check began her coaching career with the girls' basketball team at Alter High School in Kettering, Ohio. In seven seasons, Check won 122 games and advanced to the regional final on two occasions.

After Alter, Check spent the next seventeen seasons developing the Central State women's program into a perennial NAIA powerhouse. During Check's tenure at CSU, the Lady Marauders won 407 games and lost 175 — a .699 winning percentage. CSU made thirteen consecutive appearances in the NAIA Division I national tournament, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen once and the Elite Eight twice.

In 2001, Check resigned as Central State's head women's basketball coach to focus all her efforts on being the director of athletics. Becoming the full-time AD, Check was successful in re-establishing the Central State football program. In addition to football, Check added men's and women's tennis along with volleyball. She also directed CSU to NCAA Division II status in 2004, a critical step in opening future opportunities for the athletic program.

In 2008, Check accepted the role of AD and head women's basketball coach at Cincinnati State Community College. As coach, Check compiled a 64-23 record in three seasons, leading the Surge to a pair of Ohio Community College Athletic Conference championships and one appearance in the National Junior College Athletic Association national tournament. She relinquished her coaching responsibilities following the 2010-11 season, once again focusing on directing the department before retiring the next year. During Check's tenure as Cincinnati State's athletic director, teams made five NJCAA national tournament appearances in men's basketball, women's basketball, men's soccer and men's golf.

Check has been enshrined into a school or organization's Hall of Fame on seven occasions. She is a member of the Central State University Hall of Fame, Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame, NAIA Hall of Fame, Cedarville High School's (OH) Hall of Fame, Alter High School's Hall of Fame, the Greene County (OH) Women's Hall of Fame and Cincinnati State's Hall of Fame.
 

TICKETS
For tickets to the Theresa A. Check Tip-Off Classic, go to - http://centralstate.universitytickets.com/user_pages/event_listings.asp

Doors will open each day approximately 30 minutes prior to the start of the first game.

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