For the sixth year in a row in the competition fall semester, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga had one of the top two men's cross country team grade point averages in NCAA Division I. The Mocs, who have been first three times in that span, were second to UC Davis this past fall with their 3.64 aggregate GPA. Sophomores Jacob Etheridge and Ryan Gebelein have cumulative 4.0s and were joined at that level last semester by juniors Mark Britt and Richard Guiry. The UTC women's runners also earned U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association all-academic recognition with a 3.52 team GPA, with eight 4.0s in the fall. "We are very pleased and proud of the kids' academic achievements," coach Andy Meyer said in a UTC release, noting that he and assistant Amanda Cotter emphasize that from the beginning of the recruiting process. "Amanda and I believe that the same characteristics essential to be a successful runner are ... directly related to classroom success. These kids are competitive, motivated, dedicated and love the process of improvement."
Golf
» Dalton State's S.M. Lee is among the 27 college golfers on the Ben Hogan Award watch list for 2018, and he is the only NAIA representative and one of only two not in NCAA Division I. The other is Chandler Blanchet of West Florida in Division II. Vanderbilt has three on the list: Will Gordon, Theo Humphrey and Patrick Martin. Ten semifinalists will be announced on April 11. The Hogan Award includes collegiate and non-college amateur competition.
Basketball
» Erin Walsh was 5-of-8 on 3-point shots and scored 17 points as the Lee University women's basketball team concluded its home schedule Wednesday with a 72-50 Gulf South Conference win against Alabama-Huntsville. Abby Bertram had 12 points and six assists and Carrie Cheeks had seven rebounds with nine points for the Lady Flames (20-6, 13-5). Lee (14-11, 9-9) won the men's game 82-72 behind 20 points and seven rebounds from Colton Blevins and 15 points from Parker Suedekum.
» Joanna Smith had 17 points and 15 rebounds as Covenant College upset host Huntingdon 63-53 in the USA South women's tournament Wednesday night. Jessica Bell scored 16 points in the eighth consecutive win for the Lady Scots (14-11). They play Saturday at 2 p.m. at Berea, the West top seed. Chattanoogan Juliette Harp led Huntingdon with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
» The Bryan College women blasted visited Union (Ky.) 93-52 and remain in first place in the Appalachian Athletic Conference going into Saturday's regular-season finale at Allen University. Karli Combs made eight of 12 3-point shots and scored 26 points for the Lady Lions (22-7, 19-4), ranked 23rd in NAIA Division II, and Shayla Ludy had 19 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Tristan McClellan and Tonesha Allison added 12 points each, McClellan with six assists. The third-place Bryan men (17-11, 11-8) lost 75-69 to 13th-ranked league leader Union but got 19 points apiece from Oteriah Lee and Isaiah McClain and 15 points and eight rebounds from E.J. Bush. Lee had six assists, Brice Cusick nine rebounds.
» Walters State swept visiting Cleveland State in TCCAA basketball, 66-63 for the Senators (16-8, 8-6) and 66-53 for the nationally 17th-ranked Lady Senators (21-5, 14-0). The Lady Cougars fell to 13-9, 8-7; the Cougars are 11-11, 7-8.
» Junior guard Katy Phillips scored 19 points and freshman Tori Harvey had 23 rebounds with eight points as the Georgia Northwestern women won 55-43 on Tuesday at Toccoa Falls. Also for the Lady Bobcats (10-7), Mia Clark scored 12 points and Madison Lewis and Taylor Bethune grabbed 10 and nine rebounds in David Stephenson's 550th coaching victory.
Swimming & Diving
» Sewanee began the Southern Athletic Association swimming and diving meet Wednesday night in Birmingham with a fourth place in the women's 800-yard freestyle relay, a fifth in the men's 800 free relay and a third in men's 1-meter diving from sophomore Jed Henrichsen.
Softball
» Covenant won 7-1 and 5-4 in softball Wednesday at Wesleyan in Macon, Ga. Tyler Epes, Carsyn Stone, Grace Turner and Heather Long combined to pitch a five-hitter in the first game, and Carlin Labuzan and Shelby Ralston each doubled and singled and Erika Mast batted in two runs for the Lady Scots (4-6). They led 5-0 after three innings and held on in game two, when Shade Epps was 3-for-4 with a double, two stolen bases, an RBI and a run scored and Casey Grover was 1-for-1 with two RBIs. Jada Allmon was 2-for-4. Sarah Huskey pitched a total of six innings with seven strikeouts and no runs allowed.