Issue date: 3/6/09 Section: Sports

Eastern senior forward Rachel Galligan takes a shot during Tuesday evening's first round in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament game against Tennessee Tech in Lantz Arena. Galligan is the program's career points leader. (Eric Hiltner/The Daily Eastern News)

Eastern senior forward Rachel Galligan earned First-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors for the third straight year as the teams were announced by the league Thursday.

The All-OVC teams are voted on by the league's head basketball coaches and sports information directors.

Galligan is the only Eastern women's basketball player to be named to the First Team All-OVC in program history.

The Panthers (23-8) are playing Tennessee State (18-12) in the semifinals in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament at 2 p.m. today at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn.

Galligan is the only Panther to earn conference honors this season.

Murray State's senior guard Ashley Hayes was named the OVC Player of the Year and earned first team honors as well.

Murray State senior guard Amber Guffey, Tennessee State senior guard Kendra Appling and Morehead State sophomore guard Chynna Bozeman were also named to the first team.

Appling was named the OVC Defensive Player of the Year. This was the first year the conference handed out the award. Eastern Kentucky freshman guard Kayla Drake was named the OVC Freshman of the Year. Murray State head coach Rob Cross was named OVC Coach of the Year.


Two earn league honors

Two Eastern junior guards earned all-conference honors, which were announced by the league Thursday. Junior guard Romain Martin earned Second Team All-OVC honors and junior guard T.J. Marion earned Newcomer All-OVC honors.

The All-OVC teams are voted on by the league's head basketball coaches and sports information directors.

Martin was named the Co-Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year in 2007. No Eastern's men's basketball player earned conference honors last season.

Tennessee Martin senior guard Lester Hudson was named the OVC Player of the Year.

Morehead State sophomore center Kenneth Faried was named the OVC Defensive Player of the Year. Murray State freshman forward Ivan Aska was named the OVC Freshman of the Year. UT Martin's Bret Campbell was named the OVC Coach of the Year.


Tennis heads to Butler

The Eastern men's and women's tennis programs are playing Butler Friday in Indianapolis.

The men's tennis squad (6-4) is coming off a 4-3 win against Bradley Wednesday in Peoria. The Panthers are playing Butler at noon, and the women's tennis team (3-6) is playing Butler at 4 p.m.

"These upcoming matches are vital for our team so we can build confidence and momentum heading into conference play," Eastern junior Jeff Rutherford told The Daily Eastern News earlier this week.

The Eastern women's tennis team is coming off a 6-1 loss to Illinois State. Both Butler and Eastern women's squad are looking for their fourth wins of the season. Butler is 3-5 with four straight losses.

The Butler men's team is 4-8.

The Bulldogs have lost two matches in a row. The Bulldogs defeated Bradley 7-0.


Softball plays at Kansas

Another tournament for the Eastern softball team means more chances against tough competition.

The Panthers will play Kansas, North Dakota State and Northern Iowa at the Kansas Tourney in Lawrence, Kan.

Eastern plays Kansas at 2 p.m. on Saturday, North Dakota State at 2 p.m. on Saturday, North Dakota State at 10 a.m. Saturday and Northern Iowa at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

While the Jayhawks are 7-11, they have played six ranked teams this season. The Jayhawks have defeated No. 7 Arizona, No. 9 Northwestern and No. 10 California.

North Dakota State (8-4) has lost three games against Arizona and to fellow Ohio Valley Conference member Jacksonville State.

Northern Iowa (10-4) is coming off an 5-4, 11-inning win against Alabama-Birmingham.

After this tournament, the Panthers will host Indiana State at 4 p.m. on Wednesday at Williams Field.


-Compiled by Sports Editor Kevin Murphy. He can be reached at 581-7944 or at DENsportsdesk@gmail.com.

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