Big East Postpones Fall Sports Competition Due To COVID-19 Concerns

NEW YORK--Due to the unprecedented and continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Big East Conference and its member institutions have announced that fall sports competition will not be conducted in 2020. The Conference will assess alternative options to stage fall sports contests during the spring of 2021.

The decision was made in consultation with the Big East COVID-19 Task Force, an intra-conference medical advisory group that includes administrators, doctors, athletic trainers, student-athletes and national experts in global pandemics and infectious diseases.

“The decision to not hold fall sports competition was not made lightly,” said Villanova University President the Reverend Peter M. Donohue, Chair of the Big East Board of Directors. “Athletics play an integral role in the student, alumni and fan experience at each of our institutions, and we were all hoping to allow the fall seasons to move forward. However, given the guidance of the Big East COVID-19 Task Force, this decision, while disappointing, was made with the health and safety of our student-athletes and staff in mind. The well-being of our community members are, and will continue to be, our priority and focus.”

“This very difficult decision came after an exhaustive review by our Presidents and Athletic Directors and followed consideration of NCAA guidance, COVID-19 case counts and trend lines nationally and in Big East communities, and the many unknowns surrounding testing availability, turnaround time and travel restrictions in our 11 locales,” added Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman. “We take pride in the high-level competition and experiences we provide to our fall sports student-athletes, and we share their deep disappointment that this will not be a normal year. Our plans for men's and women's basketball and other sports are unaffected at this time." 

Other details include:

• Sports Affected—men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, volleyball and field hockey. Sports that are not sponsored by the Big East Conference are not affected.
• Fall competition for sports in their non-traditional seasons, including baseball, softball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse and men's and women's tennis, will not be held.
• During the fall months, Big East student-athletes will be allowed to participate in various team activities, such as practices, strength and conditioning sessions, and team meetings, consistent with individual campus policies, public health guidelines and NCAA and Conference regulations.

The Big East COVID Task Force will continue to monitor COVID-19 conditions across the country and in Big East communities. Decisions on winter and spring sports schedules will be made at a later time.

—Staff Reports

Alyssa Thomas Pops in 21, Sun Stop Dream

Alyssa Thomas takes it to the hole for two of her game-high 21 points. The
Sun defeated Atlanta, and are now tied with the Dream, 1.5 games out of a
playoff position. (Photo courtesy Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images)

By Bob Phillips

BRADENTON, Fla.—Alyssa Thomas led all scorers with 21 points, and the Connecticut Sun beat the Atlanta Dream 93-82 at “The Wubble” at IMG Academy on Monday night. Jasmine Thomas had 15 points and seven assists, DeWanna Bonner scored 12 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had three steals and Brionna Jones scored 11 points with four boards and three steals for the Sun.

Shekinna Stricklen, who started all 34 regular season and eight playoff games for the Sun last season before signing with Atlanta as a free agent, led the Dream with 18 points. All of her points came from beyond the three-point arc, and all came in the first half. Kalani Brown (13 points) and Courtney Williams (12) also scored in double digits for the Dream, who fell to 2-6. Williams had spent the past four seasons with the Sun, also starting all regular and postseason contests last year, before being traded to Atlanta in a three-team transaction with Phoenix in the mix. Last postseason, Williams averaged 17.9 points, 5.8 boards and 4.4 assists.

Jasmine Thomas and Alyssa Thomas combined to score 26 points in the first half as Connecticut built a 56-46 lead. The Sun put it away in the third quarter by holding the Dream to 15 points.

The Dream lost guard Chennedy Carter in the first quarter with an ankle injury. Atlanta’s rookie star was averaging 19.4 points per game, but was scoreless in three minutes before leaving the contest.

Bonner’s nine rebounds moved her to the No. 20 spot on the WNBA all-time list. The Sun improved to 2-6 and are now tied with the Dream, 1.5 games out of the eighth and final playoff spot.

“You know what? People may call us crazy, but we’re going to the damn beach,” Sun head coach and general manager said after the game. “We’re going to have fun, and we’re going to forget about basketball for a day and then we’ll get back to it. These guys need a break. The schedule is brutal.”

Because of the delayed start to the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teams are playing a game every two or three days this season.

Speaking of which, after they get back from the beach, the Sun will prepare to take on the 3-5 Dallas Wings. The game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.

—Staff Reports

Bees Bounce Back, Knock Navs for Win No. 11

NEW BRITAIN—The New Britain Bees bounced right back after Saturday night’s tough loss toFutures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL).

Worcester with six runs in the first two innings to defeat the North Shore Navigators, 6-1 at New Britain Stadium on Sunday afternoon. It was the 11th victory of the season for the Bees, Connecticut’s lone representative in the

The Bees opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when Mike Caruso (Fairfield University) hit a deep sacrifice fly to center field and scored Zach Donahue (UConn) who tagged up from third base. The next batter, Noah Martinez (Central CT State University), was able to connect with a pitch and drive in another run for New Britain, scoring Danniel Rivera (Southern New Hampshire) and giving the Bees a 2-0 lead after the first inning.

The Bees continued the damage in the second inning with Zach Donahue scoring again after a single from Danniel Rivera to extend the New Britain lead. A couple batters later, Mike Caruso brought in two runs this time with a double to left field, in which he was able to advance to third base by an error from North Shore’s Sean Lawlor (University of Maine). Lawlor tried throwing out Rivera going home but overthrew his catcher, Dylan January (Franklin Pierce), which allowed the advancement of the runners. The final run of the game again came from Noah Martinez with another single to score Mike Caruso from third. Moving to the seventh inning, the Navigators—not to be confused with the late, great Norwich Navigators of the AA Eastern League—scored their only run of the game compliments to  one of two New Britain errors.

Bees starter Josh Vincent (Eastern CT State University) recorded his second win of the season, going five innings and allowing no runs on just one hit, and striking out seven Navigators. Tim Blaisdell came out of the bullpen and saved some arms for New Britain, pitching four solid innings. The University of Hartford star allowed just one run during that span.

Navigators starter Nate Espelin (University of Dayton) was banged up early and lasted just 1.2 innings during which he allowed six runs on six hits while striking out just one batter. Espelin was tagged with the loss—his second of the season.

The Bees improve to 11-17 on the season, while the Navigators drop to 12-15. New Britain will now travel to Nashua, N.H., tonight to face the Silver Knights. The Knights won the last meeting between the two teams, 5-4, on July 15. First pitch slated for 6 p.m. from Holman Stadium.

—Staff Reports

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