Published: February 14, 2008 10:46 am         

Potomac State, Allegany meet again

Trojans, No. 14 in nation, put 17-game win streak on the line

CUMBERLAND - One nationally ranked team, one conference champion, and a handful of nationally-ranked players will be featured tonight when Allegany College hosts Potomac State College in women's junior college basketball at Bob Kirk Arena.

The game, rescheduled for tonight after being postponed by snow on Wednesday, tips off at 7 o'clock.

Allegany, coached by Jerry Rice, is 21-1 and ranked No. 14 in this week's Division II national poll. That's up four spots from last week, when the Trojans whipped then-No. 12 Hagerstown 74-58.

The Trojans have won 17 straight games, and are coming off an 84-65 victory over Howard on Sunday.

Potomac State, coached by Jim Walton, is 17-7 and won the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference regular season and tournament championships.

The Catamounts won the tournament title by beating CCAC Allegheny 61-46 on Monday, and have gone unbeaten in conference play the last two seasons.

Both teams are nationally ranked among JUCO Division II schools in offense, with Allegany No. 1 in the country in defense.

The Trojans lead the nation in defense, allowing only 45.5 points per game. Offensively, Allegany is No. 8, averaging 77.5 points per game, and Potomac State is No. 13, averaging 75.1.

The Trojans are fifth in the nation in field goal shooting at 46.3 percent, and the Catamounts are seventh at 45.7 percent.

Individually, three Trojans and two Catamounts are among the national leaders.

For Allegany, Melissa Ford is seventh in field goal shooting at 62.8 percent. Kacey Kahl ranks 14th in field goal shooting at 56.5 percent and 23rd in steals with 3.5 per game. Jasmine Blanks is 18th in assists, averaging 5.4 per outing.

For Potomac State, Ashley Heavener is sixth in the nation in field goal percentage at 63.6 percent, and Amanda McKim is 18th in scoring with a 17.5 average.

Allegany won the first meeting, 87-61, at Potomac State.

Both teams play again Saturday. Allegany ends its regular season by hosting Dundalk, and Potomac State will play in the Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association state tournament.

Contact Mike Mathews at mmathews@times-news.com.