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Serving James Madison University Since 1922
Thunderstorms 76°/ 64° chance of precipitation: 60%
Vol. 88, No. 41 Monday, March 19, 2012
Coming back for more
SEAN CASSIDY / THE BREEZE
LEFT Junior guard/forward Nikki Newman scored 10 points in the first round of the WNIT tournament Thursday against Davidson College. RIGHT The team celebrates their victory over Wake Forest University in the second round game yesterday.
Dukes win second Women’s National Invitation Tournament game in overtime, break school and personal records
PAUL JONES / THE BREEZE
By CHASE KIDDY and MEAGHAN MacDONALD The Breeze
In the most shocking comeback of the Kenny Brooks era, JMU erased a -point first-half deficit to defeat Wake Forest University - in overtime. Wake Forest dominated the Dukes early on, using their transition game and speed to blitz them into an early hole. JMU hurt itself by making several costly turnovers. Between bad passes and several blocked shots, the Dukes found themselves out of rhythm and unable to keep up with the Demon Deacons for most of the first half. “I guess in the beginning we were getting blasted,” junior
Nikki Newman said. “Coach Brooks came in and said, ‘You’re getting worked, look like you want to be out there to play.’ ” Brooks reiterated his point at halftime, again asking the team if they had come to play. If the second half was any indication, the team answered his question emphatically. After ending the first half on a - run, JMU closed the gap and tied the game with about minutes to play in the second half. Wake Forest continued its impressive play around the rim, while JMU had a more balanced, insideout attack. Late in the game, it was -point shooting that was key
for the Dukes. Sophomore guard Kirby Burkholder hit a key three-point shot with less than five minutes to play that put the Dukes up by two, but the lead wouldn’t last. Wake Forest rallied to hold a three-point lead with just seconds left. In the midst of their final possession, Newman found herself double-teamed she launched a three from the top of the key to tie the game with . seconds left. “That wasn’t designed. The play was for Kirby, but they were all over her, and Nikki stood up and made a huge basketball play,” said redshirt senior forward Lauren Whitehurst. The Dukes finally took command in overtime, outscoring see BASKETBALL, page B4
Meaningful money Two sophomores are awarded scholarship to help fund summer service projects By HANNAH COX contributing writer
BRIAN PRESCOTT / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
The Hillcrest Scholarship finalists from left, sophomores Michelle Amaya, Brendan English, Tate Burkholder, Carly Starke, Mike Partin and Victoria Awadallah. Amaya and Starke were the finalist winners.
This summer, sophomore Michelle Amaya will be traveling to La Paz, the capital of Bolivia, to work in children’s health care. She won’t be funding it by herself, either. Amaya, a biology major, was one of two students awarded an inaugural Hillcrest Scholarship on Saturday morning. The $, scholarship is meant to fund extraordinary summer experiences between the recipient’s junior and senior years. Amaya won the service and leadership scholarship, while Carly Starke, a sophomore biotechnology major, won the research scholarship. The Hillcrest Scholarship is awarded to sophomore students who will see SERVICE, page A4
’ alum passes unexpectedly By IJ CHAN The Breeze
COURTESY OF FACEBOOK
Marcus Ford, 22, was a Phi Chi Theta member and CIS major. Ford died suddenly on Saturday.
Marcus Ford, , a May JMU grad, died unexpectedly on Saturday. According to fellow Phi Chi Theta member and senior finance major Doug Schwab, Ford had been recently diagnosed with a heart condition, and passed away after going into cardiac arrest after a game of pick-up football. S chwab rememb ers Ford, a computer information sciences major, as a positive, outgoing individual.
3/19 INSIDE
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“I just remember, you know, his smile — he was always happy,” Schwab said. “He was one of those kids ... he walked into the room and the room just lit up — he was just a great kid.” According to Schwab, Ford was a Christiansburg, Va., native who was living in Arlington and working for Grant Thorton Ltd. up until his death. Senior Danielle Kelly, a management major, said Ford used to light up a room. “His smile completely captured his personality,
NEWS Study abroad
Despite the high growth rate of students studying abroad, men lag in participation.
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his demeanor — the fact that he just loved everyone,” Kelly said, Michael Zornjak, a graduate student in the College of Business, remembered Ford as a charismatic, committed member of the Phi Chi Theta fraternity, frequently volunteering his time to help at the fraternity’s fundraisers and events. Zornjak stated that the sudden news of Ford’s death reached most of the fraternity members late Saturday night, and many are still in a state of shock.
>> Tentative club hopes to rope in competition, page B1
see FORD, page A4
OPINION Homeless employment
Hotspots are a good idea to encourage interaction with a disadvantaged population.
BLAIR BOSWELL / THE BREEZE
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LIFE A tale of two kitties
Now with names and caretakers, Jimmy and Dolley continue to call JMU home sweet home.
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SPORTS Softball shines
Dukes win two out of five games at this weekend’s Days Inn Invitational.