Flyers play Red-Blue game at UD arena

DAYTON, Ohio - Flyer fans got their first glimpse of the University of Dayton 2012-13 men’s and women’s basketball teams in the annual Red and Blue game Saturday at UD Arena before an estimated attendance of 2,800.

The event started with a skills competition featuring the women’s basketball team. The first event was a three point competition. The team of Ally Malott, Kelley Austria, Cassie Sant, and Brittany Wilson won the event. Freshman Amber Deane was very impressive in the All Star shooting competition as she buried shot-after-shot, leading her team to the victory.

The women then took the court for their scrimmage. The red team consisted of freshmen Jodie Cornelie, Bre Elder, Lexi Carpenter, sophomore Andrea Hoover and seniors Olivia Applewhite and Sam MacKay. The blue team consisted of freshman Amber Deane, Kelley Austria, sophomore Ally Malott, junior Cassie Sant, and seniors Olivia Applewhite and Brittany Wilson.

The game consisted of three periods, which were seven minutes each, as the Blue team defeated the Red team 31-22. Preseason All-Atlantic 10 First Team selection, Andrea Hoover, scored a game-high 14 points. Sam MacKay added 10 points and two assists and Ally Malott scored seven points and hauled in three rebounds.

With the departure of seven seniors from last year’s Atlantic 10 Championship and NCAA tournament squad, the UD women’s team added six freshmen to this year’s team. Leading the charge in the Red and Blue game was Beavercreek native, Kelley Austria, with six points and four steals. Amber Deane also added six points while Lexi Carpenter had four points and Bre Elder tallied four points and two assists.

Then men’s team then took the court for their scrimmage. The red team consisted of freshman Jalen Robinson, sophomore Matt Derenbecker, juniors Vee Sanford and Dennis Williams, and seniors Matt Kavanaugh and Kevin Dillard. The blue team consisted of freshmen Khari Price and Devon Scott, sophomore Jordan Sibert (transfer), junior Devin Oliver, and seniors Brian Vonderhaar and Josh Benson. Freshman Dyshawn Pierre sat out the scrimmage with an ankle injury while sophomore Alex Gavrilovic sat out due to illness.

The Blue team defeated the Red team 30-21, but some of the players switched teams after the first period. The scrimmage consisted of two periods, which were 12 minutes each. Jalen Robinson scored a game-high 10 points, including eight in the second period.

Flyer fans were able to see Josh Benson take the court for the first time since tearing the ACL in his left knee against Ole Miss last season. Benson, who was limited to just 14 games last season, looked like he had not missed a beat. Sporting a knee brace on his left knee, Benson scored nine points, seven of them coming in the first period.

Ohio State transfer Jordan Sibert impressed in what will be his only action in front of the Flyer faithful this season. He has to sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules but will have two years of eligibility remaining. Sibert scored six points and tallied two steals.

Devin Oliver, Vee Sanford and Devon Scott each added four points while Preseason First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection, Kevin Dillard, scored three points and dished out three assists. Khari Price also added three points while Matt Derenbecker scored two points.

The men’s team is coming off of five consecutive 20 win seasons and five consecutive postseason appearances. Their first of two exhibitions is scheduled for Saturday Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. ET vs. Findlay. Their season opener is scheduled for Saturday Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. ET vs. Arkansas State.

The women’s team will play their only exhibition on Saturday Nov. 3 vs. Ashland at 5 p.m. ET and their season opener is vs. Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 9 at 4 p.m. ET in Chicago as part of the Maggie Dixon Classic. Their home opener is Wednesday Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. ET vs. Toledo.