Shaw to Play Augusta State in First Round of Regional; Curtis Named Coach of the Year

The Shaw Lady Bears (28-2), the number one seed in this year's South Atlantic Regional Tournament will play eighth-seeded Augusta State (21-7) of the Peach Belt Conference in the first round of the tournament on Friday at 6:00 p.m. The tournament will be hosted by Shaw University and all games will be played in Spaulding Gymnasium. Other teams in tournament include: second-seeded Georgia College and State University (26-5), winner of the 2004 Peach Belt Conference Tournament, third-seeded Lander University (24-5) of the Peach Belt Conference, fourth seeded University of North Florida (24-5) of the Peach Belt Conference, fifth-seeded Armstrong-Atlantic State University (22-7) of the Peach Belt Conference, sixth-seeded Virginia Union (23-6) of the CIAA and seventh-seeded Catawba College (22-8) winner of the South Atlantic Conference Championship.

Shaw head coach Jacques Curtis was named NCAA Division II Russell Athletic/WBCA South Atlantic Regional Coach of the Year. Curtis, led the Lady Bears to their second-straight CIAA Tournament Crown last week and has amassed a four-year record of 80-39 at Shaw. Shaw, ranked seventh nationally, has won 20-straight games, the longest winning streak under Curtis.

This is Curtis's second tenure as a member of the Shaw family, as he served as assistant men's basketball coach from 1986-96. He also served as softball and volleyball coach from 1988-90. Prior to joining Shaw, Coach Curtis was the head men's basketball coach at Savannah State University from 1997-98. His two-year mark was 20-34 overall, 10-20 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Curtis also served as assistant director of auxiliary services at Savannah State from 1996-99.

Curtis is a 1986 graduate of Savannah State University.

Note: For ticket information to the 2004 South Atlantic Regional Tournament, please call the Shaw ticket office at (919) 546-8223. Tickets are $3 for students w/i.d. and $7 for adults per session. There are two sessions on Friday. The first session games are at 1:00 (Lander/Virginia Union) and 3:00 p.m. (Georgia College and State University/Catawba) The second session is at 6:00 (Shaw/Augusta State) and 8:00 p.m. North Florida/Armstrong-Atlantic State) Saturday's semifinals games are 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. and Monday's championship game will be at 7:00 p.m.