Soccer star Ozimek to have jersey retired

Former Atlantic 10 Midfielder of the Year and three-time ESPN The Magazine academic all-American soccer star Lindsey Ozimek will become the first women's soccerplayer in Charlotte 49ers history to have her jersey retired.

The ceremony will take place during halftime of the Feb. 14 homecoming men's basketball game between Charlotte and George Washington. This past fall, Ozimek was one of nine finalists for the 2008 NCAA Woman of the Year award.

During her four-year career, Ozimek helped the 49ers win 45 games, two A-10 regular-season titles, one A-10 Tournament title and a bid to the 2007 NCAA Tournament. She also for the United States U-23, U-20, U-17 and U-16 national teams and helped the U-20 national team win the CONCACAF Championship in January 2006. She graduated in 2008 with a 4.0 GPA in Special Education.

Also:

--Charlotte 49ers all-America junior golfer Corey Nagy will open competition in the Jones Cup on Friday. The 54-hole individual stroke play event will be held at the Ocean Forest Golf Club through Monday. The Jones Cup was first contested in 2001 as a prelude to the 38th Walker Cup Match. This event brings together many of the finest amateurs from the United States and abroad for three days of competition.

On Tap: Charlotte vs. Rhode Island

The Charlotte 49ers aren't the only Atlantic 10 team that has taken a hit with injuries this season. Although Rhode Island (15-7, 4-3) sports a good record, the Rams have struggled recently with the loss of junior guard Keith Cothran to a ligament injury.

Cothran has missed four games and remains doubtful for Rhode Island's matchup with Charlotte at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Halton Arena. "It's a ligament in his knee and all we can do is take it one step at a time," said Rams coach Jim Baron. "We want him back as quickly as we can, but at the same time we want him healthy."

Before his injury, Cothran was averaging 14.3 points a game and still leads the team with 33 steals. Junior forward Lamonte Ulmer has started the four games Cothran has missed and has played well in his place. "Against La Salle (a win), he had five steals, five assists, four rebounds. He's been playing very well. He's just so aggressive."

-- Charlotte hopes to have one of its injured players, sophomore forward An'Juan Wilderness, back in the lineup against Rhode Island. Wilderness has missed the last three games after re-aggravating a stress fracture in his left foot during the 49ers' win last month over Massachusetts.

Basden to have jersey retired Feb. 19

Former Charlotte 49ers men's basketball standout Eddie Basden will have his jersey retired during halftime of Charlotte's Feb. 19 showdown with Atlantic 10 power Xavier.

Basden, a former Conference USA player of the year, wore the No. 13 throughout his four-year career with Charlotte and will be the eighth men's basketball player in school history to have his jersey retired. In 2005, his senior season, Basden was named league player of the year, National Defensive Player of the Year by ESPN analyst Jay Bilas, and named second-team all-America by Basketball Times.

“Eddie Basden is truly one of the great players in Charlotte 49ers basketball history,” said Charlotte coach Bobby Lutz, who coached Basden throughout his career. “Always a terrific defender, Eddie developed into one of the best all around players in the nation by his senior year. He is the best off-the-ball defender I have ever coached and was able to make big shots and plays on the offensive end as well."

Basden graduated with all-time school records for steals in a career and single-season and shares the record for steals in a game. The 49ers made three NCAA trips during Basden’s four-year career and posted back-to-back 20-win seasons in his junior and senior seasons. Basden joins Byron Dinkins, Charles Hayward, DeMarco Johnson, Jarvis Lang, Cedric Maxwell, Melvin Watkins and Henry Williams as men’s players that have had their jerseys retired.

Basden graduated from UNC Charlotte in 2005 with a degree in African American and African Studies. Originally signed as a free agent in 2005 by the Chicago Bulls, Basden played overseas in France and Germany before signing as a free agent with the Miami Heat this past summer. He is currently playing professionally in Turkey.

Niners baseball preparing for '09 season

The Charlotte 49ers baseball team has started its first full week of practice and has several scrimmages planned. The 49ers will scrimmage at Hayes Stadium at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10:30 a.m. Saturday and 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Gates are open to the public each day.

Charlotte has won the past two Atlantic 10 Conference tournaments and won 92 games over the past two seasons. The 49ers were selected by the league's coaches and by Baseball America to win a third consecutive A-10 title this season.

The 49ers' 2009 season begins with a three-game series at Clemson beginning Feb. 20. Charlotte's home opener is Tuesday, Feb. 24, with a three-game series against Oakland (Mich.).

Burgin A-10 co-player of the week

Charlotte 49ers women’s basketball senior center Danielle Burgin was named co-player of the week in the Atlantic 10 Conference as a result of her performances in 49er wins over Richmond and Fordham last week.

Burgin recorded her fifth double-double of the season and 16th of her career with 14 points and 10 rebounds in the 49ers' 62-55 win at Richmond. Then, she had 14 points and nine rebounds in the 49ers' 60-38 win over Fordham Saturday.

Also:

--After turning in exceptional performances on Saturday at both the Carolina Classic and the Penn State National Open, sophomore Darius Law and freshman Jake Deaton earned Atlantic 10 weekly awards. Law was named infoor track and field performer of the week while Deaton was named rookie of the week.

Beam earns more All-American honors

Charlotte junior Hailey Beam, the 2008 Atlantic 10 Midfielder of the Year and the MVP of the Atlantic 10 tournament, has been named to SoccerBuzz Magazine's All-America second-team.

Beam led the conference and ranked among the nation's leaders with 17 goals, 13 assists and 47 points. Her 17 goals and 47 points are the third-highest single-season totals in program history, while her 13 assists tied for the second-highest single-season total.

Charlotte captured its third straight regular-season title and second consecutive A-10 championship and made its fourth-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. The 49ers advanced to the second round and ended the season with a school-record 18 wins.

Niners eye a young recruit

Statesville's Tyler Lewis, a phenomenal freshman point guard at Forsyth Country Day in Lewisville, was on an unofficial visit Saturday at Charlotte's win over Winthrop. Tyler's older brother, Colby - a 6-foot-2, 180-pound senior shooting guard - was also on hand, which was no coincidence.

It's no secret the Charlotte coaching staff has zeroed in on the younger Lewis - who had 25 points and 12 assists in his most recent game - as a possible 49ers recruit down the line.

The Observer has learned the older Lewis may be making plans to enroll at Charlotte in the fall for college and intends to try to walk on the men's basketball team. He has had some offers to play from NCAA Division II schools himself.

Interested in checking out the Lewis brothers? Their next home game is Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. against Woodson of Winston-Salem.