This Week in Walsh University Athletics
Monday, February 9, 2009
Tues. 10 Women’s Basketball at Ursuline College 7 pm
Men's Basketball at Miami University-Middletown 7:30 pm (AM 900 WCER)
Fri. 13 Indoor Track at Kenyon College
Sat. 14 Women’s Basketball (H) Notre Dame College 2 pm
Men’s Basketball (H) Notre Dame College 4 pm (AM 900 WCER)
Men’s/Women’s Tennis at Mercyhurst College 2 pm
MEN'S BASKETBALL: 5th Ranked Cavs (21-3, 9-1) Extend Win Streak to Nine/Joe Shardo Explodes
NAIA No. 5 (new ranking 2/9) Walsh stretched its season long winning streak to nine games last week, with a non-conference win at Point Park University and an American Mideast Conference triumph over Ohio Dominican University. The Cavs are tied for first place in the AMC with Cedarville University (9-1), with three conference games remaining. Should the Cavs and Yellow Jackets remain tied, the tie-breaker would go to Cedarville because of their victory over the Cavs on January 10. This week, the Cavs travel to Miami University-Middletown for a non-conference game on Tuesday (7:30 pm) and return home for an AMC contest with Notre Dame University on Saturday (4 pm). Both games will be broadcast live on AM 900 WCER and on the Internet at www.wcer.us.
Joe Shardo (6-5, Sr., Yorkshire, OH/Versailles) produced one of the biggest weeks in Cavs' history, averaging 34.5 points in the two victories. On Tuesday at Point Park, Shardo combined with younger brother, AMC Player of the Week Jeremy Shardo (6-3, So., Yorkshire, OH/Versailles), for 48 points in the Cavs 87-75 win. Joe scored 24 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Jeremy put together a double-double with 24 points and 10 assists. He also grabbed seven rebounds. Kyelce Cescato (6-10, Jr., Barra Bonita, Brazil, Colmeia Entec) added 15 points, on 7-10 from the floor.
On Saturday, Joe Shardo provided Cavs' fans with one of the finest performances in team history, in the Cavs 90-85 come-from-behind win over Ohio Dominican University. Shardo poured in 45 points, second most in a single game in team-history (Billy Jo Williams, 48 points, 1985). Working inside and out, Shardo connected on 12-21 from the field, 3-5 from three-point, and was perfect in 18 attempts from the foul line. But, with all of Shardo's efforts, the Cavs did not gain control of the game until the final minute. Ohio Dominican drilled 8-14 from three-point in the first half, and led 45-36 at the break. The second half produced seven lead changes and five ties. After trailing the first 10 minutes of the second half, Walsh tied the game (65-65) on a three-point play by Joe Shardo with 9:41 to play. The half would see four more ties (69, 71, 72, 82), the final at 82-82, on another Shardo three-point play. Walsh would then take the lead for good at 84-82, with 1:16 to play on two free throws from Jeremy Shardo. The Cavs were 7-7 from the stripe in the final two minutes, with the final margin producing the Cavs largest lead of the game. Jeremy Shardo added 19 points and six assists and was 11-12 from the line. Brandon Speck (6-0, Jr., Mansfield, OH/St. Peter's) added 13 points and Kyelce Cescato added nine points and a game-high 14 rebounds. The Cavs connected on 32-38 free throws (.842) and outscored Ohio Dominican 54-40 in the second half.
The Cavs travel to Middletown, Ohio to meet Miami University-Middletown on Tuesday night. This is the first meeting ever between the two schools. The ThunderHawks are currently 21-5, with 12 straight wins. They defeated Oakland City University 86-84 on Saturday. They are a regional campus of Miami of Ohio. On Saturday, the Cavs meet Notre Dame College (16-9, 5-4) in an AMC game. The Falcons are in a three-way tie for fifth place in the AMC with Daemen College and Malone University. Notre Dame has dropped four of their last five games, and were defeated 64-53 by Cedarville University on Saturday. The Cavs lead the all-time series 3-0.
The Cavs are averaging 88.6 points per game, tops in the AMC, with six players scoring in double figures. Joe Shardo now leads the Cavs in scoring, with a 17.2 per game average. He is shooting .527 (6th AMC) from the field and .457 (3rd AMC) from three-point and .824 from the foul line. He is also averaging 5.8 rebounds per contest. Kyelce Cescato is averaging 14.5 points per game, with a team-leading 8.4 rebounds. He also leads the team, and AMC in field goal percentage (.641/4th NAIA). Jeremy Shardo is averaging 15.4 points and leads the AMC and NAIA with 100 assists for a 7.9 per game average. Shardo is shooting .495 from the field, .449 from three-point and .793 (2nd AMC) from the line. Brandon Speck is averaging 11.7 points and is shooting .440 from three-point, and leads the team with 72 three's.
As a team, the Cavs are among the AMC and NAIA leaders. In scoring; 88.6 (AMC 1st, NAIA 6th), scoring defense 65.9 (AMC 2nd), scoring margin 22.7 (AMC 1st, NAIA 1st), free throw percentage .742 (AMC 1st, NAIA 6th), field goal percentage .516 (AMC 1st, NAIA 2nd), 3-PT FG percentage .437 (AMC 1st, NAIA 1st), rebound margin 11.5 (AMC 1st, NAIA 2nd), assist/turnover ratio 1.6 (AMC 1st, NAIA 1st).
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Cavs' (16-9, 9-2) Set For Key AMC Match-Ups
With 12 wins in their last 14 games, Walsh (16-9, 9-2) is set for two key American Mideast Conference games this week. On Tuesday, the Cavs travel to Ursuline College (7 pm) and on Saturday host Notre Dame College (2 pm). The Cavs are in second place in the AMC, with four conference games remaining. Walsh leads third place Daemen College (9-3) by one game, and fourth place Cedarville University (7-3). NAIA No. 2 Shawnee State University (11-0) leads the AMC. The Cavs have yet to play Daemen (H, 2/20), but have already defeated Cedarville. The Cavs lost to Shawnee State on January 17. If the Cavs remain in second place, they will qualify automatically for the NAIA National Tournament. If they should fall into third place, they would have to win the conference tournament to gain a berth at nationals.
Walsh pulled away from King College (7-15) in the second half, on their way to a 77-59 non-conference win on Monday night. The game was a make-up, after its original date in November was postponed. Walsh shot a blistering .615 (16-26) from the floor in the second half, in outscoring King 44-26. The contest was tied at 33 at the half. Cara Bedard (6-0, So., Randolph, OH/Waterloo) led the Cavs and all scorers with 19 points. Bedard was 7-8 from the floor and 5-6 from the line. Jessie Miller (5-10, Jr., Strasburg, OH/HS) was 6-9 from the field and added 14 points. The Cavs shot .558 (29-52) from the field and 15-17 (.882) from the charity stripe. Katie Berry (So., Cleveland, OH/St. Joseph’s) and Chelsea Chaffin (5-3, Fr., Mt. Sterling, OH/Madison-Plains) each handed out six assists and Kristi Yoder (6-1, Fr., Millersburg, OH/Hiland) added nine points.
Ohio Dominican proved no match for the surging Cavs on Saturday, as Walsh led from start to finish in a 74-56 triumph. Walsh jumped to a 14-2 lead, and led 31-12 at the half as they held the Panthers to 4-26 from the field. Cara Bedard scored 13 of her game-high 22 points in the first half. Bedard was a sizzling 10-11 from the floor. The Cavs held their largest lead at 65-35 with 7:53 to play. Leah Seaman (5-8, Jr., Louisville, OH/HS) added 19 points off the bench on 7-9 from the floor and 4-6 from three-point. Walsh shot 53% from the field on 28-53, and 7-14 from three-point.
Cara Bedard held the hot hand in both Walsh wins, shooting .895 (17-19) and averaging 20.5 points. She was also 7-8 (.875) from the foul line and averaged 4.0 rebounds per game.
Walsh travels to Pepper Pike, Ohio to meeting the streaking Ursuline College Arrows on Tuesday. Ursuline stands 7-4 in the AMC and 14-10 overall. They have won their last four games and defeated Wilberforce 104-86 on Saturday. Walsh leads the all-time series 9-1.
Walsh plays host to struggling Notre Dame College (16-10, 6-5) on Saturday. The Falcons have dropped their last three games, and were pounded 90-63 at home by Cedarville last Saturday. They play host to Wilberforce on Wednesday. Walsh leads the all-time series 27-4.
Despite battling shin splints, Katie Berry (So., Cleveland, OH/St. Joseph’s) still leads the Cavs in scoring, averaging 14.7 points (AMC 7th). She is shooting .479 (AMC 3rd) from the field and .793 (AMC 6th) from the line. Berry also leads the team with 91 assists (3.6). Cara Bedard is the only other player scoring in double figures, averaging 12.8 points and a team-leading 6.0 rebounds. Bedard is also shooting a team-leading .571 from the field, .802 from the foul line, and has recorded four double-doubles on the season. Freshman Chelsea Chaffin is averaging 7.7 points and is second to Berry in assists (81/3.2).
As a team, the Cavs have eclipsed last season’s win total overall (13) and in the AMC (5). Walsh's 16 wins are the most since they finished 16-13 under Theresa Berg in 2005-06.
MEN'S INDOOR TRACK: Cavs 5th at Oberlin, Williams, Kulsar, Pierce Capture Events
Walsh (5-7) finished fifth at the six-team Oberlin College Crimson and Gold Classic last Friday. The Cavs totaled 77.33 points in 17 scored events. The Cavs are at Kenyon College on Friday.
Walsh captured three first-place finishes. Brian Williams (So., Canton, OH/McKinley), who set a new school record in the 55m hurdles last week, finished first in a time of 7.79. Eric Klulcar (Fr., Medina, OH/Highland) won the pole vault (13-07.25) and Tyler Pierce (Jr., Salem, OH/HS) the high jump (6-02.75).
David Leary (Fr., Canal Fulton, OH/Northwest) finished second in the 10,000m (2:42.64).
WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK: Cavs' Women's Track Wins Oberlin's Crimson and Gold Classic, DiNinno, Case Place First
Walsh (14-1) captured the eight-team Crimson and Gold Classic, hosted by Oberlin College last Friday. Walsh totaled 144 points in the 17 scored events, with two first place finishes. The Cavs are at Kenyon College on Friday.
Andrea DiNinno (Sr., Greensburg, PA/Central Catholic) set a new school record in the mile. DiNinno finished first in a time of 5:23.03, and bested the previous mark of 5:34, held by Sara Piersante. Last week, DiNinno set a new standard in the 3,000 run. Megan Case (So., Louisville, OH/HS) finished first in the 500m run in a time of 1:26.25.
Danielle Cofojohn (Jr., Diamond, OH/Southeast) placed second in the shot put, with a provisional qualifying toss of 41.04.50, just shy of Walsh's school record throw of 41.07.
Emma Heck (So., Canton, OH/Central Catholic) finished second in the pole vault (10-02.00), Kristen LeFever (Jr., Alliance, OH/Marlington) in the 800m (2:27.25), Allie Simmons (Fr., Toledo, OH/Central Catholic) in the long jump (14-07.75) and Chantelle Richards (So., Akron, OH/East) in the 500m (1:27.28).
