This Week in Walsh University Athletics
Monday, January 19, 2009
Tues. 20 Women’s Basketball at Wilberforce University 5:30 pm (AM 900 WCER)
Men's Basketball at Wilberforce University 7:30 pm (AM 900 WCER)
Fri. 23 Women's Basketball at Roberts Wesleyan 6 pm (AM 900 WCER)
Men's Basketball at Roberts Wesleyan 8 pm (AM 900 WCER)
Sat. 24 Men’s Basketball at Houghton College 5 pm (AM 900 WCER)
Women’s Basketball at Houghton College 7 pm (AM 900 WCER)
Men's and Women's Indoor Track at Case Western Reserve University Invitational
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Cavs (14-3, 3-1) Rebound From Cedarville Loss with Two AMC Wins
NAIA No. 10 Walsh (14-3, 2-1) started a new winning streak, with American Mideast Conference victories over Point Park University (86-68) and Shawnee State University (77-56) last week. This week, the Cavs play three AMC road games in five days, beginning with Wilberforce University on Tuesday (7:30 pm). On Friday, the Cavs play at Roberts Wesleyan University (8 pm) and close the road trip at Houghton College on Saturday (5 pm). All games will be broadcast live on AM 900 WCER and on the Internet at www.wcer.us. The Cavs are behind only NAIA No. 5 Cedarville University (5-0) and Notre Dame College (4-0) in the AMC. Cedarville handed the Cavs their only AMC loss, and the Cavs and Notre Dame meet at Alumni Arena on February 14.
Walsh snapped a modest one-game losing streak, with a 86-68 win over Point Park University on Tuesday night at Alumni Arena. After trailing 6-5, Walsh ran off nine straight points and never looked back. L.J. Sutton (6-4, Fr., Youngstown, OH/Cardinal Mooney) scored 13 of his career-high 16 points in the first half, as the Cavs took a 46-31 halftime lead. Walsh out scored Point Park 40-37 in the second half and led by as many as 26 points (81-55). Besides Sutton's career night, Saihou Jassey (6-6, Jr., Banjul, Gambia/Rose Hill HS) tallied a career-best 18 points off the bench to lead the Cavs. Joe Shardo (6-5, Sr., Yorkshire, OH/Versailles) added 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Kyelce Cescato (6-10, Jr., Barra Bonita, Brazil, Colmeia Entec) and Greg Howard (6-4, So., Cincinnati, OH/Withrow/West Liberty) each had 10 points, with NAIA assist leader Jeremy Shardo (6-3, So., Yorkshire, OH/Versailles) handing out nine on the night.
Walsh earned a 77-56 road AMC win at Shawnee State University on Saturday. After trailing 6-5 early in the first half, Walsh ran off nine straight points and never trailed again. The Cavs shot 52% in the first half and led 38-30 at halftime. Walsh led by as many as 11 points in the second half, when the Bears rallied and trimmed the lead to 54-49 with 7:24 to play. Joe Shardo then nailed back-to-back three-pointers to push the lead back to 11 points. Shardo would finish with a game-high 22 points, on 8-12 from the floor and 4-6 from three-point. He also added seven rebounds. Jeremy Shardo added 18 points, dished out eight assists and grabbed seven rebounds. Shardo was 9-10 from the foul line. Kyelce Cescato recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds and Brandon Speck added 10 points and grabbed five rebounds. Walsh shot 47% from behind the arc on 7-15 and 79% from the line on 22-28.
The Cavs play at Wilberforce University on Tuesday. The Bulldogs are 9-9 overall and 1-2 in the AMC. The Cavs lead the all-time series 16-3 and have won the last nine meetings. Walsh then travels to New York State for the weekend. The Cavs play at Roberts Wesleyan on Friday. The Raiders are 9-8 overall and 0-3 in the AMC. Walsh leads the all-time series 5-2, and has won the last two meetings. The Cavs close their road trip of four games in eight days at Houghton College on Saturday. The Highlanders are 5-10 overall and 1-3 in the AMC. Walsh leads the all-time series 13-0.
The Cavs are averaging 88.8 points per game, tops in the AMC, with six players scoring in double figures. Kyelce Cescato is averaging 14.9 points per game, with a team-leading 8.2 rebounds. He also leads the team in field goal percentage (.624/2nd AMC). Jeremy Shardo is averaging 14.8 points and leads the AMC and NAIA with 129 assists for a 7.6 per game average. Shardo is shooting 51% from the field, 48% from three-point and 82% (3rd AMC) from the line. Joe Shardo is averaging 14.6 points and 5.7 rebounds. He is shooting 54% from the field and 47% (3rd AMC) from three-point. Brandon Speck (6-0, Jr., Mansfield, OH/St. Peter's) is averaging 10.2 points and is shooting 45% from three-point. Greg Howard is scoring at a 10.3 clip and is shooting 53% from the field.
As a team, the Cavs are among the AMC and NAIA leaders. In scoring; 88.8 (AMC 1st, NAIA 5th), scoring defense 64.1 (AMC 3rd), scoring margin 24.7 (AMC 1st, NAIA 3rd), free throw percentage .753 (AMC 1st, NAIA 4th), field goal percentage .523 (AMC 1st, NAIA 2nd), 3-PT FG percentage .441 (AMC 1st, NAIA 1st), rebound margin 14.5 (AMC 1st, NAIA 2nd), assist/turnover ratio 1.49 (AMC 1st, NAIA 2nd).
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Upstart Cavs' (10-8, 4-1) Six-Game Win Streak Stopped at 2nd Ranked Shawnee State
Walsh's longest winning streak (six-games) since 2003-04 was snapped at Shawnee State University on Saturday, as the Cavs fell 80-57 to the NAIA second ranked Bears. Earlier in the week, the Cavs bested Point Park University 77-61. This week, the Cavs continue on the road with AMC games at Point Park University on Tuesday (5:30 pm), Roberts Wesleyan University on Friday (6 pm) and at Houghton College on Saturday (7 pm). All games will be broadcast live on AM 900 WCER and on the Internet at www.wcer.us.
Walsh won its sixth straight game, defeating Point Park University 77-61 at Alumni Arena on Tuesday. After trailing 2-0 following the opening tap, the Cavs never trailed again. Katie Berry (So., Cleveland, OH/St. Joseph’s), the AMC's Player of the Week, scored 17 of her game-high 19 points in the first half as the Cavs built a 35-32 halftime lead. The second half was all Walsh, as the Cavs held Point Park to just 29 points on 8-27 (.296) from the field, in outscoring the Pioneers 42-29. Cara Bedard (6-0, So., Randolph, OH/Waterloo) recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Kristi Yoder (Millersburg, OH/Hiland) grabbed 10 boards and Jessie Miller (5-10, Jr., Strasburg, OH/HS) added 11 points. The Cavs shot 53% from the floor, while holding Point Park to 40% from the field.
Katie Berry picked up two quick fouls at Shawnee State, and was held scoreless in the first half, as the Cavs trailed 35-25 at halftime. Berry finished with six points. Cara Bedard kept the Cavs within striking distance in the first half, and up to the midway point of the second half with her outstanding offensive game. Bedard finished with a game-high 22 points on 9-13 from the floor, and 4-5 from the foul line. She also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds in recording her second straight double-double. Bedard was the only Cavalier to reach double figures. Turnovers played a major part in the loss, as the Cavs turned the ball over 28 times.
The Cavs play at Wilberforce University on Tuesday. The Bulldogs are 5-12 overall and 0-3 in the AMC. The Cavs lead the all-time series 12-5 and have won the last two meetings. Walsh then travels to New York State for the weekend. The Cavs play at Roberts Wesleyan on Friday. The Raiders are 4-8 overall and 0-3 in the AMC. Walsh trails in the all-time series 3-1, but won 82-66 last year. The Cavs close their road trip of four games in eight days at Houghton College on Saturday. The Highlanders are 5-8 overall and 0-4 in the AMC. Walsh lead the all-time series 5-0.
Katie Berry leads the Cavs in scoring, averaging 14.7 points (AMC 8th). She is shooting 52% (AMC 3rd) from the field and 80% (AMC 8th) from the line. Cara Bedard is the only other player scoring in double figures, averaging 11.9 points and a team-leading 5.9 rebounds. Chelsea Chaffin (5-3, Fr., Mt. Sterling, OH/Madison-Plains) is averaging 7.9 points and 3.5 assists.
INDOOR TRACK: Cavs' Men Fourth at Marietta Open; Williams, Weirtz Capture First
Walsh University (4-3) finished fourth (102) at the eight-team Marietta College Open on Saturday. Wheeling Jesuit (185.50) won the open. This Saturday, the Cavs will compete at the Case Western Reserve University Invitational.
Chris Weirtz (Fr., Hudson, OH/Western Reserve) and Brian Williams (So., Canton, OH/McKinley) captured first place finishes for the Cavs. Weirtz won the 400m dash in a time of 54.54, while Williams captured the 55m hurdles in a provisional qualifying time of 7.85.
Bob Fay (Fr., Canton, OH/Central Catholic), Brad Schrecengost (Fr., Lakeview, OH/Cortland) and David Leary (Fr., Canal Fulton, OH/Northwest) earned second place finishes. Fay in the 3000m run (9:41.42), Schrecengost in the weight throw (48-08.25) and Leary in the mile (4:34.55).
INDOOR TRACK: Cavs' Women Shine with 2nd Place Finish at Marietta Open
Walsh (7-1) finished second at the nine-team Marietta College Open on Saturday. The Cavs finished with 183.50 points, just behind Marietta, who finished with 185 points to win the meet. The Cavs captured four first place finishes and three second place finishes. This Saturday, the Cavs will compete at the Case Western Reserve University Invitational.
Danielle Cofojohn (Jr., Diamond, OH/Southeast) and Holly Gospodinsky (So., Wadsworth, OH/HS) finished one-two in the shot put. Cofojohn won with a toss of 39-05.00, while Gospodinsky's throw of 37-05.25 was second. Jackie Misiak (Sr., North Royalton, OH/HS) won the 55m hurdles, with a time of 9.40. Walsh's distance medley relay team, comprised of Megan Case (So., Louisville, OH/HS), Andrea DiNinno (Sr., Greensburg, PA/Central Catholic), Kristen Havens (So., Wadsworth, OH/HS) and Kristen LeFever (Jr., Alliance, OH/Marlington) won in a time of 13:33.55.
Sara Stone (So., Uniontown, OH/North Canton Hoover) finished second in the weight throw, with a toss of 39-09.25. Walsh's 4x200 meter relay team also garnered a second place finish. Ashley Lewis (So., Louisville, OH/HS), Elizabeth Emanuel (Fr., Hubbard, OH/Ursuline), Denise Sahli (Jr., East Canton, OH/HS) and Allie Simmons (Fr., Toledo, OH/Central Catholic) finished second in a time of 1:56.05.
FOOTBALL: Cavs Place Four on Mid-States All-Academic Team
Walsh placed four student-athletes on the Mid-States Football Association All-Academic Team. Tim Cox (Jr., Minerva, OH/HS), John Rutan (Jr., Hartville, OH/Lake), Drew Stagg (Sr., Reynoldsburg, OH/HS) and Lou Ward (Sr., East Liverpool, OH/HS) all earned a spot on the team. To be eligible for the team, all student-athletes must be a junior and carry at least a 3.00 GPA.
Cox, a government/foreign affairs major, carries a 3.50 grade point average. Rutan, an education major, carries a 3.55 GPA. Stagg, also an education major, carries a 3.55 GPA and Ward, a marketing major, has a 3.43 GPA.
