This Week in Walsh University Athletics
Monday, January 25, 2010
Tues. 26
Women's Basketball at Cedarville University 6 pm (AM 900 WCER, www.wcer.us )
Men's Basketball at Cedarville University 8 pm (AM 900 WCER, www.wcer.us )
Fri. 29
Women's Basketball at Houghton College 6 pm (AM 900 WCER, www.wcer.us )
Men's Basketball at Houghton College 8 pm (AM 900 WCER, www.wcer.us )
Sat. 30
Indoor Track at Edinboro University 11:45 am
MEN'S BASKETBALL: NAIA No. 2 Cavs Back on the Road/Square Off at Cedarville on Tuesday
NAIA No. 2 (new poll released today) Walsh (19-1, 8-0 AMC) remained atop, and unbeaten in the American Mideast Conference South Division by winning two more conference games last week. Walsh is the only unbeaten team in the AMC South and lead the division. Last week, Walsh won (107-65) at home over Wilberforce University, then throttled Point Park University (107-71) on the road on Thursday, then capped off the week with a 80-54 non-conference win at home against Ohio Dominican University (80-54) on Saturday night. The Cavs have reeled off nine straight wins, one shy of the ten-game win streak that they opened the season with. Walsh set a school-record, as they reached the 100-point mark for the eighth and ninth times this season. They also tied a school-mark by scoring 100 points in three straight games. This week, the Cavs have back-to-back AMC road games. The Cavs face second place Cedarville University at the Callan Center on Tuesday night (7:30 pm), then travel to Houghton College for an 8 pm tip on Friday night. Both games will be broadcast live on AM 900 WCER (www.wcer.us).
Walsh rolled to its seventh straight win, thumping Wilberforce University 107-65. Walsh led from start-to-finish in beating the Bulldogs for the second time this season. The Cavs settled the issue in the first half and led 56-26 at the half. The Cavs would run roughshod over the Bulldogs in the final 20 minutes and held their largest lead at 103-57 (46 pts.) with 2:38 to play. Ricky Jackson (6-7, Sr., Chicago, IL/Canton McKinley/West Virginia State) connected on 10-16 from the field and led all scorers with 23 points. He also grabbed nine rebounds. Brandon Speck (6-0, Sr., Mansfield, OH/St. Peter's) continued his hot shooting, and fine play off the bench with 21 points on 7-12 from behind the arc. Lamar Skeeter (6-0, Jr., Dayton, OH/Kettering Fairmount) added 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists and Kyelce Cescato (6-10, Sr., Barra Bonita, Brazil/Colmeia Entec) chipped in 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Walsh shot 52% (42-81) from the field and outrebounded Wilberforce 61-29.
Walsh smashed a school-record by scoring 100 points in a single game for the ninth time this season, in their 107-71 romp at Point Park University. The previous record of eight times in a single season was set in 1989-90. The Cavs also tied a school record (1985-86) by scoring 100 points in three straight games. Walsh trailed just twice, at 8-6 and 8-7, and held a double digit the last 6:30 of the first half. Point Park would close to within eight points twice in the second half (46-38, 54-46), but would get no closer. Walsh would use a 14-6 run to extend the lead to 68-52 with 11:59 to play, then ran roughshod over the Pioneers in the final five minutes. Walsh shot a blistering 60% (22-37) in the second half in putting up 61 points. Ricky Jackson connected on 11-18 from the field and led all scorers with 33 points. He also grabbed a ten rebounds and blocked four shots. Walsh placed four other players in double figures. Lamar Skeeter added 17 points, 16 in the second half. He also dished out a game-high nine assists. Kyelce Cescato chipped in 14 points and 10 rebounds and L.J. Sutton (6-5, So., Youngstown, OH/Cardinal Mooney) and Brandon Speck scored 12 points each. Walsh took outstanding care of the ball, with 25 assists and nine turnovers. Walsh turned the ball over just twice in the second half.
Walsh won its ninth straight game, rolling over visiting Ohio Dominican University 80-54. With 11:08 to play in the first half, and Walsh leading 17-14, the Cavs used a 12-0 run to get the rout in motion. Walsh would outscore the Panthers 30-14 in the final 11:08 to lead 47-28 at halftime. ODU's scoring woes continued into the second half, as Walsh held the Panthers scoreless the first 7:48 of the second half. By that time, the Cavs had extended their lead to 60-30. Five players reached double figures, led by Lamar Skeeter's game-high 17 points. Skeeter also grabbed five rebounds. Ricky Jackson added 15 points, L.J. Sutton 13, Brandon Speck 12 and Kenny Kornowski (Fr., 6-9, Marshallville, OH/Smithville) 11 points and six rebounds. Jeremy Shardo (6-3, Jr., Yorkshire, OH/Versailles), the NAIA leader in assists, handed out a game-high nine and Kyelce Cescato and Isaac Knight (6-8, Sr., Detroit, MI/Crockett/Kent State) each grabbed eight rebounds.
Walsh meets Cedarville (12-7, 4-2 AMC S) for the second time this season on Tuesday. The Cavs won the first meeting, 88-76, at home on December 1. The Yellow Jackets have posted wins in their last two games and are 7-1 at home this season. Walsh leads the all-time series 39-37.
The Cavs continue their road swing at Houghton (8-10, 3-5 AMC N) on Friday. The Highlanders are tied for fourth place in the AMC North and play at Malone University on Tuesday. They won at Cedarville on January 16 with a buzzer beater from beyond half court. Walsh defeated Houghton 84-49, at home on November 17 and lead the all-time series 15-0.
Walsh's balanced attack has five players in double figures, led by AMC scoring leader Ricky Jackson (23.3 ppg). Jackson also leads the AMC in FG% (.621) and is tied for fifth in the NAIA. He is second on the team with 8.0 rebounds per game. Lamar Skeeter (6-0, Jr., Dayton, OH/Kettering Fairmount) is averaging 13.4 points and is shooting .520 from the field and is second from the free throw line in the AMC at .824. Brandon Speck is averaging 11.2 points and is third in the AMC three-point shooting (.444). He is two points shy of joining the 1,000 point club. Eric Schiele (6-0, Jr., Atwater, OH/Waterloo/Cleveland State) is averaging 10.8 points off the bench, but is lost for the season due to a knee injury suffered in practice. He will undergo surgery in March. L.J. Sutton is scoring at a 10.3 clip and is shooting .523 from the field and is pulling down 6.2 rebounds. Jeremy Shardo is averaging 9.6 points and leads the AMC and NAIA in assists (7.2) and assist/turnover ratio (2.88). Kyelce Cescato is averaging 9.5 points, is shooting .609 from the field and leads in the team in rebounding at 8.3 per game.
The Cavs are averaging a NAIA best 98.5 points per game and are allowing just 62.3 ppg (1st-AMC, 5th-NAIA). Walsh also leads the NAIA in scoring margin (36.2), field goal percentage (.525), team field goal defense (.369), rebounds per game (50.8), rebound margin (20.1) assists per game (20.9) and assist/turnover ratio (1.65). The Cavs also lead the AMC in three-point field goal percentage (.406), which is good for third in the NAIA.
The Cavs and Oregon Tech own the NAIA Division II active streak for longest run in the Top 25 at 57 straight weeks -- the last time either was not ranked was Jan. 11, 2005. Walsh has won 31 straight home games and 52 of their last 53.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: First Place Cavs Take Aim at Top 25/Showdown at Cedarville Next
The surging first place Walsh Cavs (16-5, 9-1 AMC, NAIA 26th new ranking today) take their eight-game win streak on the road tomorrow night for first of two American Mideast Conference road games this week. The Cavs face second place Cedarville University at the Callan Center on Tuesday (5:30 pm), then meet Houghton College on Friday night (6 pm). Both games will be broadcast live on AM 900 WCER (www.wcer.us). Walsh won three AMC games last week to stretch the season-long win streak to eight, their longest under fourth year coach Laurel Wartluft and longest since they won 10 straight games in 1997-98. The Cavs won their only national championship in 1997-98 under Karl Smesko.
Walsh bounced visiting Wilberforce University 98-68 last Tuesday night at Alumni Arena. Walsh exploded for 59 second half points to pull away from the Bulldogs. After leading 39-33 at the half, the Cavs outscored Wilberforce 59-35 in the second half. Walsh opened the half with a 12-6 run to lead 51-39 with 15:01 to play. They held their largest lead (31) at 96-65 and the final margin. Walsh's balanced attack produced five players in double figures. Cara Bedard (6-0, Jr., Randolph, OH)/Waterloo) and Jessie Miller (5-10, Sr., Strasburg, OH/HS) led the way with 19 points each. Bedard was 6-9 from the floor and 7-11 from the line. She also grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds. Miller, who was named NAIA Player of the Week earlier in the day, was 8-16 from the floor. Leah Seaman (5-8, Sr., Louisville, OH/HS) added 16 points off the bench on 5-7 from the field and 5-6 from the line. Katie Berry (5-11, Jr., Cleveland, OH/St. Joseph's) added 12 points and a game-high nine assists and Kayla Kovach (So., 6-0, Lakewood, OH/HS/IPFW) chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds. Walsh shot 49% from the field and out rebounded the Bulldogs 52-46.
Walsh pounded the ball into the paint to the tune of 46 points, in an 83-56 win over Point Park University on the road on Thursday. Walsh led from start-to-finish, and led by as many as 17 points (39-22) in the first half before a late Point Park surge trimmed the lead to 39-31 at the break. The second half was all Walsh, as they led by double figures the entire half, with their largest lead (27 pts.) being the final margin. The Cavs outscored the Pioneers 44-25 in the second half. Walsh's balanced attack was led by Jessie Miller, who led all scorers with 19 points. Miller was 7-10 from the field. Katie Berry added 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and five steals. Kristi Yoder (So., 6-1, Millersburg, OH/Hiland) chipped in 12 points off the bench and Kayla Kovach added 10 points and seven rebounds. Walsh was a blistering 64% from the field on 32-50, shooting 65% in the first half and 63% in the second half. The Cavs outrebounded Point Park 45-22 and came away with 14 steals.
Walsh posted its eighth straight win, winning 85-60 at defeating Carlow College on Saturday. The Cavs continued their hot shooting in the win over the Celtics. After shooting 64% from the floor in their win over Point Park on Thursday, the Cavs shot 50% from the field, a perfect 6-6 from three-point and 74% from the line today. Jessie Miller paced the Cavs with 20 points. Katie Berry added 18 points and Kayla Kovach 17 points and seven rebounds.
Walsh and NAIA No. 5 Cedarville University (17-3, 8-1 AMC) meet on Tuesday. The second place Yellow Jackets have won their last nine games. Walsh won the first meeting, 79-76 in overtime, at home on December 1. A Walsh win would give the them a series sweep for the first time since 1987-98. The Cavs trail in the series 18-16, but have won the last three games.
Walsh and Houghton College (11-6, 6-4 AMC) play in New York on Friday night. The Highlanders are seventh in the AMC and travel to Canton to meet Malone University on Tuesday. Walsh leads the all-time series 6-0.
Jessie Miller leads the team in scoring at 16.7 ppg (10th AMC). Miller is shooting .460 from the field and .780 from the line. Katie Berry is next at 14.9 ppg. Berry is shooting .489 from the field and .739 from the line. She leads the Cavs in 5.2 (4th AMC)) and 42 steals (2.8 4th AMC). Cara Bedard is averaging 13.2 ppg and a team-best 6.7 rebounds. Bedard leads the AMC in field goal percentage (.610) and is fourth in the NAIA. She is second in the AMC in blocked shots (50, 2.4 pg). She is Walsh's all-time single season and career leader (109) in blocked shots. Kayla Kovach is averaging 11.6 points and 5.9 rebounds and is second in the AMC and 15th in the NAIA in free throw percentage (.847)
Walsh leads the AMC in scoring average (79.7), field goal percentage (.492), three-point percentage (.381), defensive rebounds (35.6) and assists (19.2). Walsh leads the NAIA in field goal percentage and is second nationally in assists.
INDOOR TRACK: MEN'S INDOOR TRACK: Morgan and Williams (Qualifies Nationals) Earn First Place Finishes at Spartan Relays
The Walsh University men’s indoor track team competed in the 2010 Spartan Relays hosted by Case Western Reserve University on Saturday and came away with first place finishes in three events. This Saturday, the Cavs compete in the Al Hall Freedom Games Invitational at Edinboro University.
Joe Morgan (Jr., Canton, OH/McKinley) finished first in both the 55 meter dash and long jump while Brian Williams (Sr., Canton, OH/McKinley) took top honors in the 55 meter hurdles. Morgan finished with a time of 6.54 in the 55 meter dash (.01 from national standard) and jumped a distance of 22-05.75 (.03 from national standard). Williams completed the hurdles with a time of 7.71 and automatically qualified for the NAIA National Indoor Meet.
Other standouts for the Cavaliers included a second place finish by Dan Harsh (Perry, OH/HS) in the triple jump with a distance of 36-11, Evan Heck (So., Canton, OH/Central Catholic) placing third in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:02.92, Jordan Groubert (Fr., Hartville, OH/Lake) finishing fourth in the mile run with a time of 4:45.02, Tyler Pierce’s (Jr., Salem, OH/HS) fourth-place high jump of 5-10, and Brad Schrecengost’s (Jr., Cortland, OH/Lakeview) fourth place weight throw of 43-03.75.
WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK: Foster and Cofojohn Win Events in Spartan Relays/Set Marks
Stephanie Foster’s (Fr., Lodi, OH/Cloverleaf) and Danielle Cofojohn’s (Sr., Diamond, OH/Southeast) first place finishes led Walsh in the 2010 Spartan Relays hosted by Case Western Reserve University on Saturday. This Saturday, the Cavs compete in the Al Hall Freedom Games Invitational at Edinboro University.
Foster finished in the top spot in the pole vault event with a new school-record vault of 10-7.5 while Cofojohn out-threw her competition in the shot put with a distance of 42-05.5, also a school-record and "A" standard performance.
Lauren Ignazio (So., Austintown, OH/Ursuline), Allie Simmons (So., Toledo Central Catholic) and Catie Shears (So., Washington Court House) represented the Cavaliers well in the triple jump finishing second, third and fourth, respectively. Ignazio jumped a distance of 30-07.5, while Simmons jumped 29-08 and Shears leaped 29-05.25.
Sarah Martter (Fr., Peninsula, OH/Woodbridge) finished fourth in the 400 meter dash with a time of 1:05.53, as well as the long jump with a distance of 15-04.75. She also participated on the fourth-place 4x400 meter relay team with Mara Mysliwiec (Fr., Parma, OH/Padua), Denise Sahli (Sr., East Canton, OH/HS) and Allison Swarny (Fr., Bolivar, OH/Tusky Valley) with a time of 4:26.79.
Other top performers for Walsh included Swarny finishing fourth in the 200 meter dash with a time of 27.84, Kristin Havens (Jr., Wadsworth, OH/HS) finishing fourth in the mile run with a time of 5:42.89, Natalie Borland (Jr., Kent, OH/Kent Roosevelt) finishing fourth in the high jump with a height of 4-09.75, Kendrajo Wilson’s (Fr., Coshocton, OH/HS) fourth place finish in the pole vault with a distance of 8-08, and Sara Stone (Jr., North Canton, OH/Hoover) finishing fourth in the weight throw with a mark of 40-00.75.
FOOTBALL: Cox, Jason Stiel Earn All-MSFA Academic Honors
Tim Cox (Jr., Minerva, OH/HS) and Jason Stiel (Jr., Reynoldsburg, OH/HS) have been named to the 2009 All-Mid-States Football Association All-Academic Team. Cox, a government/foreign affairs major, carries a 3.43 grade point average. Stiel, a chemistry major, sports a 3.28 grade point average.
