This Week in Walsh University Athletics
Monday, January 26, 2009
Tues. 27 Women’s Basketball (H) Malone University 6 pm (AM 900 WCER)
Men's Basketball (H) Malone University 8 pm (AM 900 WCER)
Fri. 30 Indoor Track at the University of Findlay
Sat. 31 Women’s Basketball (H) University of Rio Grande 2 pm
Men’s Basketball (H) University of Rio Grande 4 pm (AM 900 WCER)
Indoor Track at University of Findlay
MEN'S BASKETBALL: 8th Ranked Cavs (17-3, 6-1) Capture Four AMC Wins in Eight Days
Walsh moved up two spots to number eight in the latest NAIA Top 25 last week, then improved to 17-3 overall and to 6-1 in the American Mideast Conference with three road victories. By winning four road games in the last eight days, the Cavs could move up again when the latest Top 25 is released later today. The Cavs have won their last five games.
This week, the Cavs return home for two key AMC games. On Tuesday, the Cavs host rival Malone University at 8 pm, and on Saturday welcome the University of Rio Grande at 4 pm. Both games will be broadcast live on AM 900 WCER and on the Internet at www.wcer.us. The Cavs are behind only NAIA No. 3 Cedarville University (7-0) in the AMC. Cedarville handed the Cavs their only AMC loss, 70-66 on January 10.
Walsh opened their three-game week with a 91-57 win at Wilberforce University (9-10, 1-3) on Tuesday night. Walsh held the Bulldogs to 19 first half points in building a 42-19 halftime lead. They would not be challenged in the second half in outscoring the home team 49-38. Walsh's balanced attack placed five players in double figure scoring, led by Kyelce Cescato's (6-10, Jr., Barra Bonita, Brazil, Colmeia Entec) 15 points. Eric Love (6-2, Sr., Concord, NC/Mt. Pleasant) and Brandon Speck (6-0, Jr., Mansfield, OH/St. Peter's) each added 13 points, with Saihou Jassey (6-6, Jr., Banjul, Gambia/Rose Hill HS) and Jeremy Shardo (6-3, So., Yorkshire, OH/Versailles) each scoring 12 points. Speck also grabbed a career-high nine rebounds. The Cavs lost another player to injury, when Greg Howard (6-4, So., Cincinnati, OH/Withrow/West Liberty) suffered a broken bone in his left foot in the first half. It is feared that he is lost for the season.
Walsh won its fourth straight game, defeating Roberts Wesleyan College (9-9, 0-4) 85-69 on Friday night. Walsh shot 50% from the field ,and 53% from three-point range in the first half in building a 48-40 lead. Joe Shardo (6-5, Sr., Yorkshire, OH/Versailles) scored 13 points first half points, on 5-6 from the floor and 3-4 from three-point. He finished with 18 points. Kyelce Cescato tallied 11 first half points and finished with a game-high 20 points and 14 rebounds. Walsh led by as many as 20 points in the second half. Brandon Speck was 6-10 from behind the arc and finished with 19 points. Jeremy Shardo handed out a game-high 11 assists to go with 12 points. Walsh shot 52% from the floor and 52% from behind the arc.
Walsh opened the second half at Houghton College (5-12, 1-5) with a 19-0 run, to help pave the way for a 71-45 win on Saturday. Walsh led 36-27 late in the first half, when Houghton's Billy Evans banked in a 40-foot shot at the buzzer to pull the Highlanders to within six points (36-30) at the half. Joe Shardo scored 20 first half points for the Cavs on 7-10 from the floor, including 3-5 from three-point. Shardo finished with a game and career-high 34 points. He was 12-22 from the floor, 5-10 from behind the arc and a perfect 5-5 from the foul line, and led all rebounders with nine. The second half was all Walsh. The Cavs opened the half with a 19-0 and held Houghton scoreless until the 11:19 mark. Brandon Speck was the only other Cavalier to reach double figures, nailing five three-pointers and finishing with 15 points. Jeremy Shardo, the NAIA assist leader, handed out a game-high six assists.
Walsh and rival Malone University (7-17, 3-2) meet for the second time this season, and 99th overall, on Tuesday. Walsh won the Mayor's Cup meeting, 85-47 at Malone on December 6. Malone brings a modest two-game win streak to Walsh, having won twice in New York State this past weekend. The Pioneers downed Roberts Wesleyan 68-58 on Saturday. Walsh leads the all-time series 59-39, and has won the last four meetings. Jeremy Shardo had a triple-double in the first meeting at Malone. Shardo scored 12 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and handed out 11 assists. Walsh out scored Malone 53-26 in the second half.
The Cavs and the University of Rio Grande (16-7, 3-3) have their only regular season meeting at Walsh on Saturday. Rio fell 82-75 to Ohio Dominican last Saturday. They host Shawnee State on Tuesday. Walsh trails in the all-time series 43-37, but have won the last eight meetings.
The Cavs are averaging 87.8 points per game, tops in the AMC, with six players scoring in double figures. After his 34-point explosion at Rio Roberts Wesleyan, Joe Shardo now leads the Cavs in scoring, with a 15.4 per game average. He is shooting 54% from the field and 47% (3rd AMC) from three-point. Kyelce Cescato is averaging 14.9 points per game, with a team-leading 8.4 rebounds. He also leads the team in field goal percentage (.628/2nd AMC/6th NAIA). Jeremy Shardo is averaging 14.1 points and leads the AMC and NAIA with 153 assists for a 7.7 per game average. Shardo is shooting 50% from the field, 46% from three-point and 82% (2nd AMC) from the line. Brandon Speck is averaging 11.1 points and is shooting 44% from three-point. Greg Howard is scoring at a 10.1 clip and is shooting 53% from the field.
As a team, the Cavs are among the AMC and NAIA leaders. In scoring; 87.8 (AMC 1st, NAIA 6th), scoring defense 63.0 (AMC 2nd), scoring margin 24.8 (AMC 1st, NAIA 1st), free throw percentage .743 (AMC 1st, NAIA 6th), field goal percentage .515 (AMC 1st, NAIA 2nd), 3-PT FG percentage .436 (AMC 1st, NAIA 2nd), rebound margin 13.6 (AMC 1st, NAIA 2nd), assist/turnover ratio 1.6 (AMC 1st, NAIA 1st).
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Cavs' (13-8, 7-1) Sweep Three-Game Week, Stand Alone in 2nd Place in AMC
Walsh (13-8, 7-1) bounced back from having their longest winning streak (six-games) since 2003-04 snapped at Shawnee State University on January 17, by winning three straight American Mideast Conference road games last week. The Cavs are now alone in second place in the AMC with a 7-1 mark and stand 13-8 overall. With 13 wins, the Cavs have matched their season total from last year. Their seven AMC wins have eclipsed last year's total (5). This week, the Cavs host rival Malone University Tuesday (6 pm) and the University of Rio Grande on Saturday (2 pm). The Malone game will be broadcast live on AM 900 WCER and on the Internet at www.wcer.us.
Walsh used a 14-1 first half run to defeat Wilberforce University (5-13, 0-4) 66-40 on Tuesday night. Walsh trailed 7-6, when they went on the 14-1 run to lead 20-8. The Cavs held Wilberforce to just 11 first half points on 5-40 (.125) from the field. Katie Berry (So., Cleveland, OH/St. Joseph’s) scored 11 of her game-high 21 points in the first half. Berry finished 7-14 from the floor, 3-6 from three-point and 4-4 from the line. She also grabbed 10 rebounds and handed out four assists. Cara Bedard (6-0, So., Randolph, OH/Waterloo) added 12 points, 10 in the second half. Bedard also had eight rebounds.
Katie Berry, Cara Bedard and Brittani Maddox combined for 54 points in Walsh's 80-70 win at Roberts Wesleyan College on Friday night. Berry led all scorers with 22 points. She also dished out six assists and grabbed six rebounds. Bedard added 21 points on 9-13 from the floor. Maddox reached double figures off the bench with 11 points and seven rebounds. Leah Seaman (5-8, Jr., Louisville, OH/HS) added back-to-back three's in the second half and finished with eight points. Walsh built a double digit second half lead, when Roberts Wesleyan rallied to take a 69-68 lead with 3:48 to play. But the Cavs' Katie Berry answered on the next possession to give Walsh the lead for good at 70-69.
Walsh opened their contest with Houghton College (6-9, 1-5) by scoring the games’ first 16 points, on their way to a 66-40 win. Walsh led 16-0, when Houghton finally scored their first point on a free throw with 9:24 left in the first half. They did not make their first basket until the 8:41 mark. Walsh led 35-15 at halftime. Katie Berry scored 10 first half points and finished with a game-high 15 points. Kristi Yoder (6-1, Fr., Millersburg, OH/Hiland) added 14 points, on 7-13 from the floor and Cara Bedard chipped in 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
The Cavs and Malone (4-14, 1-6) meet for the 61st time on Tuesday. The Cavs trail in the all-time series 31-29, but swept the season series last season. The two teams meet for the Mayor's Cup at Malone on February 17. Malone has lost their last five games, including a 73-63 decision at Roberts Wesleyan last Saturday.
The Cavs and the University of Rio Grande (14-7, 4-2) meet in a key AMC match-up at Walsh on Saturday. Rio lost their last game, 69-59 to Ohio Dominican on Saturday. Rio leads the all-time series 34-16, and has won the last six meetings.
Katie Berry leads the Cavs in scoring, averaging 15.3 points (AMC 6th). She is shooting 52% (AMC 3rd) from the field and 81% (AMC 8th) from the line. Cara Bedard is the only other player scoring in double figures, averaging 12.3 points and a team-leading 6.0 rebounds
.
INDOOR TRACK: Williams Sets School Record in 55m Hurdles, Qualifies for Nationals
Walsh's Brian Williams (So., Canton, OH/McKinley) set a school record in the 55m hurdles (7.71) and qualified for the NAIA Indoor Championships with his second place finish at the Case Western Reserve University Spartan Relay's on Saturday. The NAIA Championships will be held in Johnson City, TN, March 5-7.
Brad Schrecengost (Fr., Lakeview, OH/Cortland) placed second in the 35lb.weight throw, with a toss of 46-02.75 and Joe Paulenich (Fr., Youngstown, OH/Cardinal Mooney) was fourth in the shot put (41-05.75).
The Cavs are at the University of Findlay this Friday and Saturday.
INDOOR TRACK: Cofojohn Wins Shot, Heck Pole Vault at Case Spartan Relays
Walsh performed well at the Case Western Reserve University Spartan Relays on Saturday. The Cavs captured two first place finishes and four second place finishes. The Cavs travel to the University of Findlay this Friday and Saturday.
Danielle Cofojohn (Jr., Diamond, OH/Southeast) won the shot put with a throw of 40-02.75 and Emma Heck (S
o., Canton, OH/Central Catholic) finished first in the pole vault (9-08.00).
Ashley Lewis (So., Louisville, OH/HS) finished second in the long jump (16-00.50), Andrea DiNinno (Sr., Greensburg, PA/Central Catholic) in the 3000m run 10:33.84), Natalie Borland (So., Kent, OH/Roosevelt) in the high jump (4-44.75) and Jackie Misiak (Sr., North Royalton, OH/HS) in the 55m hurdles (9.21).
