This Week in Walsh University Athletics
Monday, January 12, 2009
Tues. 13 Women’s Basketball (H) Point Park University 6 pm
Men's Basketball (H) Point Park University 8 pm (AM 900 WCER)
Sat. 17 Women’s Basketball at Shawnee State University 1 pm (AM 900 WCER)
Men’s Basketball at Shawnee State University 3 pm (AM 900 WCER)
Men's and Women's Indoor Track at Marietta College
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Cavs (12-3, 1-1) Four-Game Win Streak Snapped at Cedarville
Walsh's (12-3, 1-1) four-game winning streak was snapped at Cedarville University last Saturday night, when the 11th ranked Cavs fell 70-66 to the 5th ranked Yellow Jackets in an American Mideast Conference showdown. The win improved Cedarville to 3-0 in the AMC, while dropping the Cavs to 1-1. Walsh is back home on Tuesday, looking to snap a one game skid when they tangle with AMC foe Point Park University (8 pm). On Saturday, the Cavs head to Shawnee State University for an AMC contest at 3 pm. The Cavs have not lost back-to-back games since the 2006-07 season, when they lost to Malone (7-72) and Mount Vernon Nazarene (62-57). Both games this week will be broadcast live on AM 900 WCER and on the internet at www.wcer.us.
In a thrilling game before more than 2,700 fans, Cedarville extended their win streak to ten games in holding off the Cavs. The Yellow Jackets led by as many as ten points (18-8) in the first half, before taking a 33-26 lead into the locker room. The second half was thrilling for the big crowd, with ten lead changes, and with the outcome not being decided until the final seconds. Walsh trailed 63-61, when Joe Shardo (6-5, Sr., Yorkshire, OH/Versailles) connected on a three-pointer to give the Cavs their final lead at 64-63 with 1:44 to play. Cedarville's Ricardo Alliman then started a four-point run for the Jackets, that gave the home team a 67-64 lead. Walsh's final chance to tie the game came with 20 seconds, when Joe Shardo's long three-ball attempt fell short. Jeremy Shardo (6-3, So., Yorkshire, OH/Versailles) led the Cavs with 20 points and four assists. Joe Shardo added 14 points and Kyelce Cescato (6-10, Jr., Barra Bonita, Brazil, Colmeia Entec) added 12 points and eight rebounds.
Walsh and Point Park (9-8, 1-2) meet for the 30th time on Tuesday. The Cavs lead the all-time series 15-14, and have won the last two meetings. Point Park snapped a two-game losing streak with a 70-58 win at Shawnee State University on Saturday. The Cavs travel to Portsmouth, Ohio for Saturday’s game with Shawnee State. The Bears (6-11, 0-2) have lost three straight, including a 70-58 decision to Point Park last Saturday. Walsh has won the last six meetings and lead the all-time series 26-13. The Bears host Houghton College in an AMC game on Friday night.
The Cavs are averaging 89.7 points per game, with six players scoring in double figures. Kyelce Cescato is averaging 15.5 points per game and a team leading 8.1 rebounds. He also leads the team in field goal percentage (.620). Jeremy Shardo is averaging 15.0 points and leads the AMC and NAIA with 112 assists (7.5) , against only 45 turnovers. Shardo is shooting 52% from the field, 49% from three-point and 82% from the line. Joe Shardo is averaging 13.9 points and 5.3 rebounds. Joe is shooting 55% from the field and 47% from three-point. Brandon Speck (6-0, Jr., Mansfield, OH/St. Peter's) is averaging 10.5 points and is shooting 47% from three-point. Greg Howard (6-4, So., Cincinnati, OH/Withrow/West Liberty) is scoring at a 10.4 clip and is shooting 58% from the field.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Rising Cavs (9-7, 3-0) Upset Jackets on the Road, Stretch Win Streak to Five
Walsh continued its outstanding play, with American Mideast Conference road wins at Carlow College (76-56) and at 13th ranked Cedarville University (74-70). The Cavs five-game winning streak is their longest since they won five straight games in 2003-04, and their 3-0 AMC start is their best conference start since they started 3-0 in 1993-94. This week, the Cavs host AMC foe Point Park University on Tuesday night (6 pm) and travel to AMC leader Shawnee State University on Saturday (1 pm). Saturday's game will be broadcast live on AM 900 WCER and on the internet at www.wcer.us.
Walsh coasted to its fourth straight win, with a 76-56 AMC win at Carlow University last Tuesday. Walsh jumped on the Celtics early and led 37-18 at the half and led by as many as 30 points in the second half. Kristi Yoder (Fr., Millersburg, OH/Hiland) came off the Walsh bench to score 15 points and grab five rebounds. Yoder was 7-12 from the floor. Katie Berry (So., Cleveland, OH/St. Joseph’s) was 7-13 from floor and also scored 15 points and grabbed five rebounds, while adding four steals. Mandi Swickard (Fr., Alexandria, OH/Northridge) added 12 points and six rebounds off the bench.
Walsh rallied from an 18-point second half deficit to remain perfect in the AMC, with their 74-70 win at Cedarville University on Saturday night. It was the second straight for the Cavs over the Yellow Jackets and their first win at Cedarville since the 2000-01 season (75-61). Cedarville hit two 3-pointers in the final 30 seconds of the first half and led 36-27 at the break. In the second half, the Yellow Jackets increased their lead to 18 points (50-32) with 13:50 to play. The Cavs then began to chip away, and took their first lead since the first half at 65-64 on a Ciera Burkes (5-3, So., Shaker Heights, OH/HS) three-pointer with 2:40 to play. After the Jackets regained the lead at 66-65, Burkes nailed another three-ball with 2:09 to play to give Walsh the lead for good at 67-66. Katie Berry (So., Cleveland, OH/St. Joseph’s) then sealed the deal with another three, to give the Cavs a 70-66 advantage with 1:22 left. Berry led all scorers with 26 points. She connected on 8-16 from the floor, 4-9 from three-point and was perfect from the foul line (6-6). Berry also grabbed six rebounds, dished out four assists and had three steals. Cara Bedard (6-0, So., Randolph, OH/Waterloo) had another strong game, with 19 points on 6-9 from the floor, to go with a game-high eight rebounds. Burkes, who sparked the Cavs off the bench in the second half, finished with 12 points. After shooting just 31% from the floor in the first half, the Cavs caught fire in the second half, connecting on 16-29 from 55%.
Katie Berry leads the Cavs in scoring, averaging 14.9 points. She is shooting 52% from the field and 82% from the line. Cara Bedard is the only other player scoring in double figures, averaging 11.1 points and a team-leading 5.4 rebounds. Chelsea Chaffin (5-3, Fr., Mt. Sterling, OH/Madison-Plains) is averaging 8.0 points and 3.5 assists.
Walsh and Point Park (6-6, 0-3) meet for the 7th time on Tuesday, with the Cavs holding a 6-0 series edge. The Pioneers lost 92-57 at Shawnee State last Wednesday. Walsh and the NAIA second ranked Bears (17-0, 3-0) meet for the 38th time on Saturday. The Bears have dominated the all-time series 33-4 and have won the last four meetings. Walsh's only win (90-69) at Shawnee came in 1995-96.
