Monday, February 4, 2008

Tues. 5 Women's Basketball (H) Ohio Dominican University 6 pm

Men's Basketball (H) Ohio Dominican University 8 pm *

Thurs. 7 Women's Basketball (H) Malone College 6 pm *

Men's Basketball (H) Malone College 8 pm *

Sat. 9 Women's Basketball (H) Cedarville University 2 pm

Men's Basketball (H) Cedarville University 4 pm *

Indoor Track at Mount Union College Invitational

* Games to be broadcast on AM 900 WCER, Internet at www.wcer.us

MEN'S BASKETBALL: (18-3, 7-1 AMC S) Cavs End Road Swing with Two More Wins/Lead AMC South by Two Games/Araujo, Young Reach Milestones/Host Malone in Mayor's Cup on Thursday

NAIA No. 5 Walsh (18-3, 7-1 AMC S) increased their lead in the American Mideast Conference South Division to two full games, with road wins at Wilberforce University and Shawnee State University.  The Cavs swept their three-game road swing and hold a two-game lead over Shawnee State, Mount Vernon Nazarene University and Cedarville University.  Walsh now returns home for a huge three-game week, which includes the annual Mayor's Cup game with Malone College on Thursday night (8 pm).  The Cavs also host AMC South games with Ohio Dominican University on Tuesday (8 pm) and Cedarville University on Saturday (4 pm).  All three games will be broadcast live on AM 900 WCER and on the Internet at www.wcer.us. 

It was a record-setting night for the Cavs at Wilberforce University on Tuesday night.  Not only did the first place Cavs improve to 17-3 overall and 6-1 in the AMC South Division with a 55-48 win, but Eder Araujo (7-0, Sr., Sao Paulo, Brazil/Odete de Freitas) scored his 1,000th career point and Head Coach Jeff Young (4th yr.) notched career win number 100.  Araujo has now totaled 1,032 career points, while Young is the fastest coach to reach 100 wins.  After Saturday's win at Shawnee State, Young sports a record of 101-28.  Walsh trailed by nine points (19-10) late in the first half, but closed the deficit to two points at 23-21 at halftime.  The Cavs then shut the Bulldogs down in the final 20 minutes, out scoring them 23-8 in the first 12 minutes to take control of the contest.  Araujo led all scorers with 19 points, while adding 11 rebounds.  Brandon Weems (5-10, Sr., Akron, OH/ St. Vincent-St. Mary) added 12 points to go with six assists; Josh Johnson (6-4, Jr., Warren, OH/Harding) added 10 points and six rebounds and Kyelce Cescato (6-0, So., Barra Bonita, Brazil/Colmeia Entec) led everyone with 13 rebounds. 

Walsh dashed Shawnee State University's (11-11, 5-3 AMC S) hopes of tying the Cavs for the AMC South lead by thrashing the Bears 84-43 in Portsmouth on Saturday.  Walsh put the game away early, jumping out to a 24-7 lead in the first eight minutes.  Walsh would shoot .567 (17-30) from the field and .643 (9-14) from three-point in the first half, in building a 46-20 halftime lead.  Eder Araujo led the way with 14 first half points, on 5-7 from the floor and a perfect 3-3 from behind the arc.  He would finish with 18 points.  The backcourt was superb, as Corey Jones (6-3, Sr., Avon Lake, OH/Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary) and Brandon Weems combined for 24 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.  Jones tallied 14 points, four rebounds and five assists, shooting 5-7 from the floor and 4-6 from three-point.  Weems added 10 points, dished out seven assists and grabbed six rebounds. 

Walsh's three-game week starts with Ohio Dominican University (13-9, 4-4 AMC S) at Alumni Arena on Tuesday night.  The Bears fell out of second place tie, after losing 82-80 to Cedarville University on Saturday.  Walsh won the first meeting in Columbus, 76-70, on January 8 and leads the all-time series 60-20.  The Cavs have posted wins in the last eight meetings. 

Walsh and 23rd ranked Malone College (16-5, 4-1 AMC N) meet in the 44th Annual Mayor's Cup game at Alumni Arena on Thursday night (8 pm).  Walsh won the first meeting 70-56 at Malone's Osborne Hall on November 29 and lead the all-time series 56-39.  The Cavs also lead the Cup series 24-19, but were denied a chance to retire the Cup last year when Malone came away with a 79-72 upset win.  It takes three consecutive wins in the designated game to retire the Mayor's Cup.  Walsh last retired the Cup in 2004-05 and has done it four times, while the Pioneers have done it three times, the last time in 1980-81.  Malone, now a member of the AMC North, comes into the contest with wins in their last four games and in 11 of their last 12.  They defeated Notre Dame College 67-65 on Saturday night and are tied with Daemen College for first place in the North. 

Walsh and Cedarville University (15-6, 5-3 AMC S) complete the home stand on Saturday.  The Cavs won the first meeting 77-55 at Cedarville on January 19 and lead the all-time series 37-36.  The Yellow Jackets, who play at Mount Vernon Nazarene on Tuesday, defeated Ohio Dominican 82-80 in Columbus last Saturday. 

Walsh's balanced attack has four players scoring in twin figures, led by Eder Araujo's 14.3 ppg.  Araujo is also the Cavs' top rebounder at 8.6 per game, and is shooting .509 from the field and .768 from the foul line.  Corey Jones is averaging 12.4 points and is shooting an AMC best .526 from three-point range.  Jones is also shooting .515 from the field and .897 from the foul line.  Brandon Weems is averaging 11.1 points and an AMC leading 6.4 assists.   Josh Johnson is averaging 10.8 ppg and 5.6 rebounds

During their recent three-game road trip, the Cavs allowed only 51.6 points per game.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Cavs (9-12, 2-6 AMC S) Split AMC South Games, Host Malone in Mayor's Cup Game on Thursday

Walsh (9-12, 2-6 AMC S) split a pair of American Mideast Conference South Division games last week, winning at Wilberforce University and losing at NAIA No. 9 Shawnee State University.  Walsh now returns home for a three-game week, which includes the annual Mayor's Cup game with Malone College on Thursday night (6 pm).  The Cavs also host AMC South games with Ohio Dominican University on Tuesday (6 pm) and Cedarville University on Saturday (2 pm).  The Malone game will be broadcast live on AM 900 WCER and on the Internet at www.wcer.us. 

Ciera Burkes (5-3, Fr., Shaker Heights, OH/HS) scored a career-high 18 points in Walsh's 59-54 win at Wilberforce University (5-14, 1-6 AMC S) on Tuesday night.  The win snapped Walsh's three-game losing streak.  Burkes scored all of her 18 points in the second half, as the Cavs out scored Wilberforce 31-28.  Walsh built a 54-40 lead with 5:28 to play, but had to hang on as the Bulldogs trimmed the lead to 57-54 in the final minute.  Katie Berry (5-11, Fr., Cleveland, OH/St. Joseph) hit two free throws with 14 seconds left to ice the win.  Berry finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists.  Cara Bedard (6-0, Fr., Mogadore, OH/Waterloo) and Damoniq'e Askew (5-8, Sr., Barberton, OH/HS) also grabbed eight rebounds each. 

NAIA No. 9 Shawnee State University (20-2, 8-0) remained perfect in the AMC South Division, after romping 80-45 over the Cavs on Saturday.  The Bears jumped to a 21-3 lead and never looked back.  Walsh could manage only 7-32 (.219) from the floor in the first half, and trailed 43-17 at the half.  Shawnee shot .577 (15-26) from the floor in the first half and a blistering .615 (8-13) from behind the arc.  Leah Seaman (5-8, So., Louisville, OH/HS) hit four three-pointers and led the Cavs with 12 points.  

Walsh opens its three-game home week against Ohio Dominican University (16-6, 6-2 AMC S) on Tuesday.  The Panthers won the first meeting 75-66 in Columbus on January 8.  Walsh leads the all-time series 36-13.  The Panthers are coming off a 68-52 win over Cedarville University on Saturday.

Walsh and Malone College (6-14, 4-4 AMC N) meet in the 12th Annual Mayor's Cup game at Alumni Arena on Thursday night (6 pm).  Walsh won the first meeting 72-70, in overtime, at Malone's Osborne Hall on November 29.  Malone leads the all-time series 31-28 and the Cup series 7-4.  The Pioneers are coming off a 76-70 upset win over Notre Dame College last Saturday.

Walsh and Cedarville University (11-10, 4-4 AMC S) close the week on Saturday (2 pm).  The Yellow Jackets won the first meeting 79-74 at Cedarville on January 19, and lead the all-time series 18-13.  They play at Mount Vernon Nazarene on Tuesday.

Katie Berry leads the Cavs in scoring, averaging 13.2 points.  Berry is shooting .451 from the floor, .787 from the foul line and leads the team with 19 blocked shots and 45 steals.  Leah Seaman is averaging 12.3 ppg and is shooting .786 from the foul line.  Cara Bedard is averaging 11.5 points, a team leading 6.9 rebounds and is shooting .503 from the floor. 

INDOOR TRACK: Men 3rd at Case Invitational

Walsh finished third with 123 points at the Case Western Reserve Invitational last weekend.  Case won the event with 152 points and Allegheny College placed second with 125 points.  The Cavs are at Mount Union College on Saturday.

Chad Rankin (Jr., Newton Falls, OH/HS) and Chris Weirtz (Fr., Hudson, OH/Western Reserve) each earned first place finishes.  Rankin won the shot put (47-04.50) and Weirtz the 400m (54.03).  Tyler Pierce (So., Salem. OH/HS) finished second in the high jump (6-02.00) and triple jump (39-04.00) and third in the long jump (18-10.75).  Kevin Beichler (Fr., Smithville, OH/HS) finished second in the 55m (6.81) and David Miller (Jr., Canton, OH/GlenOak) second in the 200m (23.80).

INDOOR TRACK: Women 2nd at Case Invitational, Heck Sets New Pole Vault Record

Walsh finished second with 112 points at the Case Western Reserve Invitational last weekend.  Allegheny College won the event with 129 points and placed Case third with 112 points.  The Cavs are at Mount Union College on Saturday.

Danielle Cofojohn (So., Diamond, OH/Southeast) finished first in the shot put (40-00.75), Ebony Williams (Sr., Akron, OH/Firestone) won the high jump (4-11.75) and Emma Heck (Fr., Canton, OH/Central Catholic) was first in the pole vault (10-06.00).  Heck also set a new Walsh record, shattering the old mark of 9-6, set by Erica Graziani in 1998.

Brenna Kirkbride (Jr., Atwater, OH/Waterloo) placed second in the 55m (7.69) and in the 200m (27.50).  Kristen Havens (Fr., Wadsworth, OH/HS) finished third in the 800m (2:30.81), Jackie Misiak (Jr., North Royalton, OH/HS) was third in the 55m (9.43), Amy Stermole (Sr., North Ridgeville, OH/HS) third in the weight throw and Jessica Swihart (Jr., Canton, OH/GlenOak) third in the long jump (15-01.25).