The Malone College women’s basketball team retained the Mayors’ Cup by knocking off Walsh University on the road last Tuesday night 59-58 in the 10th annual Mayors' Cup game.  The Pioneers then went on to defeat Urbana University 54-47 on Saturday in their final home game of the regular season.  With the 2-0 week, Malone is currently fifth in the AMC South (and would qualify for the final AMC South playoff spot if the playoffs started today) with a record of 11-14 overall and an 8-8 mark in the division.  The regular-season champion in each of the AMC North and South Divisions will earn an automatic berth to the NAIA Div. II National Tournament.  The number two through number five finishers in each division will qualify for the AMC playoffs.
     At Walsh, the Pioneers trailed 31-23 at halftime, but shot 61.1% (11-18) from the field in the second period to take a 59-56 lead with just five seconds remaining in the game.  Walsh’s potential game-tying three-point attempt was off the mark and the Cavaliers only had enough time left to convert a two-point shot as the buzzer sounded to give Malone the dramatic 59-58 victory.  Cara Shiplett (So., Northwest H.S.) paced the Pioneer offense with 22 points (11-15 FG, 0-0 3PT FG, 0-3 FT) followed by Nikki Parson (Jr., Garaway H.S.) with 10.  Kellyn Murphy (So., St. Vincent/St. Mary H.S.) added eight points and Jennifer Miday (Jr., N. Canton Hoover H.S.) posted seven.  Parson grabbed a game-high nine rebounds, but Malone lost the battle of the boards 37-32.  In addition, Erica Mishler (Jr., Hiland H.S.) dished out four assists and Parson collected three steals.  The thrilling victory gave Malone its second consecutive Mayors’ Cup win and improves the Pioneers' record in the Mayors' Cup series to 6-4.
     Against Urbana, the Pioneers trailed 28-22 at the half but outscored the Blue Knights 32-19 in the second period en route to the 54-47 win.  Parson led the Malone offense, posting a double-double with a game-high 23 points (9-16 FG, 0-0 3PT FG, 5-5 FT) and 12 rebounds.  Miday added 10 points and six rebounds and Shiplett tallied eight points and 10 boards as Malone outrebounded the Blue Knights 41-31.  In addition, Mishler posted four assists and six steals, Shiplett recorded four blocks, Miday collected three steals, and Murphy dished out three assists.
     This week, Malone (11-14, 8-8 AMC S) will travel to Mt. Vernon Nazarene University (13-13, 5-11 AMC S) on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.  Then on Saturday, the Pioneers will travel to NAIA Div. II #1 ranked Cedarville University (24-3, 16-0 AMC S) at 2:00 p.m. (NOTE: game time changed from original 5:30 p.m. start) in the final game of the regular season. 
     This week’s opponents:  Mt. Vernon Nazarene - Malone leads the all-time series vs. Mt. Vernon Nazarene 27-18 and has won six in a row over the Cougars including a 67-54 victory (at Malone) earlier this season.  Cedarville - Cedarville holds a 16-12 advantage in the all-time series vs. Malone and has won eight in a row over the Pioneers including a 93-89 win (at Malone) earlier this season. 
     Malone notes: Nikki Parson leads the team in scoring at 16.2 points per game followed by Cara Shiplett at 14.3…Parson also paces the squad in rebounds at 8.8 per game followed by Shiplett at 8.2…Kellyn Murphy leads the team in assists at 3.1 per game.      

Men’s Basketball Loses Mayors' Cup Battle To Walsh, Bounces Back For Win Against Urbana

     The Malone College men’s basketball team fell to NAIA Div. II #3 Walsh University last Tuesday night in the 42nd annual Mayors’ Cup game (at Walsh) by a final score of 89-66 in the first of two contests on the week.  On Saturday, though, the Pioneers were able to put the tough loss behind them, knocking off Urbana University 106-85 in Malone’s final home game of the regular season.  With the 1-1 week, the Pioneers are currently fifth in the AMC South (and would qualify for the final AMC South playoff spot if the playoffs started today) with a record of 14-14 overall and 9-7 in the division.  The regular-season champion in each of the AMC North and South Divisions will earn an automatic berth to the NAIA Div. II National Tournament.  The number two through number five finishers in each division will qualify for the AMC playoffs.
     At Walsh, Malone trailed from the onset and was unable to overcome a steep 40-24 halftime deficit, losing by an 89-66 final.  Walsh’s defense stifled the Pioneer shooters throughout the game, giving them few open looks and holding them to just 14.3% (1-7) shooting from behind the three-point arc in the first half.  Malone did have some success in the paint however as Tyler Renner (So., Garaway H.S.) led the Pioneer offense by scoring a game-high 23 points (10-15 FG, 0-0 3PT FG, 3-5 FT) and collecting seven rebounds.  Jesse Schlabach (Jr., Lake H.S.) added 13 points and Shane Humphrey (So., Loudonville H.S.) contributed 10.  The Cavaliers, however, controlled the boards and outrebounded Malone 36-21.  In addition, Schlabach dished out four assists and collected two steals.  The Pioneers’ tough loss gave Walsh their seventh consecutive Mayors’ Cup victory (Walsh leads the Mayors' Cup series 24-18) and it also marked the fifth straight win for the Cavaliers in the Malone-Walsh overall series. 
     Against Urbana, the Pioneers opened up an 18-2 lead to start the game and were able to maintain a sizable advantage throughout the contest as they rolled to the 106-85 victory.  Malone’s offensive outburst set a season high for points and their perfect 22-22 performance from the free throw line set a new school record.  Chris Miller (Jr., Hiland H.S.) paced four Pioneers in double figures with 25 points (8-13 FG, 3-4 3PT FG, 6-6 FT) followed by Humphrey with 24, and Schlabach with 23 (including five threes).  Renner posted a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds as Malone controlled the boards 41-31. In addition, Ben Carver (So., Shelby H.S.) dished out five assists, Miller tallied four assists and Schlabach had three assists and three steals.
     This week, Malone (14-14, 9-7 AMC S) will wrap up the regular season with two road games starting on Tuesday when the squad will travel to Mt. Vernon Nazarene University (20-8, 11-5 AMC S) for a 7:30 p.m. contest.  The Pioneers will then head to Cedarville University (16-9, 11-5 AMC S) on Saturday for a 4:00 p.m. tip-off (NOTE: game time changed from original 7:30 p.m. start).
     This week’s opponents:  Mt. Vernon Nazarene - Malone holds a 39-19 advantage in the all-time series vs. Mt. Vernon Nazarene and defeated the Cougars 86-81 (at Malone) earlier this season.  Cedarville - Malone leads the all-time series vs. Cedarville 52-31 although the Yellow Jackets defeated Malone 86-81 (at Malone) earlier this season.
     Malone notes: Tyler Renner leads the team in scoring at 16.0 points per game followed by Jesse Schlabach at 15.3 and Chris Miller at 15.0…Renner also paces the squad in rebounds at 8.3 per game followed by Shane Humphrey at 5.9…Schlabach leads the team in assists at 2.6 per game. 

Men's And Women's Indoor Track & Field Teams Compete At Findlay Open, All-Ohio Championships

 

     The Malone College men's and women's indoor track & field teams competed in a pair of meets last weekend - at the Findlay Open (University of Findlay) on Friday and at the All-Ohio Championships, hosted by Findlay, on Saturday.
     At the Findlay Open, numerous Pioneer athletes earned top-five finishes in their respective events.  For the Malone women, Brooke Gasser (Jr., Norwayne H.S.) earned a third-place finish in the 60-meter dash (8.11) while Brittany Davies (Jr., Cedarville H.S.) also took a third-place finish in the 800 meters (2:26.39).
     Four-place finishes went to Laura McElrath (So., Tallmadge H.S.) in the 60-meter hurdles (9.39) and long jump (5.02 meters), Vallie Scott (Fr., West Branch H.S.) in the 400 meters (1:01.22), Kim Winton (Fr., Medina H.S.) in the 600 meters (1:43.90), Loren Reineke (Jr., Anna H.S.) in the one-mile run (5:31.10) and Holly Motter (Fr., Mt. Union, PA) in the triple jump (34' 2").  Faith Nicholson (Jr., McMurray, PA) and Motter tied for fourth in the high jump at 4' 11" while Alycia Dunlap (Fr., Indian Valley H.S.) and Nicholson tied for fourth in the pole vault at 2.75 meters.  In addition, the women's  4x400-meter relay team of Scott, Winton, Kristina Barrett (Sr., Licking Valley H.S.) and Davies placed fourth in a time of 4:09.90.
     Gasser was the sole fifth-place finisher for the Pioneer women as she took fifth in the 200-meter dash in a time of 27.04 seconds.
     For the Malone men, Aaron Maglott (Fr., Galion H.S.) captured the lone first-place finish on the day by any Pioneer athlete as he won the 1000 meters in a time of 2:35.77.  Tyler Davis (So., Teays Valley H.S.) finished second and posted an NAIA national provisional qualifying mark in the high jump at 2.00 meters.
     In addition, the men's 4x400-meter relay unit of Tim Walter (Sr., West Muskingum H.S.), Cody Ford (Sr., Minerva H.S.), Chris Cruise (So., Field H.S.) and Jeb Ford (Fr., Minerva H.S.) placed fifth in a time of 3:29.50.
     At the All-Ohio Championships on Saturday, the men's team scored 16 points and finished in sixth place at the meet.  The squad had several top-ten finishers including their 4x400-meter team of Walter, Jeb Ford, Cruise and Cody Ford with a third-place finish in 3:31.40.   Jeb Ford took sixth in the 60-meter dash (7.20), Maglott was sixth in the 800 meters (1:59.43), Cruise placed seventh in the 400 meters (51.79), Ryan Crocker (Fr., CVCA) took seventh in the 5000 meters (16:36.08) and Cody Ford was ninth in the 200 meters (23.31).
     For the women's team, Katie Bagley (Fr., Crestview H.S.) earned an NAIA national provisional qualifying mark in the 3000 meters as she placed 10th in a time of 10:40.44. 
     This week, the Malone teams will compete at the Kent State University Tune-Up (Kent, OH) beginning at 10:00 a.m.

 

     The Malone College men's tennis team captured its second victory in as many attempts this season in a solid 8-1 victory at home over NCAA Div. II Slippery Rock (PA) University last Friday.  All Pioneer victories came in straight sets.
     Scores for the match were as follows:
     #1 Jason Christman (Jr., Canton McKinley H.S.)              W 6-1, 6-0
     #2 Kyle Bowers (Fr., Norwalk H.S.)                                      W 6-1, 6-2
     #3 Brian Paul (Sr., Louisville H.S.)                                       W 6-2, 6-4
     #4 Tim Springirth (Fr., Erie, PA)                                            W 6-4, 7-6
     #5 Dan Aluise (Sr., Cranberry Twp., PA)                             L 6-2, 6-3
     #6 Dan Yard (So., Louisville H.S.)                                        W 6-4, 6-2
     #1 Christman/Paul                                                                  W 8-2
     #2 Bowers/Springirth                                                              W 8-2

     #3 Aluise/Yard                                                                          W 8-1
     This week, Malone (2-0) will travel to NCAA Div. III Oberlin College on Friday for a 6:30 p.m. match, its only contest on the week.

 

 

     The Malone College women's tennis team lost its 2006 season opener to NCAA Div. II Slippery Rock (PA) University at home last Friday night by the score of 7-2.  Jackie Quilter (So., GlenOak H.S.) earned the lone singles win (at #4) while Chelsie Helbeck (Sr., East Palestine H.S.) and Gina Bayzie (Sr., Brecksville H.S.) picked the only doubles win (#3).
     Scores for the match were as follows:
     #1 Camelia Urdea (So.,. Brasov, Romania)            L 6-0, 6-1
     #2 Emily Farls (Jr., Beaver, PA)                                   L 6-0, 6-0
     #3 Ann Marie Burton (Fr., Wadsworth H.S.)              L 4-6, 6-2, 10-8
     #4 Jack Quilter (So., GlenOak H.S.)                           W 2-6, 7-5 / 10-7
     #5 Chelsie Helbeck (Sr., East Palestine H.S.)         L 7-6, 7-5
     #6 Laura Wenger (Sr., Louisville H.S.)                       L 7-6, 2-6, 6-2
     #1 Urdea/Burton                                                             L 8-1
     #2 Farls/Quilter                                                               L 8-6
     #3 Helbeck/Gina Bayzie (Sr., Brecksville H.S.)         W 9-8

     This week, Malone (0-1) is idle and will next compete in a home match against Wilberforce University on Saturday, February 25th (8:00 a.m.).