Women's Basketball - Malone defeats:
                                         Shawnee State University  69-56
                                   Malone loses to:
                                         University of Rio Grande  83-76

                                   CURRENT RECORD:  11-7  (3-3 AMC South)

 

Women’s Basketball Tallies 1-1 Record In Conference Play

     The Malone College women’s basketball team opened the new year on a positive note as the squad recorded a 69-56 win at home last Tuesday over Shawnee State University.  Malone then traveled to the University of Rio Grande on Saturday, falling to the Redwomen by the final score of 83-76.  Following the 1-1 week, Malone has matched its win total from the entire 2005-2006 season and now holds an overall record of 11-7 with a 3-3 mark in the AMC South Division.
     Against Shawnee State, the Pioneers set a new Malone record for free throws made as the squad sank 33 of their 46 attempts (71.7%) from the charity stripe, surpassing the previous mark of 31 made free throws that was set against Walsh University on January 14th, 1993.  Malone held a slim 28-24 halftime advantage in Tuesday’s contest but then used a 13-2 run midway through the second period to pull away for the 69-56 win.  The Pioneers’ strong defensive effort hampered the Bears’ offense throughout the evening as Shawnee State made just 18 of its 63 field goal attempts (28.6%) in the contest, including only six of its 29 three-point attempts (20.7%).  Senior forward Nikki Parson (Garaway H.S.) paced Malone with 23 points (6-11 FG, 1-1 3PT FG, 10-12 FT) followed by junior forward Cara Shiplett (Northwest H.S.), who posted 12 points and seven rebounds.  Senior guard Erica Mishler (Hiland H.S.) tallied eight points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists while senior forward Jennifer Miday (North Canton Hoover H.S.) pulled down 12 rebounds and dished out three assists.
     Against Rio Grande, the Pioneers made 17 of their 34 (50%) first-half field goal attempts to take a 37-30 halftime lead.  Malone maintained its advantage throughout most of the second half until the Redwomen tied the game at 70-70 with less than five minutes remaining in the contest.  The Pioneers would then stretch their lead to 76-72 at the 2:11 mark before Rio Grande closed the game on an 11-0 run to claim the 83-76 victory.  Although Malone held a significant 39-28 advantage in total rebounds, the Pioneers struggled to contain the Redwomen’s offensive attack in the second half as Rio Grande made 19 of its 30 (63.3%) second-half field goal attempts including four out of its six attempts (66.7%) from behind the three-point arc.  Parson led the way for Malone with 19 points followed by Shiplett with 18 points and junior guard Kellyn Murphy (St. Vincent/St. Mary H.S.) who added 16 points.  In addition, Parson, Shiplett, and Murphy each grabbed seven boards while sophomore forward Nicole Feher (Lutheran West H.S.) contributed nine points.
     This week, Malone (11-7, 3-3 AMC S) will participate in two conference match-ups, staring with a 6:00 p.m. contest at Walsh University (3-11, 1-5 AMC S) on Tuesday.  The Pioneers will then return home on Saturday to face Urbana University (3-3, 9-7 AMC S) at 5:30 p.m.
     This week’s opponents: Walsh- Malone holds a 32-28 advantage in the all-time series with the Cavaliers, although Walsh has won six out of the last eight match-ups in the local rivalry.  The two squads split last season’s meetings as Walsh took the first contest 64-53 (at Malone) before the Pioneers claimed a narrow 59-58 win over the Cavaliers (at Walsh) in the annual Mayors’ Cup game.  Urbana- The Blue Knights lead the all-time series with Malone 21-15 and defeated the Pioneers 61-52 earlier this season.  Malone had won three straight match-ups between the two schools prior to its December 2nd loss at Urbana.
     Malone Notes: Nikki Parson leads the team in scoring at 17.6 points per game followed by Cara Shiplett at 14.4 and Kellyn Murphy at 10.1…Parson also paces the squad in rebounding with 8.9 boards per contest followed closely by Shiplett at 8.6…Murphy leads the team in assists with 3.2 per game followed by Erica Mishler with 3.1.

Men’s Basketball Suffers Narrow Losses To Shawnee State, Rio Grande

     The Malone College men’s basketball team dropped a pair of American Mideast Conference South Division contests last week, falling 80-77 to Shawnee State University at home last Tuesday before losing a hard-fought contest to the University of Rio Grande on the road Saturday afternoon by the final score of 83-78.  With 22 points in Tuesday’s loss to Shawnee State, junior post player Tyler Renner (Garaway H.S.) surpassed 1,000 career points, becoming just the 42nd player in Pioneer men’s basketball history to reach this milestone.  Renner is the second men’s basketball player to join the 1,000 point club this season after senior guard Jesse Schlabach (Lake H.S.) eclipsed the mark in Malone’s December 9th win over Geneva (PA) College.  Following the 0-2 week, the Pioneers’ overall record now stands at 11-6 with a 1-4 mark in the AMC South Division.
     Against Shawnee State, Malone led 38-31 at halftime and maintained an advantage for most of the second stanza before the Bears battled back late in the game to take a six-point lead with just 24 seconds remaining.  The Pioneers cut the deficit to three following a clutch three-pointer by Schlabach and then got the ball right back after an offensive foul was called on Shawnee State’s ensuing inbounds play.  Schlabach was unable to convert on his next three-point attempt, though, and the Bears stretched their lead to four after making one of two free throws.  Trailing 79-75, junior guard Ben Carver (Shelby H.S.) was sent to the free throw line with less then two seconds on the clock after being fouled on the Pioneers’ final possession of the game.  After making his first free throw, Carver tried to intentionally miss the second in order to allow for a last-second game-tying three-point attempt, but the free throw banked in, allowing Shawnee State to escape with an 80-77 victory.  Although Malone made 34 of 39 free throws in the contest (just three shy of tying the school record for free throws made), the Pioneers struggled from the field as the squad converted on just six of their 23 (26.1%) second-half field goal attempts.  Renner led the way for Malone with 22 points and eight rebounds.  Carver followed with 18 points while Schlabach and freshman guard Linc Rottman (Triway H.S.) each tallied nine points.  In addition, senior guard Chris Miller (Hiland H.S.) contributed seven points and four steals.
     Against Rio Grande, the game was tied 37-37 at halftime before the Redmen opened the second stanza on a 6-0 run to take a 43-37 advantage.  Although the Pioneers kept the game close throughout the remainder of the contest, Rio Grande did not relinquish this lead over the final 18 minutes of play.  Malone was able to cut the deficit to just two with thirty seconds remaining after yet another clutch Schlabach three-pointer but the Redmen were able to then make five out of their final six free throw attempts to seal the 83-78 victory.  Miller came off the bench to post a game-high 20 points (6-11 FG, 3-5 3PT FG, 5-6 FT) for the Pioneers followed by Schlabach with 16 points.  Renner added 14 points and seven boards although Rio Grande held a 37-33 advantage in total rebounds.
     This week, Malone (11-6, 1-4 AMC S) will travel to Walsh University (14-3, 5-1 AMC S) on Tuesday for an 8:00 p.m. match-up with the Cavaliers.  The squad will then return home to face Urbana University (6-11, 1-5 AMC S) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with the Malone Athletic Hall of Fame inductees being honored during halftime of the men’s game.  The newest inductees include Tom Crank ('88, baseball), Sean James ('96, football), Rick Mast ('96, basketball), Mark McClure ('91, track & field) and Deb Gaddis (Moyer) ('94, basketball).
     This week’s opponents: Walsh- The Cavaliers hold a 54-38 advantage in the all-time series with Malone and swept both meetings last season, winning 59-54 (at Malone) and 89-66 (at Walsh).  Walsh has won 14 out of the last 15 contests between the two schools.  Urbana- The Pioneers lead the all-time series with the Blue Knights 53-21, including a 102-90 win at Urbana earlier this season.  Malone has won 17 out of the last 18 meetings between the two schools.
     Malone Notes: Tyler Renner leads the team in scoring at 19.2 points per game followed by Ben Carver at 14.5, Chris Miller at 11.6 and Jesse Schlabach at 11.4…Renner also paces the squad in rebounding with 8.3 boards per outing followed by Shane Humphrey at 6.1…Carver leads the team in assists with 3.6 per game.