February 7, 2008

Pioneers’ Three-year Mayors’ Cup Winning Streak Comes To An End With 83-64 Defeat At Walsh

 
The Malone College women’s basketball team fell 83-64 at Walsh University on Thursday night in the 12th annual Mayors’ Cup game.  The Cavaliers, who upset NAIA #16 Ohio Dominican University in Columbus on Tuesday evening, kept things rolling in Thursday’s game by making 57.6% (34 of 59) of their overall shots from the field. 
 
Walsh took command of the contest midway through the first half with a 14-1 run that put the hosts in front 22-11 at the 9:15 mark of the opening stanza.  The Cavaliers led 45-30 at intermission and then stretched their advantage to as many as 29 points in the second half en route to the 83-64 victory. 
 
The loss dropped the Pioneers’ overall record to 6-15 (4-4 AMC North) and halted Malone’s streak of three straight Mayors’ Cup victories.  Walsh, meanwhile, improved to 11-12 overall (3-6 AMC South) and completed a season sweep of its cross-town rival (the Cavaliers defeated the Pioneers in overtime on November 29th by a final score of 72-70).
 
Malone made 26 of its 60 (43.3%) overall field goal attempts on Thursday night, including five of 14 (35.7%) three-pointers, but it was not enough to keep pace with Walsh’s hot shooting.  In addition to their nearly 60% accuracy from the field, the Cavaliers also nailed 13 of 15 (86.7%) free throws, held a 35-27 advantage in total rebounds, and grabbed 15 steals. 
 
Senior guard Kellyn Murphy (St. Vincent/St. Mary H.S.) led the way for the Pioneers with 20 points (8-13 FG, 4-6 FT) and three steals.  Freshman guards Allyson Wilson (Firestone H.S.) and Amy Kittle (Buckeye Trail H.S.) each followed with eight points apiece while sophomore guard Bree Zehnder (Garaway H.S.) tossed in seven.
 
Katie Berry paced Walsh with a game-high 24 points.  Ciera Burkes also made major contributions for the Cavaliers as she came off the bench to post a double-double with 16 points and ten assists.
 
The Pioneers will next face American Mideast Conference North Division foe Point Park (PA) University (2-19 overall, 0-8 AMC North) at home on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
 
Pioneer Notes: Kellyn Murphy needs just 21 more points to become the 19th Malone women’s basketball player to reach 1000 career points…Following Thursday’s game, Malone leads the Mayors’ Cup series 7-5…the Pioneers also hold a 31-29 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools.
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