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LOCAL CONNECTIONS: Loyd handing out plenty of assists

scott walsh, the times-tribune, scranton, pa.
·5 min read

Jan. 31—California University of Pennsylvania senior Ciaira Loyd (Scranton) had a pair of double-doubles — and just missed a third — as the Lady Vulcans basketball team won three games.

In an 87-80 victory over Seton Hill University, Loyd had 11 points and 18 assists. They are the most assists by a Cal player since Megan Storck handed out 15 against Augusta State on Nov. 27, 2004.

They also are tied for the second-highest single-game assist total in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference history. The record is 21 held by Cal's Lori Richelderfer against Millersville during the 1993-94 season. Clarion's Shelly Pespecki had 18 assists against Ashland during the 1991-92 season.

Lastly, Loyd's 18 assists are the most by a player in the NCAA this season, regardless of division.

Against Mansfield University, Loyd had 15 points and 10 assists in a 91-53 win. She followed that up with 12 points and nine assists in a 67-58 triumph over the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown.

For the season, Loyd is averaging 13.8 points and has 140 assists, which rank second in the PSAC and fifth in NCAA Division II.

Dual threat

Freshman Avery McNulty (Scranton Prep) has played in all 19 games off the bench for the Muhlenberg College women's basketball team. She averages 3.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in 11.9 minutes.

McNulty also is a member of the Mules' indoor track team and made her debut at the Muhlenberg Indoor Invitational. She won the high jump, clearing 5 feet, 1 3/4 inches, which is the top mark in the Centennial Conference this season and is tied for seventh on the program's all-time performance list.

The next day, she scored four points in the basketball team's 59-57 win.

Mat queens

East Stroudsburg University won the inaugural Pennsylvania State Women's Collegiate Wrestling Championships team title with 90 points and Lock Haven University took third with 37 points. Seven teams participated.

For ESU, freshman Felicia Smith (Honesdale) placed fifth at 170 pounds. She went 2-2 with both wins coming by pin over Ursinus College's Calista Kolmer.

Lock Haven sophomore Lily Sherer (Delaware Valley) went 1-1 to finish second at 130 pounds. She decisioned ESU's Gianna Amendola, 9-0, then lost in the final to ESU's Mia Macaluso, 4-2.

Quick connects

Wofford College women's basketball sophomore Rachael Rose (Scranton Prep) had 15 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and one steal in a 76-71 win at Mercer University, then had 20 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals in a 79-75 victory at Samford University. It is the first time in 11 tries Wofford has won at Mercer and the first time the Terriers swept the Mercer-Samford road trip. ... Drexel University women's basketball freshman Kylie Lavelle (Riverside) scored 10 points in a 69-57 win over Hofstra University, then had nine points and four rebounds in a 61-49 victory over Elon University. ... Colgate University track and field junior Bo Lynett (Scranton Prep) finished seventh in the high jump at 5 feet, 9 1/4 inches and 28th in the long jump at 17-11 3/4 at the Utica College Blue & Orange Invite and Multi. ... In a 118-60 dual-meet loss to rival Lehigh University, Lafayette College track and field sophomore Jack Lynett (Scranton Prep) placed third in the pole vault, clearing 14-4 1/2 , and third in the triple jump at 42-4. ... Lehigh University track and field sophomore Brooke Acoveno (Delaware Valley) finished sixth in the shot put at 29-1 1/4 in a 113-68 win over rival Lafayette. ... University of Virginia track and field junior Trina Barcarola (Western Wayne) was fourth in the pole vault, clearing 13-1 1/2 , at the Penn State National Open. ... For the third time in four weeks, Lafayette men's basketball senior Leo O'Boyle (Scranton Prep) was named a Patriot League honorable mention for the period ending Sunday. O'Boyle averaged 14.5 points during a 1-1 week, shooting 10 for 19 from the field, including 6 of 12 from 3-point range. ... Bloomsburg University track and field sophomore Doug Walsh (Holy Cross) finished seventh in the heptathlon with 4,047 points at the Bucknell Bison Open and Multi. Walsh finished fourth in the 60 meters, high jump and shot put; fifth in the long jump; seventh in the pole vault; and ninth in the 60-meter hurdles and 1,000 meters. ... Haverford College sophomore Harry Johnson (Abington Heights) had 13 points and seven rebounds in an 80-73 win over Washington College, Maryland, then had 14 points and seven rebounds in a 64-52 victory over McDaniel College. ... Clarkson University men's basketball senior Blake Gearhart (Delaware Valley) totaled 21 points, five rebounds and three steals in a 63-58 loss to Vassar College.

WEEKLY WINNERS

Marywood University's Jade Rolon was chosen Atlantic East Conference women's basketball Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday.

Eight of Rolon's 11 rebounds came off the defensive glass and she helped the Pacers limit Centenary to 27.1-percent shooting in a 56-48 win. She also scored 10 points.

Immaculata University's Abbey Lentowski (Holy Cross) was named to the women's basketball honor roll after collecting 18 points, eight rebounds, four blocks and one steal against Gwynedd Mercy.

—Sabrina Zieger of Marywood University was selected to the Atlantic East women's swimming weekly honor roll

CSAC

Clarks Summit University's Ashlyn Messinger was chosen Colonial States Athletic Conference women's basketball Offensive Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday.

Messinger averaged 18.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in two wins.

Teammate Mia McCormick was selected to the weekly honor roll, as were Kwashanti Holmes and Kaitlyn Slaboda (Riverside) of Keystone College.

—Ashton West and Hunter Plantz from Clarks Summit University and Daivel Jackson and Javen Flowers-Smith of Keystone College were selected to the men's basketball weekly honor roll.

— SCOTT WALSH

SCOTT WALSH covers area college athletes and teams in Local Connections. Contact him at swalsh@timesshamrock.com; 570 348-9100 ext. 5109; and follow him @swalshTT on Twitter.

SCOTT WALSH covers area college athletes and teams in Local Connections. Contact him at swalsh@timesshamrock.com; 570 348-9100 ext. 5109; and follow him @swalshTT on Twitter.