Beaver Falls, PA – All the stars are aligning for what could be a very special night at Metheny Fieldhouse on Thursday when the Golden Tornadoes host Point Park University in a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader. The opening act will feature a Geneva team that has won six straight and is currently sitting at 10-2 overall, including a perfect 3-0 mark in the AMC North. Meanwhile, the men’s team at Geneva will finally play its first conference game against the undefeated and third ranked Pioneers.
In addition to the action on the court, Geneva head women’s coach Ron Galbreath will be recognized prior to the men’s game for picking up career victory #600 last Saturday night.
Geneva’s women, a team that lost over 3600 points to graduation with the losses of Megan Gallagher, Ali Cananzi and Jen Rawding, have not missed a beat in 2006-07. The nation’s second leading defensive team has allowed just over 52 points per game, while surprisingly putting up solid offensive numbers, despite the significant losses on offense. Allyson Clarke leads Geneva with 12.5 points per game, while Renee Rawding (12.4 pts) and Jackie Anthony (12.3) round out Geneva’s balanced attack. Off the bench, Lauren Uranker has provided a much needed threat from long distance with her 48.2 % mark from three-point range, which is tops in the American Mideast Conference. Senior center Ruth Dobos, who was spectacular with 16 points in Geneva’s victory over Notre Dame, is just 12 blocks away from Geneva’s all-time record.
Geneva’s men have enjoyed six days off since picking up a much needed victory at Myers University last Friday night. Sitting with an 8-7 overall record, the Golden Tornadoes will be the last team in the AMC to finally get into divisional play. Coach Santarsiero would have preferred to ease into the schedule, but he will have no such luxury as conference play begins against 17-0 Point Park University. Three players for Geneva are averaging in double figures, led by Kyle McDermott’s 18.2 points per game. Point Park features five players averaging in double figures for a team posting 96.7 points per game. Chivas Whipple, the AMC Newcomer of the Year last season, is back at this year with 22 points per game.
The Geneva and Point Park men’s rivalry dates back to 1967-68 when the Golden Tornadoes won the first meeting 92-74. In 59 meetings, Geneva holds the all-time lead in the series 32-27. On the women’s side, the Pioneers first met Geneva during the 1984-85 season when both teams split a pair of games. Overall, Geneva holds a 28-19 edge in the women’s series.
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