Posted: Feb 06, 2025

SSU MBB, WBB to host Brescia (Ky.) Saturday; baseball, bowling, track and field, women's tennis all in action in big weekend for Bears

The men's and women's basketball programs at Shawnee State head into the first weekend of February with momentum -- and will look to capitalize on said momentum as the Shawnee State women's basketball program looks for its 20th victory of the 2025 season against the Brescia (Ky.) Bearcats' women's basketball program while the Shawnee State men's basketball program will look to even up its record at .500 and put pressure on the front three teams in the River States Conference East Division -- Rio Grande, Indiana-East and Alice Lloyd -- with a win Saturday.

Additionally, the baseball program will play a three-game series at Brewton-Parker (Ga.) Friday (6 p.m.) and Saturday (12 p.m., doubleheader), the bowling program will compete in the fourth and final Ohio Bowling Conference tournament event Saturday in Columbus, the track and field program will participate in the two-day Fourth Annual Jud Logan Light Giver Open Friday and Saturday in Ashland, Ohio, and the women's tennis program will host Indiana-Kokomo Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. at the Ashland Tennis Center in Ashland, Ky.

Saturday, Feb. 8 -- Shawnee State MBB (11-12, 6-5 River States Conference) vs. Brescia MBB (5-14, 3-8 River States Conference); Shawnee State WBB (19-4, 10-1 River States Conference) vs. Brescia WBB (15-6, 7-4 River States Conference), 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., Waler Gymnasium

Shawnee State men's basketball is led by:

5-11 graduate student guard Tre Beard (19 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.3 steals, 50.4 percent shooting, 48.4 percent three-point shooting, 92.6 percent free throw shooting)
6-0 graduate student guard Cory Gardner (17.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 2.2 steals, 59.8 percent shooting, 74.2 percent free throw shooting)
6-9 sophomore forward Donovan Lovelace (13.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 51.1 percent shooting, 50 percent three-point shooting, 82.1 percent free throw shooting)
6-7 junior forward Ezra McKee (13 points, 6.1 rebounds, 52.8 percent shooting)
6-5 senior forward AJ Belton (8.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 55.6 percent shooting, 45.5 percent three-point shooting)
6-0 junior guard Marcos Vazquez (7.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, one steal, 44.8 percent shooting)
Shawnee State secured its biggest win of the 2024-25 season Tuesday evening with a 70-69 comeback victory over West Virginia Tech Thursday evening. The Bears came back from 17 points down (47-30) to tie the score at 66 apiece, then won on an AJ Belton block that led to a Cory Gardner layup in transition in the final 20 seconds of play -- with Gardner then stealing the ensuing inbound pass that put Shawnee State ahead by a 70-66 margin, helping seal the game. It was the second such thrilling victory in a week-and-a-half's time for SSU, who also defeated Indiana-Southeast, 84-82, on an Elkin Ramirez three-pointer on SSU's final offensive possession with 5.9 seconds left.
The Bears are shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from three-point range as a team through 23 games.

Brescia men's basketball is led by:

6-5 junior guard Damian Garcia (24 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.3 steals, 1.3 blocks, 44.7 percent shooting)

(RV) Shawnee State women's basketball is led by:

6-0 senior forward Cianna Gloster (14.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, three steals, 56.2 percent shooting)
5-11 sophomore guard Emily Maynard (eight points, 37.3 percent three-point shooting)
5-5 graduate student guard Sanaya Gregory (7.7 points, 86.9 percent free throw shooting)
6-0 senior forward Jada Johnson (7.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 44.2 percent shooting, 86.8 percent free throw shooting)
6-0 junior forward Lauren Hawthorne (6.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 46.7 percent shooting, 40 percent three-point shooting, 82.8 percent free throw shooting)
5-5 junior guard Miyoshi Ellis (6.3 points, 2.9 assists, 2.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals)
5-9 sophomore forward Jariah Steele (6.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 47.2 percent shooting)
Shawnee State has won six consecutive games and 12 affairs over the last 13 contests that have been played. 11 of the 12 victories have come by 20 or more points during that time.
Cianna Gloster produced a career-high 30 points and added in 14 rebounds and seven steals, while Emily Maynard has hit at least three or more three-point field goals in six out of her last 10 games.

Brescia women's basketball is led by:

5-9 freshman guard Caroline Lucas (13.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 50.5 percent shooting, 74 percent free throw shooting)
5-10 junior forward Cassidy Morris (9.7 points, seven rebounds, 1.4 steals, 45.6 percent shooting, 36.6 percent three-point shooting)
6-1 freshman forward Brooklyn Stewart (9.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 50.7 percent shooting)
5-7 freshman guard Amelia Mackey (9.2 points, 36.2 percent three-point shooting, 85.7 percent free throw shooting)
5-9 freshman guard Jenna Krampe (9.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 67.6 percent shooting)

Friday, Feb. 7 and Saturday, Feb. 8 -- Shawnee State baseball at Brewton-Parker (Ga.) -- 6 p.m. Friday evening, 1 p.m. DH Saturday afternoon

Coming off of a 3-1 weekend in its season-opening series against Union Commonwealth, the Shawnee State baseball program will look to continue its momentum when the Bears take on Brewton-Parker (Ga.) in a three-game set.

Shawnee State is coming off of a week where the Bears scored 32 runs on 40 hits over the four-game series.

Jace Parnin (.563, double, home run, eight RBI, five runs scored), Nolan Tressler (.538, three doubles, home run, four RBI, three stolen bases, eight runs scored), Mason Reid (.438, three doubles, five RBI, three runs scored) and Diego Mendoza (.400, double, home run, four RBI, four runs scored) all produced at the top of the order.

Pitching-wise, Carson Wireman helped seal the series in Shawnee State's 4-0 win in Game 4, striking out six batters in three innings of work to nab his first save of the year. Lyndon Sinclair and Logan Paplham also produced quality outings in victories, while Trent Tice and Evan Hood were among those who joined Wireman in showing bright spots in relief.

Saturday, Feb. 8 -- Shawnee State men's/women's bowling at Ohio Bowling Conference Event No. 4, Columbus Bowling Palace, Columbus, Ohio

The men's and women's bowling programs will also be in action Saturday -- as the Bears will look to claim high conference placements at the Ohio Bowling Conference's fourth and final event, which is being held at the Columbus Bowling Palace in Columbus, Ohio.

Overall, Shawnee State's men's bowling program is led by four bowlers who are bowling 196 or better, including Sam Clay (207.3), Zach Ison (201.5), Jaylen Sumler (196.5) and Blake Landers (196.4). The quartet have combined for a win, three top-fives, seven top-10s and 18 top-25s this season.

As for the women's bowling program, Onesti Evans and Olyvia Bittner continue to head up the efforts of that program. Evans is averaging 185.4 pins while Bittner holds a 179.3 average -- as the pair have also combined for three top-fives, four top-10s and nine top-25s this season.

Friday, Feb. 7 and Saturday, Feb. 8 -- Shawnee State men's/women's track and field at Fourth Annual Jud Logan Light Giver Open, Ashland University, Ashland, Ohio (10 a.m. Friday, 9:20 a.m. Saturday)

The men's and women's track and field programs are also in action this weekend -- as the Bears will compete in the Fourth Annual Jud Logan Light Giver Open, which will be hosted by Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio.

With the final meet of the indoor track and field regular season upon the Shawnee State men's and women's track programs, Shawnee State Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Conner Flynn is pleased with the positioning of both of his programs.

"I believe both teams have prepared themselves well throughout the season," Flynn said. "We are going to continue working towards May, but for the indoor portion, I am pleased with the progress that the groups have made. We have had more athletes compete each week. We are just about at full strength, which is all any team can ask. With conference next week. I know we will be ready next weekend. As for this weekend, we have big races ahead of us this weekend. I expect our athletes to put their best foot forward and compete. If that's the case, we will live with the result."

While the efforts of Luke Rader, Isaiah Lanoy and Dylan French -- along with the NAIA 'B' Standard marks that Rader, along with Olivia Cisco and Natalie Brammer, put up in the long jump, 5,000 meter run and 3,000 meter racewalk, respectively -- have headlined the indoor track and field season, it's been a season of growth for many additional athletes, as well -- including distance runners Garrett Carver, Kirsten Evans and Beth Middleton as well as the versatile sprinting and field efforts of Matthew Rauch.

"So many of our athletes have come a long way," Flynn said. "However, a few returners that have really stepped up are Garrett Carver, Kirsten Evans, Beth Middleton, and Matthew Rauch. Garrett and Beth have set significant indoor personal bests in both the 3,000m and 5,000m, Kirsten Evans has fully embraced each opportunity she has, and is running really well, and lastly, Matthew Rauch has really shown his versatility and done well in many events."

In all, Shawnee State will contest 23 different events over the course of the two-day event between the men's and women's track and field programs. A total of 19 student-athletes will compete on Day 1 with an additional 39 slated to go on Day 2.

Friday competitors (20 different competitors in 10 events; Luke Rader, Matthew Rauch, Kaiden Lanoy competing in multiple events on same day)

Men's 4,000 distance medley relay (Dylan French, Cody Hesler, Trevor Lanoy, Isaiah Lanoy, Kaiden Lanoy, Caden LaRue)

Men's 200 meter dash (Garrett McKinniss, Cody Hesler, Davin Heckard, Braxton Noble, Cameron Cannon, Luke Rader)

Men's 5,000 meter run (Kaiden Lanoy, Garrett Carver, Walker Pannell)

Women's weight throw (Jaina Bailey, Faith Kuhn, Olivia Newman, Tashawna Young, Alexis Sudderth)

Men's pole vault (Landon Roberts)

Men's triple jump (Luke Rader)

Men's heptathlon (Matthew Rauch competing in 60 meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump on Friday)

Saturday competitors (40 different competitors in 19 different events; Ali Taylor, Camille Hall, Garrett McKinniss, Desean Garred, Cameron Cannon, Braxton Noble, Luke Rader, Natalie Brammer, Aidan Judd, Caden LaRue, Haidyn Wamsley, Ivy Gentry and Makaela Lovely all competing in multiple events on same day)

Women's 60 meter hurdles (Ali Taylor)

Women's 400 meter dash (Camille Hall)

Men's 400 meter dash (Cody Hesler, Garrett McKinniss, Desean Garred, Cameron Cannon, Braxton Noble)

Women's 60 meter dash (Camille Hall, Ivy Gentry)

Men's 60 meter dash (Garrett McKinniss, Davin Heckard, Desean Garred, Cameron Cannon, Braxton Noble, Bailey White)

Men's 60 meter hurdles (Luke Rader)

Women's one mile run (Kirsten Evans, Amanda Salmons, Natalie Brammer)

Men's one mile run (Caden LaRue, Garrett Carver, Aidan Judd, Jacob Naumovski, Luke Butler, Walker Pannell, Connor Blagg)

Women's 800 meter run (Natalie Brammer)

Men's 800 meter run (Kaiden Lanoy, Aidan Judd)

Women's 3,000 meter run (Olivia Cisco, Jessica Elick, Beth Middleton, Sydney Reed)

Men's 3,000 meter run (Isaiah Lanoy, Dylan French, Trevor Lanoy, Caden LaRue, Jerry O'Dell, Malachi Shugert)

Women's long jump (Haidyn Wamsley, Ivy Gentry, Makaela Lovely)

Men's long jump (Luke Rader, Connor Ignacio)

Men's high jump (Eli Adkins)

Women's high jump (Haidyn Wamsley, Makaela Lovely, Ali Taylor)

Women's shot put (Jaina Bailey, Olivia Newman, Tashawna Young, Alexis Sudderth)

Men's heptathlon (Matthew Rauch competing in 60 meter hurdles, pole vault)

Sunday, Feb. 9 -- Shawnee State women's tennis vs. Indiana-Kokomo (1 p.m., Ashland Tennis Center)

Lastly, the women's tennis program rounds out matters with competition on Super Bowl Sunday -- as SSU takes on Indiana-Kokomo at 1 p.m. in the Ashland Tennis Center in Ashland, Ky.

McKenzie Harman, who won three games individually last weekend against Thomas More (Ky.), led the group's output -- while Antonia Ilea won a pair of games at No. 2 singles. Miranda Johnson and Brooklyn Foose each won one game respectively in their singles positions.

Additional

The live stream of the baseball contests can be found at https://team1sports.com/gobaronsgo/, while the live stream of the basketball games can be found at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/shawneest.

For updates on all of these events, visit www.ssubears.com or the below social media handles.