Tiffin women's basketball went through the gauntlet last week, going 2-1 in three games over four days. This week they have just two contests, at Walsh on Wednesday and home against Malone on Saturday, before taking two weeks off for the holidays.
Game Information:
Tiffin Dragons (3-1, 3-1 GMAC) at
Walsh Cavaliers (2-0, 2-0 GMAC)
Wednesday, Dec. 16 | 5:30 p.m.
North Canton, Ohio | Alumni Arena
Video | Live Stats
Tiffin Dragons (3-1, 3-1 GMAC) vs
Malone Pioneers (1-2, 1-2 GMAC)
Saturday, Dec. 19 | 1:00 p.m.
Tiffin, Ohio | Gillmor Center
Video | Live Stats | Gameday Program
Dragon Details:
Tiffin is off to a fantastic start, going 3-1 over their first four games to only trail undefeated Walsh in the GMAC standings.
With wins over Ohio Dominican, Malone, and Ursuline, the Dragons are holding opponents to just 66 points per game and under 40% shooting from the field. Tiffin is also pulling down 9.5 more rebounds per contest than opponents, a mark that leads the conference and is 10th nationally.
Aarion Nichols has been doing it all for Tiffin so far, ranking in the top 40 in the country in points per game (35th, 18.8), rebounds per game (25th, 9.0), assists per game (11th, 5.5), and steals per game (40th, 2.75). Each mark is also top-five in the GMAC.
Savanah Richards is also averaging double figures with 15.5 points per game as well as 2.8 assists per game. Kirsten Williams (9.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 2.5 spg) and Jada Tate (8.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg) also contribute significantly for the Dragons.
Scouting the Cavaliers:
Defending conference champion Walsh was selected to repeat as GMAC Champions in this year's Preseason Poll. The Cavs are off to a great start, opening with wins over Ursuline and Hillsdale, and scoring 92 points in each with an average scoring margin of 34 over the two opponents.
2019-20 GMAC Player of the Year Sha Carter is back for her junior season, and has picked right up where she left off as the forward is averaging 25.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, two assists, and two steals per game while shooting 66.7% from the field and 75% from deep. Morgan McMillen and Mayci Sales are next for the Cavaliers, each averaging 14.0 points per game.
The Dragons and Cavaliers have met 12 times in TU's DII era, and Walsh has a decisive advantage in the series with 11 wins to just one for Tiffin. Walsh has won the last 10 meetings, with Tiffin's only win in the series coming on Feb. 16, 2013, a 65-60 overtime victory at home.
The last meeting between the two programs came in Tiffin last season on Dec. 14, with the Cavaliers taking an 89-58 win. Carter and Sales both had 19 points to lead Walsh, with Sales also pulling down 11 rebounds for a double-double. Nichols led Tiffin with 13 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
Scouting the Pioneers:
Malone was selected fifth in the conference preseason poll. The Pioneers have played three games so far this season, defeating Hillsdale in their opener before falling to Tiffin and Cedarville last week.
Returning First Team All-GMAC guard Holly Groff leads Malone in scoring thus far with 18.3 points per game. The redshirt-senior also averages 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. Four other Pioneers are averaging between 10.3 and 12.3 points per game.
The Dragons and Pioneers have met 11 times in TU's DII era, with Malone holding a 7-4 advantage in the series. In the last five meetings, the Pioneers hold a 3-2 advantage.
The last matchup between Tiffin and Malone came just over a week ago on Dec. 9. Tiffin outscored Malone by eight in the fourth quarter to earn a 69-61 road victory. Aarion Nichols led Tiffin with 19 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Savanah Richards finished with 16 points and four assists, while Jada Tate recorded the third double-double of her career with 10 points and 13 boards.