Men’s Basketball
Following a clutch overtime victory against King’s College, the Pacers hosted the Haverford College Fords. Despite the Fords entering the afternoon 3-5, they kept pace with Marywood, constricting the usually sure-handed Pacers three-point shooting to just 19%. The Pacer offense found its rhythm in the second half, led by senior guard Brendan Franko, who finished the day with 18 points and seven rebounds, as Marywood would pull away and close out their fifth home victory 84-72.
The following week, the Pacers took part in the York College of PA Showcase Tournament, starting off against the #22 ranked Stockton University Ospreys. Stockton wasted no time showing Marywood why they were ranked, converting on over 50% of their shots, including 12 of their three-point attempts. The Ospreys handled Marywood, notching a 92-63 victory. Despite being outmatched, Marywood history was made, as Franko scored 11 points, exceeding the 1,000 point threshold, becoming just the eighth member in program history to achieve the historic feat.
The next afternoon, Marywood was back at it, facing Salisbury University. The Seagulls strangled the Pacers offense, forcing Marywood to a conversion rate under 31%, with just one three-point try falling. Though the Pacers would get into a groove, Salisbury’s lead was too much for Marywood to overcome, being swept out of York 79-64.
After the players had a chance to go home and celebrate the holiday, they returned to Scranton for their final non-conference bout, hosting the Knights of Mount Saint Mary College. Similarly to their game versus Haverford, the first half was not as lopsided as the Pacers would’ve liked, holding just a one-point advantage into halftime. The Pacers offensive engine was firing on all cylinders on the other side of the break, totaling 56 points in the second half and ending the day with four players finishing with 10 or more points, as Marywood returned to the win column 89-64.
Marywood started the new year and new conference season on the road, facing Neumann University. The Pacers had one of their most efficient halves offensively to start, helping the lead grow to eight points before the break. In the second half, the Knights whittled the Marywood advantage down the entire half, until both teams were knotted at 76 with just over two minutes remaining. Neither team was able to convert from the field in the following two minutes, before the Knights’ Bryan Etienne soared down the floor, being fouled in the process. Etienne split his foul shots, but the one make was enough to beat the Pacers, 77-76. Despite the loss, Franko was historic once more, setting a new career high in points, being responsible for 30 in the effort.
Looking for retribution for their first loss of conference play and past failures against Gwynedd Mercy, Marywood welcomed the Griffins to Insalaco Arena, who entered the matchup on an 11-game win streak versus the Pacers. Marywood muffled the two silky scorers for Gwynedd Mercy, limiting Shawn Summers Jr. and Aquil Stewart in the first half, though the Pacers still trailed by 11 at the break. The Pacers offense sparked in the second half, thanks in large part to the stellar scoring from Mason Mendygral and Shilo Bivins, who both finished the evening with 17 points a piece. The spark flipped the script of the game, as Marywood took the lead, holding onto it for most of the final 10 minutes of regulation. With 30 seconds left, Marywood led by three, before Stewart threw up a circus shot to tie the game, forcing overtime. The Griffins scored six straight points to start the overtime period, never relinquishing the lead and handing Marywood their second conference loss, 87-78.
After consecutive heart-breaking losses to start Atlantic East Conference action, Marywood welcomed the newest member of the conference, the Pratt Institute Cannoneers. With family in attendance, fifth-year guard Trevor Seitz etched his name in the record books. After converting his third three-pointer of the afternoon, Seitz became the program leader in three-pointers made, totaling 198 in his career, surpassing Doug Billet, who held the record since 2003. His excellence drove Marywood’s offense, as the Pacers clinched their first conference win, 81-59.
Women’s Basketball
To begin an eight-day span in which the Pacers would play four times, Marywood hosted Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Scoring was a surplus for the Pacers, totaling 48 first-half points, shooting north of 50% from the field, as Marywood took a hefty lead into halftime. The Pacers efficiency scuffled in the third period, allowing Wilkes-Barre the opportunity to keep the door cracked open. Marywood quickly slammed that door in the fourth, staying dominant at home, 78-52.
Forty eight hours later, Marywood hosted another Penn State satellite school, this time welcoming Altoona. The Pacers expected an encore, but didn’t get it. Scoring was a struggle, as the Nittany Lions played stellar defense across the four quarters, forcing 18 turnovers and a subpar shooting percentage from the Pacers. Marywood would pick up just their second home defeat, 67-47.
Marywood looked to right the ship as the Ravens of Rosemont College flew north to Scranton. It was the Rachel McDonald Show, as the senior guard was automatic from the floor, scoring a career best 25 points on 9-13 shooting, including four deep balls. Her scoring performance was nearly enough to takedown Rosemont by herself, as Marywood’s defense incapacitated the Ravens offense. The Pacers would trounce the visitors, 60-37.
Ending the eight-day stretch, Marywood made the short trip to King’s College. The Monarchs led for all but a minute and change in the first quarter, before Marywood would erase the deficit early in the second quarter, clenching onto the advantage as halftime rolled around. Neither team displayed stellar scoring in the second half, as Marywood would hold on to finish 3-1 in the final four games before the holiday, 51-38.
The Pacers rumbled south, traveling to Nashville to partake in the Music City Classic, starting with Mount Aloysius College. The first quarter totaled 37 points between the two squads, with Marywood trailing by five, showing promise of a high scoring affair. Instead, the second quarter was the Pacers’ worst nightmare: converting just two shots, while the Mustangs continued to stampede. Though Marywood’s offense would come out of halftime firing, the Mustangs were just too much for the Pacers too much to overtake, falling 77-55. Despite the loss, senior guard Olivia Ciullo led Marywood in scoring, while also clinching her second straight double-double, her fourth of the season.
Just a day later, Marywood would face the Lady Blues of Illinois College, starting the matchup similarly to the day prior, with an onslaught of scoring from both sides. Though the Pacers wouldn’t collapse in the second quarter the way they did before, a lackluster third quarter would be the difference in their final game of 2024, as Marywood would fall once more, 80-60. Ciullo again led the pack once more, finishing with 18 points and just a rebound short of another double-double.
Back in the northeast, Marywood kicked off conference action at Neumann University. The Pacers offense came out sluggish, shooting slightly above 26% in the first quarter. The offense awoke in the second, though the Knights were still ahead by nine at halftime. The offense reverted to the first quarter efficiency, as the Pacers were sliced by the Knights, 68-45.
In search of their first AEC victory, the Griffins of Gwynedd Mercy were next up for Marywood. The Pacers offense was exceptional in the first half, scoring 39 points shooting above 50% from the floor, though the Griffins still kept a narrow edge at the break. The scoring continued for Marywood, which matched the Griffins at 43 each by the time the buzzer sounded in the third quarter. The fourth quarter was all Ciullo and Mia Blume, who scored 18 of Marywood’s 20 points, as the Pacers stole the victory from the Griffins grasp, 63-54. Ciullo matched her season high in points (20), while also grabbing 12 rebounds.
Men’s Swimming and Diving
After a month-long recess, the Pacers hosted Immaculata University and Marymount University. Both the Mighty Macs and Saints had Marywood’s number, as both knocked off the Pacers, with Immaculata clinching a tight 83-74 victory and Marymount walloping Marywood 217-26. The Pacers failed to have a first place finish in any race, with the best individual finish being Zach Grosvenor’s third place result in the 200 yard butterfly.
Women’s Swimming and Diving
Facing the same opponents, the women’s team found more success than the men’s squad, clinching a 138-83 victory against Immaculata, while still falling to Marymount 168-71. Though Marywood didn’t have any swimmers finish first, the Pacers had four second place and five third place results, including one of each from sophomore Molly Englehardt.
All stats are from MarywoodPacers.com as of Jan. 12.
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