Published: January 31, 2008 10:58 pm      

COLLEGE NOTEBOOK: It’s hard to beat these ladies

A trio of small-college women’s basketball teams have been unbeatable thus far this year, thanks in part to some local talent.

Medaille, Daemen and D’Youville have combined to win 39 straight games.

The last loss came on Dec. 29, when Daemen was beaten in the first round of the Surf City Classic in Newport Beach, Calif.

Since then, the Wildcats have won 11 straight, giving them 13 wins in their last four starts, and allowing them to make their debut in the NAIA Division II pool at No. 22.

Daemen graduated five players who had won 100 games in their four years, led by the program’s all-time leading scorer, Allison Depp (Lockport).

This season’s senior-less squad features five freshmen, including another former Lady Lion Bridgette Burke, who is averaging 9.0 points and 4.6 rebounds off the bench.

Another valuable reserve has keyed the 11-game win streak D’Youville took into Thursday’s North Eastern Athletic Conference game with Keuka.

Melissa Kanalley (Cardinal O’Hara), is averaging 7.6 points in nine games since transferring from St. John Fisher, which has helped the Spartans, coached by Niagara Falls’ Mark Herr, jump out to an 8-0 record in the NEAC.

The best of the bunch has been Medaille, winners of 17 straight and the No. 14 team in the latest D3hoops.com poll.

The Mavericks are coached by former Niagara men’s coach and current Buffalo radio color man Pete Lonergan and are getting contributions from Kacie Mills (Kenmore East), Janessa Vandergriff (Royalton-Hartland), Kim Sendlak (Kenmore West), and Amanda Boron (Starpoint).

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Tom Maving, a Tonawanda native who attended Canisius High School, was recently named Division III player of the week by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

Maving, a 6-foot-1 outside hitter, helped Nazareth defeat three ranked teams last week, averaging 3.26 kills per game and maintaining a .403 hitting percentage.

The Golden Flyers entered the week ranked No. 9 nationally.

Maving was recognized by the AVCA twice during his second-team All-America performance as a junior last season, and earlier this year surpassed 1,000 career kills.

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Geneseo’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams each bring 9-0 records into next weekend’s SUNYAC championships at Erie Community College.

Russell Sullivan (Niagara-Wheatfield) won the 100 and 200 backstroke events and helped the Knights claim the 400 medley relay in a recent win over Oswego. Lindsey Dressel (Kenmore West) set pool records in the 200 fly and 400 individual medley.

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Niagara University’s American Collegiate Hockey Association team is ranked No. 16 nationally and will host No. 19 Robert Morris at 4:30 p.m. Sunday. The Purple Eagles are 8-0 in league play and are one win away from securing a berth in the ACHA national tournament.

David DeMizio (Niagara Falls) and Eric Schottke (Tonawanda) are among the team’s top scorers.

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Casey Green (North Tonawanda) will represent Rochester at the Eastern College Athletic Conference indoor track and field championships at Harvard after qualifying in the 55- and 200-meter dashes. ... Buffalo State’s Janelle Orosz (North Tonawanda) won the high jump at the recent Case Western Reserve University Spartan Relays. ... Tim Harroun (Tonawanda) and Scott Banks (North Tonawanda) won the 200 fly and 100 breast events for Buffalo State in a home meet against Brockport. Paul Clark (Kenmore West) anchored the 400 medley relay team’s victory. ... Jason Hill (Niagara Falls) had two assists in Buffalo State’s 2-2 hockey tie with Brockport.