College sports roundup: Butler runners aid Irish, Jennifer Cichra earns national honor
MADISON, Wisc. — Butler graduates and Notre Dame runners Drew Griffith (90th place, 29:51.1) and CJ Singleton (143rd, 30:11.7) helped the Fighting Irish to a 10th-place finish at Saturday’s NCAA Cross Country Championships.
The 10k race was held at Thomas Zimmer Cross Country Course.
SACRAMENTO — Slippery Rock University junior distance runner and Butler graduate Jennifer Cichra was named the 2024 NCAA Division II Women’s Cross Country Elite 90 Award winner Saturday at the National Championships at the Haggin Oaks Golf Complex.
The award is given to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average at each of the organization’s 90 national championship finals sites. Cichra has a 4.0 GPA with 116 credit hours while majoring in mechanical engineering.
SLIPPERY ROCK — It took double overtime for Millersville to outlast Slippery Rock University’s women’s basetball team on Saturday. The Marauders (5-1, 2-0 in PSAC play) won 62-59 less than 24 hours after also beating California (Pa.) in overtime.
Sophia Hook had a team-high 13 points for The Rock. Tahmala Thorpe had another 12.
SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock University’s men’s basketball team fell at home against Millersville 72-52 on Saturday. The Rock (2-4, 0-2 in PSAC play) coughed up its most turnovers since Feb. 8, 2020 in the decisive defeat.
Maceo Austin led SRU with 14 points. Jomo Goings added 11.
CANTON — Westminster freshman defensive back and Seneca Valley graduate Cayetano West blocked an early punt against Marietta in Saturday’s Extra Points Bowl at Canton’s Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
Titans (8-3) teammate Gavin Greaves returned the loose ball for a touchdown, giving their team an early lead in what wound up a 27-13 win.
GROVE CITY — Grove City College sophomore guard and Mars graduate Alexa McDole and senior guard and Seneca Valley passer-through Jaden Davinsizer both tied for the Wolverines’ high with 13 points in a 116-82 home win over Presidents’ Athletic Conference foe Franciscan on Saturday afternoon.
Grove City’s output was the highest in program history. McDole’s total was a career high.
GREENVILLE — Thiel freshman and Moniteau graduate Catherine Kelly paced the Tomcats with 16 points and had seven rebounds against St. Vincent on Saturday.
Butler graduate Makenna Maier notched a game-high dozen boards and had 10 points as her Bearcats won 84-42.