No. 15 Cardinals set to host CUA-Holiday Inn College Park Classic

WASHINGTON – Following more than a week off for the holidays, No. 15 CUA returns to action this weekend when the Cardinals welcome three teams to town for the CUA-Holiday Inn College Park Classic.  CUA opens play on December 29 when it faces Denison, while Delaware Valley and Husson face-off in the other opening round game.

CUA was last in action on December 17 when it picked up a 67-55 victory over a talented Randolph-Macon team.  Senior captain Shawn Holmes dropped a season-high 27 points on 8 of 13 shooting to help lead the Cards to their third straight win and eighth in nine games this season.

Holmes is averaging 16.8 points per game thus far this season, with classmate Chris Kearney leading the way at 17.4 points per game and Steve Limberiou adding 13.3.

The Cardinals are outscoring their opponents by an average of 12.7 points per game.  CUA is holding teams to just 56.6 points, which ranks 12th in America, while the Cards rank in the top-ten in turnovers per game (4th), assist/turnover ratio (7th), and turnover margin (10th).

CUA has played at home just twice this season, but is currently in the midst of a five-game homestand.

Denison, CUA’s first opponent in the tournament, will arrive in Washington with a mark of 4-5, having defeated Kenyon in its last game.  Dimonde Hale at 18.2 points per game leads the Big Red in scoring.

CUA has won this tournament 15 times overall and 13 of the last 18 years.  The Cardinals won three straight prior to last year, before dropping an 82-81 heartbreaker to nationally ranked Buffalo State in the championship.

Following this year’s tournament, CUA will play one final non-conference game, before embarking on the last 13 games of its Landmark Conference schedule.

Here is a look at the three schools heading to Washington, D.C. this weekend for the CUA-Holiday Inn College Park Classic.

Denison
Location: Granville, Ohio
Nickname: Big Red
2012-13 record: 4-5
Conference: North Coast Athletic Conference
Head Coach: Bob Ghiloni
Leading Scorer: Dimonde Hale (18.2 ppg)
Last Time Out: Defeated Kenyon 74-70 (December 11)

Delaware Valley
Location: Doylestown, Pa.
Nickname: Aggies
2012-13 record: 5-4
Conference: Freedom Conference
Head Coach: Casey Stitzel
Leading Scorer: Jeremy Beckett (17.2 ppg)
Last Time Out: Defeated Kean 94-57 (December 15)

Husson
Location: Bangor, Maine
Nickname: Eagles
2012-13 record: 3-3
Conference: North Atlantic Conference
Head Coach: Warren Caruso
Leading Scorer: Eric Modica (12.5 ppg)
Last Time Out: Defeated Green Mountain 90-71 (December 8)

CUA-Holiday Inn College Park Classic Schedule
Saturday, December 29
Delaware Valley vs. Husson – 2 p.m.
CUA vs. Denison – 4 p.m.

Sunday, December 30
Consolation game – 2 p.m.
Championship game – 4 p.m.