Box Score
EAST STROUDSBURG – Senior forward
Allison Howard totaled 24 points and a career-high 17 rebounds, and East Stroudsburg University used an 11-0 run midway through the fourth quarter to pull away from Lock Haven in a 76-59 victory at Koehler Fieldhouse on Tuesday night.
Howard registered the 16th double-double of her career (third this season) to help the Warriors (8-3, 4-3 PSAC) remain tied with West Chester for first place in the PSAC East standings. She also moved into 10th place in program history in rebounds (610), passing both Amy Jones (2003-07) and Megan Huntingdon (1994-98), and 11th place in scoring (1,116 points), moving ahead of Lori Gruver (1979-83).
Junior guard
Imani Brown added 14 points and five rebounds off the bench, and sophomore guard
Noelle Powell chipped in 12 points for ESU. Lysa Mealing led the Bald Eagles (5-6, 2-5 PSAC) with 10 points, 12 rebounds and three steals.
The Warrior defense held Lock Haven to 15.4 percent shooting from the field through the game's first 15+ minutes, helping the home side grab an early 24-11 advantage with less than four minutes to play in the second quarter. ESU maintained a 38-24 edge heading into the intermission, with Howard (10 points, eight rebounds) already approaching her double-double.
The Warriors led by as many as 17 points four times in the third quarter, with a pair of free throws from freshman guard
Jordan Hertz making it 49-32 with 2:13 left on the clock.
A 3-pointer by Madison McHale began a 12-2 run for the visitors over the next 3:10 of play, as Lock Haven reduced the deficit down to 51-44. The margin remained seven points with 8:31 remaining in regulation after McHale canceled out a three-point play from Howard with another long ball on the other side.
With the score 60-50 in favor of ESU with under six minutes left, Howard sank two free throws to begin a decisive 11-0 run. Brown scored seven of her 14 points during that stretch, and the Warriors would lead by as many as 24 during the final minutes.
ESU has now won 11 of the last 13 meetings between the two schools, including six of the past seven contests at Koehler Fieldhouse.
Howard's previous career-high in rebounds was 14, a feat which she accomplished on two separate occasions. She also supplied three of ESU's season-high eight blocks, upping her career total to 66 and moving her within three rejections of Theresa Cornish (1993-96) for eighth place all-time in program history.
Junior center
Rebecca Rutkowski added a pair of blocks, giving her 89 for her career, and she tacked on nine points in 10 minutes off the bench. Nine different Warrior players scored at least two points, and all 14 active players made appearances for a second-consecutive contest.
ESU looks for a third-straight victory on Friday night, traveling to Millersville (4-8, 2-5 PSAC) for a tilt scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.
Notes:
Howard scored 20+ points for the 11th time in her career (second time this season).
The latest D2SIDA Atlantic Region poll was released on Tuesday morning, with the Warriors moving up one spot to No. 9 after topping Cheyney by an 86-52 final in their only game last week. ESU has been ranked in every regional poll this season, reaching a peak position of No. 3 on Nov. 28. The full rankings are available below.
D2SIDA Atlantic Region Women's Basketball Preseason Poll – Week 7
| Rank |
School (First-Place Votes) |
W-L |
Pts. |
Prev. |
| 1 |
Virginia Union (2) |
9-0 |
40 |
2 |
| 2 |
California |
11-1 |
35 |
1 |
| 3 |
Wheeling Jesuit |
9-1 |
31 |
3 |
| 4 |
Mercyhurst |
11-1 |
30 |
4 |
| 5 |
Glenville State |
9-1 |
24 |
5 |
| 6 |
Edinboro |
10-2 |
20 |
8 |
| 7 |
IUP |
8-2 |
15 |
9 |
| 8 |
Chowan |
10-3 |
10 |
6 |
| 9 |
East Stroudsburg |
7-3 |
7 |
10 |
| 10 |
Bowie State |
11-2 |
5 |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
| Dropped out: (7) Johnson C. Smith |
|
|
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