Box Score

EAST STROUDSBURG – Senior forward Allison Howard reached double figures for a 12th-straight game, while freshman guard Sadie Cresswell led a comeback attempt with 10 points in the fourth quarter, but host Millersville used a 15-0 run early in the second half to hold on for a 56-53 victory over East Stroudsburg University on Friday night.

Howard finished with 16 points and eight rebounds to lead the Warriors (8-4, 4-4 PSAC), who had two chances to tie the score in the closing seconds. After trailing throughout the opening half, the Marauders (5-8, 3-5 PSAC) jumped ahead 43-31 with their 15-point offensive surge midway through the third quarter and were able to hold off the visitors in the final minutes.

Jade Farquhar had a game-high 17 points in 28 minutes off the bench for Millersville, and Celeste Robinson added 15 points and nine rebounds.

Howard and junior guard Imani Brown had the final chances to tie the score for the Warriors, but each of their 3-point attempts in the last five seconds were off target.

Both teams shot under 30 percent in a low scoring first half. ESU jumped out to a 10-2 advantage in the opening four minutes of the game, led by five points apiece from sophomore guard Noelle Powell and senior guard Madison Tamburini. The Marauders then scored 10 of the quarter's final 15 points to reduce the deficit to 15-12 at the end of the first.

After the Warriors netted the first four points of the second quarter, Millersville responded with a 7-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer by Krista Mellinger with 4:32 left, to level the contest up at 19-19. Howard closed out the frame with five points, hitting a shot from long distance and a pair of free throws, to help ESU regain a 24-19 edge at the intermission.

Powell's second 3-pointer of the night gave the visitors a 31-28 lead with 6:37 remaining in the third, but the Warriors would go scoreless over the ensuing 5:07 of the frame. Alayah Hall scored seven of the Marauders' 15 points during that stretch, and the home side led 44-35 going into the final 10 minutes of play.

Cresswell, who entered for the first time with 1:30 left in the third, sank a pair of 3-pointers early in the final quarter to reduce the deficit to 46-41 with 6:35 to go. Her third long ball of the frame then pulled ESU within one at 54-53 with 1:42 on the clock.

Robinson, though, sank two free throws on Millersville's next offensive possession, and the Warriors missed each of their final four field goal attempts.

ESU shot a season-low 27.0 percent from the floor overall, while the Marauders recovered from their cold first half to shoot 54.5 percent after the intermission. Millersville held on for the win despite committing 23 turnovers compared to 12 for the visitors.

The Warriors have three games at home next week, beginning with a 6 p.m. contest against West Chester on Monday. ESU remains tied for first in the PSAC East with the Golden Rams (4-8, 4-4 PSAC), who fell 107-73 to No. 8 California tonight.
 
Notes:

Howard has now scored 10+ points 58 times in her career, tied with DeAnna Rayam (2006-10) for the fifth-most among ESU players since 2002-03.

Powell finished with 10 points and five rebounds, reaching double figures for a 10th time in 12 games this season.