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EAST STROUDSBURG – Freshman forward Marlene Bassett poured in a career-high 24 points to lead four East Stroudsburg University players in double figures, as the Warriors held off a late surge from Lock Haven to earn a 76-68 victory at Koehler Fieldhouse on Thursday.

ESU (15-6, 13-4 PSAC) matched a season-high with its fourth win in a row and completed a season sweep of the Bald Eagles (4-17, 3-14 PSAC). Lock Haven cut a 63-40 deficit at the end of the third quarter down to 72-66 in the final minute, but did not have enough time to finish off the comeback.

Sophomore guard Jordan Hertz came just short of a unique double-double, as she grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds and matched a career best with eight assists. Sophomore forward Dominique Rayam also reached double figures in rebounds for the first time, pulling down 11 boards in 22 minutes off the bench.

Offensively, sophomore guard Tiffany Lapotsky (16 points), junior guard Noelle Powell (15 points, 4-6 3FG) and junior guard Ann McKnight (10 points) supported Bassett's standout effort. Bassett hit 11 of 17 shots from the field to easily surpass her previous season-high of 18 points.

For a second game in a row, the Warriors never trailed, as McKnight scored all 10 of her points in the opening five minutes to help the home side build an early 16-6 advantage. McKnight, who netted a career-high 14 points last Saturday at Mansfield, made 4 of 5 field goal attempts overall, including both of her 3-point attempts.

A late 3-pointer by Powell gave ESU a double-digit lead of 40-30 at the end of the first half, and the Warriors outscored the visitors by a 23-10 margin in a dominant third quarter to give themselves some breathing room.

The extra cushion was needed, as Lock Haven used a 10-0 run, capped by back-to-back 3-pointers by Kayla Henderson, to make it a two-possession game in the final minute. ESU was only 5 for 13 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter, but Bassett hit both of her attempts from the charity stripe on the ensuing possession to help seal the win.

Bassett has reached double figures in five of the last seven games. She is averaging 13.3 points per game and shooting 52.4 percent from the field during that stretch.

Henderson finished with 23 points in 25 minutes off the bench for the Bald Eagles, while Bink Redman totaled 19 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out late in regulation.

The Warriors had a 16-4 edge in steals, led by four apiece from Hertz and Rayam, and they dished out a season-high 22 assists. Both teams struggled at the free throw line, as ESU was 8 for 23 (34.8 percent) while Lock Haven went 14 for 23 (60.9 percent).

ESU is locked into a top-four spot in the PSAC East standings, guaranteeing a home game in the upcoming conference tournament. The Warriors can clinch a top-two seed, and a bye into the quarterfinal round, with one more win or losses by Kutztown and Millersville over the weekend.

ESU's next chance to lock up that first round bye on its own will be Monday night, as the Warriors travel to Cheyney for a 5:30 p.m. road matchup.