Box Score

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – A 28-point fourth quarter rally wouldn't be enough for the East Stroudsburg University women's basketball team on Monday as the Warriors dropped a 54-49 decision against Bloomsburg University at Nelson Fieldhouse.
 
ESU (8-9, 5-5 PSAC) shot 9-of-18 (50 percent) from the field in the fourth quarter and drained six 3-pointers but would be unable to overcome an 8-for-44 start from the field through the first three quarters of action. Bloomsburg (11-6, 7-3) improved to 8-0 at home this season and 12-0 dating back to Jan. 31, 2018.
 
Junior Tiffany Lapotsky tallied a game-high 16 points in the contest for ESU while adding six rebounds and one assist. Lapotsky also matched a season-high with three made 3-pointers as ESU went 8-of-22 in the contest from downtown. Sophomore Marlene Bassett and senior Noelle Powell each recorded eight points for the Warriors as Powell connected on a pair of 3-pointers to give her 117 for her career. Junior Jordan Hertz added seven points, seven rebounds, four steals, and five assists for the Warriors while notching her 300th career assist in the fourth quarter.
 
Emma Saxton paced three Bloomsburg players in double-digits by scoring 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Saxton also added seven boards and three assists for the Huskies, while Alyssa Mack tallied 12 points. Taylor Montana notched 11 points and nine rebounds for Bloomsburg and shot 50 percent from the field despite turning the ball over seven times in the contest.
 
The Warriors trailed the Huskies 46-21 entering the fourth quarter and would see Bloomsburg increase its advantage to 48-22 before Powell hit a 3-ball to start a rally for ESU. With 6:40 remaining in the quarter, Lapotsky and senior Ann McKnight hit back-to-back 3-pointers to trim the deficit to 48-36. Bloomsburg ended the Warriors' 15-0 run with just over four minutes left on the clock as Megan Brandt hit one of two shots at the free-throw line.
 
Lapotsky and Hertz kept the momentum going for ESU as the duo connected on consecutive 3-pointers to pull the Warriors within six points (49-43) of the Huskies. Sophomore Abby Schoffstall cut the deficit to four points with a layup but the Warriors would get no closer to the Huskies over the final two minutes of action. Lapotsky connected on a buzzer-beating 3-ball for ESU as the comeback bid fell just short, 54-49.
 
Bloomsburg had a strong start to the contest while the Warriors struggled to get things going offensively. The Huskies outscored ESU 20-8 in the opening quarter and shot 8-of-15 from the floor. ESU would go just 1-of-14 from the field in the second quarter and 0-of-6 from downtown.
 
The Warriors would do a better job of protecting the ball in the second half after committing 10 turnovers before the end of the first half. ESU also pressured the Huskies into some miscues down the stretch as Bloomsburg committed 15 of its 21 turnovers in the second half, including eight in the fourth quarter.
 
The Warriors host West Chester on Wednesday night inside Koehler Fieldhouse beginning at 6 p.m. ESU will look to snap a four-game winning streak for the Golden Rams (8-10, 4-6).