ERIE, Pa. – The East Stroudsburg University women's basketball team had its three-game win streak snapped on Saturday, falling at Gannon by a 57-51 margin in PSAC crossover action.
Tiffany Lapotsky, who recently moved into seventh place on ESU's all-time scoring list, led the team with 13 points. Jordan Hertz registered 10 points and nine assists, as she finished just one assist shy of a double-double, and Julia Kutz chipped in with a solid all-around effort, recording eight points, six boards and three steals.
The Warriors, who now sit in second place in the PSAC East, fell to 13-6 overall and 9-4 in conference play following the loss. Gannon, which pushed its win streak to four straight, improved to 15-4 on the year and 11-2 in PSAC action.
The opening quarter started out slow on the offensive end for both teams, as the Warriors carried a 6-5 advantage into the media timeout. They built the lead to 12-7 with just under a minute and a half remaining in the quarter, but Gannon tallied the final five points of the frame, all coming at the foul line, to tie things up at 12-12.
The Warriors, who led for nearly the entire first quarter, surrendered the lead on the opening basket of the second by Tori Obenrader, as Gannon jumped in front by a pair. ESU held Gannon scoreless for the ensuing four minutes of play, and a jumper by Lapotsky at the 5:58 mark gave the Warriors a one-point advantage.
The Knights re-took the lead just before the media timeout as Obenrader completed a three-point play to make it a 19-17 game. Gannon then extended its advantage to six with under a minute and a half showing on the clock, but a jumper from Hertz for the half's final basket cut the ESU deficit to 28-24 heading into the break.
Still trailing by four in the early going of the third quarter, the Warriors rattled off five straight, capped by a basket in the paint from Hertz, to re-take a 31-30 advantage. The Knights were able to quickly respond and gain the lead back with 4:27 remaining in the period, but ESU answered with a three-pointer by Sadie Cresswell followed by a layup from Abby Schoffstall to make it a 36-34 Warrior lead with 3:15 on the clock. Gannon netted two of the final three buckets of the quarter to tie the contest at 36-all heading into the fourth.
The Warriors held a 44-42 lead at the 6:25 mark of the fourth quarter following two free throws apiece from Kutz and Schoffstall on back-to-back trips down the court, but Gannon then responded with seven straight to open a 49-44 advantage with 4:06 remaining.
ESU battled back and cut the deficit down to just one following a layup from Kaitlyn Swint with 1:03 left in the contest. On the ensuing possession, Gannon's Chelsea Rourke got to the bucket and converted while getting fouled. Rourke made the foul shot to finish off the three-point play and extend the Knights' lead back to 54-50 with 44 ticks on the clock.
After a timeout, the Warriors had a chance to cut it back to a one-possession game, but Cresswell's three-pointer didn't fall and Obenrader came down with the rebound. ESU was forced to foul Rourke with eight seconds remaining and she calmy sank both foul shots to make it a six-point advantage and essentially ice the game, as Gannon would close out the 57-51 victory.
ESU returns home to face Lock Haven on Wednesday, January 29 at 6 p.m.
