SHIPPENSBURG – The East Stroudsburg University women's basketball team battled until the very end against Shippensburg but the Raiders held on for the 55-48 victory on Monday evening at Heiges Field House.
The Warriors drop to 1-11 on the season and 0-9 in the PSAC while the Raiders improve to 8-6 overall and 4-4 in conference play.
Following the first quarter, ESU and Shippensburg were tied at 17-17 but the Raiders proceeded to outscore the Warriors by 11 over the next two periods to take a double digit lead into the fourth. ESU was able to cut the deficit to three but an 8-0 run by the Raiders helped them hold on for the win.
Notables
- Cassie Ksiazek finished with a team-high 16 points to go along with five rebounds, six blocks and two assists
- Ryan Weise stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, four rebounds, four steals, three assists and a block
- Leah Pishock added nine points, three rebounds and two steals
- As a team, ESU went 19-of-53 (35.8) from the floor and made only 2-of-10 (20.0) attempts from behind the three point line.
- Shippensburg was paced by Destiny Jefferson with a game-high 21 points while Taja Colbert and Lauren Mills added eight and seven points respectively. Treasure George and Ali Hauck each pulled down nine rebounds. The Raiders were 18-of-48 (37.5) from the field and failed to make a three-pointer going 0-of-5.
- The Raiders held a considerable advantage at the free throw line going 19-of-28 (67.9) while ESU went 8-of-9 (88.9)
- Both teams finished with 20-plus turnovers – Shippensburg (22), ESU (20)
How It Happened
- The Raiders opened the game by scoring the first eight points before a layup by Ksiazek at the 7:13 mark got the Warriors on the board. ESU would then use an 11-6 run over the next 4:31 to take their first lead of the game before Shippensburg converted a free throw and jump shot in the final minute to tie the game at 17-17 at the end of the first quarter.
- Similar to the first 10 minutes, the Raiders began the second quarter scoring with six consecutive points to regain a 23-17 advantage before an ESU timeout. Out of the break, the Warriors snapped a five minute scoreless drought on a three-pointer by Gwenn Sabato, but Shippensburg scored the next five points before a layup by Wesie with 1:34 remaining in the half. Following points by both teams, Shippensburg held a 29-24 lead at the break.
- ESU and Shippensburg both opened the third quarter shooting the ball poorly as the teams combined to go 3-of-14 into the media timeout with the Raiders leading by six, 34-28. Over the final 3:58 of the period, Shippensburg outscored the Warriors 7-2 to hold a 41-30 advantage into the fourth quarter.
- The Warriors opened the final 10 minutes on a 6-0 run to cut their deficit to five and after a technical foul was assessed to Shippensburg, ESU got within three at 43-40. The Raiders responded by scoring eight straight points to regain an 11-point edge before a Warriors timeout with 2:26 left. Each would go to trade buckets the rest of the way as Shippensburg held on for the 55-48 victory.
Up Next
The Warriors return Koehler Fieldhouse on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. when they welcome Lock Haven for the first of their three-game homestand.
