EAST STROUDSBURG – Out scoring Clarion by 16 points in the second quarter proved to be the difference maker as the East Stroudsburg University women's basketball defeated the Golden Eagles, 62-50, in the PSAC Opener on Friday night inside Koehler Fieldhouse.
The Warriors improve to 5-1 on the season, eclipsing their win total from a season ago, while starting conference play 1-0 for the first time since 2018-19. Clarion drops to 0-5 early in the year and 0-1 in the PSAC.
With ESU leading 15-13 after the first 10 minutes, the Warriors proceeded to go on a 13-0 run in the second quarter before ultimately outscoring the Golden Falcons, 23-7, in the period to take a 38-20 lead into the break.
Clarion would cut their deficit to 45-34 at the end of the third quarter after outscoring the Warriors by seven points, but ESU held on over the final 10 minutes for a 12-point victory.
Sophomore
Jessica Polin paced the Warriors with a career-high 19 points to go along with three rebounds, four steals and an assist.
Despite an off-night shooting for
Ryan Weise, the graduate student posted her third double-double of the season on 13 points and career-high 12 assists, while adding seven rebounds and three steals.
Weise is still on a tear through the first six games of the season, averaging 25.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 2.5 steals and 0.5 blocks on an impressive 63.9% (46-of-72) shooting from the floor, 68.6% (35-of-51) from three point territory and 86.7% (26-of-30) from the free throw line.
Notables
- Graduate student Shyla Sanford stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block
- Sophomore Cassidy Saylor added seven points, a rebound and an assist
- Making her first start of the season, Corrin Gill registered four points, three rebounds, two assists and four steals in 37 minutes
- Sophomore Izzy Vogel and freshman Caitlin Marten each scored four points
- The Warriors finished the game shooting, 24-of-63 (38.1%) from the floor, 9-of-25 (36.0%) beyond the arc and 5-of-11 (45.5%) at the free throw line
- Clarion was similar from the field, going 17-of-47 (36.2%), but were unable to find their range from deep, shooting 4-of-18 (22.2%). At the stripe, the Golden Eagles went 12-of-16 (75.0%)
- The Golden Eagles had a trio of double-figure scorers led by Sierra Bermudez with 15 points, while Charjae Brock added 11 points and Ava Haddad contributed 10 points and eight rebounds
- Rebounding was nearly even with Clarion holding the slight edge at 38-36, but the Warriors grabbed 15 offensive boards compared to 11 for the Golden Eagles
- ESU forced Clarion in 21 turnovers while the Warriors committed a season-low of 10
How It Happened
- Both teams started out the game slow offensively as the Warriors took a 5-4 lead with the help of a Weise three pointer headed into the media break. Clarion would tie the score at 8-8, until ESU pulled back ahead 12-10 on a jumper from Sanford and a layup by Saylor. With the Golden Eagles grabbing a one point edge (13-12), Sanford knocked down a three point to put the Warriors in front 15-13 at the end of the first quarter.
- The Warriors came out on fire to begin the second quarter, ripping off a 9-0 run over a minute and half span to extend their advantage to 24-13. Not even a timeout slowed down ESU, as four more points from Polin and Sanford gave the Warriors a 15 point edge, until a three pointer from Clarion snapped the 13-0 spurt to make the score 28-15. The Warriors proceeded to score the next eight points with three pointers from Polin and Weise to go ahead 36-15. The Golden Eagles would cut their deficit to 16 points, but ESU took a 38-20 lead into halftime.
- Over the first 6:09 of the second half, the Golden Eagles ripped off a 11-0 run to trim their deficit to 38-31. ESU's first bucket would then come with 3:09 remaining as the Warriors proceeded to outscore Clarion, 7-3, the rest of the way for a 45-34 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes.
- After Clarion scored the first two points of the fourth quarter, the Warriors proceeded to use an 11-2 run which included a pair of three pointers from Polin to increase their lead back to 56-38. However, the Golden Eagles wouldn't go away as they scored 10 of the next 12 points to pull within 10 at 58-48. It's the closest Clarion would get as a layup and two free throw from Weise helped ice the game for a 62-50 triumph for ESU.
Up Next
The Warriors are right back at Kohler Fieldhouse tomorrow for another PSAC West crossover with Pitt-Johnstown at 5:30 p.m. from inside Koehler Fieldhouse
