EAST STROUDSBURG – For the first since the 2019-20 season, the East Stroudsburg University women's basketball team is headed back to the PSAC Tournament as the Warriors punched their ticket with a 58-41 victory over Shepherd on Senior Day inside Koehler Fieldhouse.
ESU finished off the season sweep of Shepherd to improve their overall record to 15-12 and 11-10 in the conference while the Rams fall to 1-24 on the season and 1-19 in the PSAC.
Prior to this afternoon's game, the Warriors honored their trio of seniors in
Claire Courter,
Shyla Sanford and
Ryan Weise.
Playing at home for the final time during the regular season, Weise totaled a game-high 20 points to go along with five assists, four rebounds, one steal and one block. The Allentown N.J. native shot 7-of-14 overall and knocked down 5-of-10 attempts from beyond the arc.
Notables
- Despite only scoring two points, Sanford matched her career-high with 10 rebounds while recording six steals and four assists
- Sophomore Izzy Vogel added nine points and four rebounds while junior Carley Adams contributed eight points
- Sophomore Jessica Polin finished with six points, three boards and two assists
- Starting the last 10 games, Leah Pishock totaled five points, six rebounds and one assist while Courter and sophomore Katie Geisler each posted three points
- The Warriors finished 22-of-66 (33.3%) from the floor and 9-of-25 (36.0%) from long distance, while the Rams were held to 12-of-45 (26.7%) shooting overall and 3-of-16 from long distance. In the first and fourth quarters, Shepherd combined to shoot 3-of-23 (13.0%).
- At the free throw line, the Rams went 14-of-22 (63.6%) compared to 5-of-10 (50.0%) for the Warriors
- Meghan Shipley (two rebounds, three assists) and Kendal Haggerty (five rebounds, two steals, one block) each paced the Rams with nine points. Madison Mertz added seven points, three rebounds, two steals and two blocks
- The Warriors had a 47-35 advantage in the rebounding category and doubled up the Rams on the offensive end, 19-9
- ESU turned 21 Shepherd turnovers into 14 points while Shepherd scored just six points of 13 Warriors' miscues
- With five additional three pointers this afternoon, Weise registered the 147th of her ESU career to move into sole possession of third place all-time. Tallying five more assists, Weise brings her season total to 132 which ranks 10th most all-time in a year
- The Warriors remain No. 4 in the PSAC East standings headed into the final week of the regular season
How It Happened
- It was all ESU to start the game as the Warriors grabbed an 8-0 lead headed into the media timeout. Shepherd got on the board with a pair of free throws at the 4:11 mark and the teams traded shots the rest of the third quarter as ESU went ahead 15-8.
- Following a Weise three pointer that put the Warriors up by double digits at 20-10, the Rams answered with seven straight points to pull within three points at the 5:50 mark. ESU would close out the first half by scoring nine of final 11 points to take a 29-19 advantage after the first 20 minutes.
- Both teams found their offensive rhythm to start the third quarter as the Warriors edged Shepherd, 11-9, through the first four-plus minutes to extend their lead to 40-28. A quick 4-0 spurt by the Rams pulled them within eight at 40-32, but ESU closed out the period strong, outscoring the Rams by four points to extend their advantage back to 49-37.
- The Warriors put the game out of reach in the final period by ripping off a 9-0 run to grow their lead to 58-37 before Shepherd converted a pair of free throws at the 2:36 mark for their first points of the quarter.
Up Next
ESU closes out the regular season on Wednesday as the Warriors travel to Lock Haven for a 5:30 p.m. tip off against the Bald Eagles from inside Thomas Fieldhouse
