EAST STROUDSBURG – A ferocious second half comeback by the East Stroudsburg University women's basketball team fell short as red hot Lock Haven hung on to defeat the Warriors, 66-56, in a PSAC East game on Wednesday evening inside Koehler Fieldhouse.
The Warriors dropped to 4-10 overall and 2-7 in the PSAC while the Bald Eagles, who were receiving votes in this week's D2CSC Top 25, improved to 14-1 on the season and 9-0 in the league while winning their program record 14th consecutive game.
Notables
- Senior Gwenn Sabato poured in a career-high 14 points, which included knocking down 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, to go along with six rebounds and a steal
- In 15 minutes off the bench, junior Emily Chmiel contributed eight points, two rebounds, two blocks and a steal
- Senior Carley Adams added seven points, three rebounds, one assists and one steal while, junior Katie Giesler registered six points, seven rebounds, one steal and a block
- Junior Cassidy Saylor finished with five points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal while fellow classmate Corrin Gill totaled four points, five rebounds and a pair of steals
- Lock Haven's Jenadia Jordan scored a game-high 17 points on 10-for-15 at the foul line to go along with six rebounds. Taylor Leidy was in double figures with 11 points while reigning PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Week Alana Robinson stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, 11 rebounds, seven blocks, three steals and an assist
- It was a tale of two halves in the shooting department for both teams as ESU finished at 31.7 percent (19-6) overall while the Bald Eagles shot 33.3 percent (14-42) from the field
- The free throw line proved to be difference as Lock Haven shot 27-for-37 (73.0%), which included going 15-for-23 in the fourth quarter, compared to just 5-for-7 (71.4%) for the Warriors
- The Bald Eagles have now defeated the Warriors in back-to-back meetings and have been victorious in six of the last nine games dating back to 2019.
How It Happened
- With Lock Haven jumping out to an 8-2 lead at the 6:29 mark in the first quarter, the Warriors battled back with a three-pointer from Sabato and layup by Kaitlin McGeary to pull within one at 8-7. However, the Bald Eagles closed out the first quarter on a 7-2 run to regain a 15-9 advantage.
- After both teams knocked down a pair of three frow to open the second quarter, the Bald Eagles went on a 9-2 run over the next 5:50 to increase the edge to 26-13. Over the final 1:31 of the first half, ESU outscored Lock Haven by two points to trim the deficit to 28-17.
- With Lock Haven leading 33-21 midway through the third quarter, ESU went on a 7-0 spurt in a two and a half minute span to pull within five at 33-28. However, the Bald Eagles wrapped up the period on a 6-0 run to extend the lead back to 39-28.
- It was all ESU to start the fourth quarter as the Warriors scored 12 of the first 15 points, which included a 7-0 run capped off by a three-pointer from Sabato to get within one point at 45-44. It's the closest ESU got the rest of the way as Lock Haven iced the game over the final 2:31 by going 11-for-12 at the free throw line to make the final score 56-46.
Up Next
ESU is right back at Koehler Fieldhouse on Saturday at 1 p.m. as Shippensburg visits the Poconos for a PSAC East game
