CLARION, Pa. -- The East Stroudsburg women's basketball team used a dominant second half to rally past Clarion on the road Tuesday, 78-73.
The Warriors improved to 6-2 overall and 1-1 in the conference while the Golden Eagles dropped to 6-2 overall and 1-1 in the PSAC.
Notables
Five Warriors reached double-digit scoring, while Brie Droege and Lacie Kringe led the team with 16 points each. Avery White scored 14 points, grabbed eight rebounds, had five assists, and posted four steals. Emma Thornton scored 13 points, grabbed five rebounds, and recorded four steals. Brooke Droege rounded out the top scorers with 11 points, grabbed five rebounds, and posted four assists.
How it happened
Clarion made the first two baskets before a free throw and jumper from ESU put the Warriors on the board, 3-4. White knocked down an early three-pointer at the 7:14 mark to give the Warriors a 6-5 lead. A steal by White led to a layup from Brie to extend the advantage to 8-5. Clarion responded with a 5-0 run to regain the lead, 10-9. The teams traded baskets before Brooke's tip-in tied the game at 13-13 around the four-minute mark. The teams traded a pair of baskets before the quarter ended with a final Clarion basket, 17-21.
Thornton opened the scoring in the second quarter at 9:16 to pull the Warriors within two, 19-21. Clarion went on a 6-0 run before Brie made a layup at 6:09, 21-27. Kringe added a basket at 4:44 to cut the deficit to six, 30-24, but Clarion extended its lead to 11 following two quick scores. A jumper from Brie, two free throws by Caitlen Marten, and White's second three-pointer of the half trimmed the Warriors' deficit to seven at halftime, 38-31.
The Warriors opened the third quarter, going 4-for-5 from the field to regain the lead at 40-38, while Clarion went 0-for-4. Clarion's first basket came at the seven-minute mark to tie the score back at 40 each before ESU got ahead by four, 44-40, from consecutive baskets. Kringe made a layup at 4:55 and Clarion followed with a three-pointer to pull within one, 46-45. A 6-0 Golden Eagles run briefly put Clarion back in front, 51-47. Thornton's three free throws and a layup from Brie closed the gap to 54-52 heading into the fourth.
In the fourth quarter, Clarion made the first basket before Kringe converted back-to-back steals within the first minute. A steal and layup from Thornton at 7:00 put the Warriors in front, 62-61. The Warriors extended their lead to five points with baskets from White and Brooke. Kringe continued the surge by scoring her 16th point at 5:37 and Booke followed with a jumper to put the Warriors ahead by nine, 70-61. White scored again at 4:36, while Clarion stayed close with eight free throws. After Clarion pulled within one at 1:37, Thornton answered with a jumper, and free throws from Jess Devine and White sealed the Warriors' 78-73 victory.
Up next
The Warriors return to action against Pitt-Johnstown inside Koehler Fieldhouse on Saturday, December 20.
