SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- The East Stroudsburg women's basketball team earned its first win of 2026 behind a standout performance from Brooke Droege, defeating Slippery Rock 69-65.
The Warriors improved to 8-4 on the season and 3-2 in conference action, while Slippery Rock dropped to 5-8 overall and 3-3 in the PSAC.
Notables
Brooke Droege recorded a career high of 21 points while adding five rebounds and two assists. Avery White followed with 14 points, five rebounds, one steal, and posted a team high of seven assists. Rounding out the top scorers was Brie Droege with 12 points, three rebounds, and one steal. Jess Devine led the team with three steals, grabbed four rebounds, and contributed six assists.
How it Happened
Brooke scored the first two baskets of the game to give the Warriors an early 4-0 lead. After baskets from Lacie Kringe and Brie, ESU extended its advantage to 8-1. Brooke added her sixth point at the 5:59 mark before Slippery Rock made their first basket of the day. A jumper from Brie and two free throws by White pushed the lead to 14-4. Kringe added two baskets, and layups from Devine and Brie helped ESU close the first quarter ahead 22-17.
White opened the second quarter with a three-pointer off an assist from Devine. Slippery Rock responded with consecutive baskets around the eight-minute mark before Lilly Riggi knocked down a three-pointer at 7:11 to make it 28-22. SRU later tied the game at 31-31, but White answered with her second three-pointer, followed by a layup from Kaitlyn McGeary to restore a five-point lead. The Rock closed out the quarter with a 5-0 run to send the teams into the half knotted at 36 each.
Slippery Rock opened the third quarter with a three-pointer and a layup to take its first lead of the game, 41-36. Brooke reached double figures with a jumper at 7:53. SRU extended its lead to six before baskets from Devine and Brooke cut the deficit to two. Brie halted another Rock run with a jumper at 3:24, and White added two free throws. A late three-pointer from Slippery Rock sent ESU into the fourth quarter trailing 56-48.
The fourth quarter began with a five-point run from Brooke to put the Warriors within three, 56-53. SRU pushed their lead back to eight points, but Riggi responded with a layup at the 6:20 mark off an assist from Devine. After a quick substitution, White knocked down a key three-pointer at 4:36, and Riggi kept the momentum going by hitting a corner three to tie the game at 61-61. The Rock briefly regained the lead at the free throw line, but ESU responded with baskets from Brie, Caitlin Marten, and Brooke to take a 67-65 advantage. Brie and White then each converted a free throw to close out the Warriors' 69-65 victory.
Up Next
The Warriors continue their road stretch and will face the Millersville Marauders on Wednesday, January 7 at 5:30 p.m.
