EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. -- The East Stroudsburg University women's basketball team's comeback attempt fell short in a 74-68 road loss to the Shepherd Rams on Saturday afternoon.  

The Warriors are now 14-9 overall and 9-7 in conference action, while the Rams improved to 7-13 overall and 5-10 in the PSAC. 

Notables 

Brie Droege led the floor with 26 points, while adding seven rebounds and two steals. Avery White followed with 16 points, four rebounds, seven assists, and one block. Lacie Kringe added 10 points, six rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block. Caitlin Marten grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds, while Jess Devine added eight.  

How it Happened 

Brie opened the scoring with a jumper at 9:45 to put ESU on the board first. The Warriors followed with a three-pointer from White and a jumper from Kringe at 7:00 to go up 7-2. After consecutive baskets from the Rams, Devine and White each made a layup to extend the score to 11-4. Brie's layup with 0:34 remaining ended an 8-0 Rams run, making it 17-14. 

The Rams outscored the Warriors 15-4 through the first five minutes of the second quarter. White answered with a three-pointer at 3:58 to cut the deficit to five, 29-24. Shepherd then went on a 10-2 run to push the lead to 13 at the one-minute mark. Marten finished the half by converting an offensive rebound into a layup with 0:44 left. 

The third quarter opened with a layup from Brie, followed by a steal that led to a White three-pointer. Around the five-minute mark, the Warriors hit three straight baskets to close the gap to two, 45-43. McKayla Strunk made a layup at 2:28 off an assist from White, and White answered a Rams three-pointer with a layup just under a minute remaining. ESU trailed 54-48 heading into the final quarter. 

Brie completed a three-point play to start the fourth quarter, while a three-pointer from White tied the score at 54 each. Three-pointers from Brie and Strunk gave the Warriors a 60-59 lead at 6:35. The Rams responded with an 11-2 run to regain the lead, 70-62. Brie scored consecutive baskets for ESU before the Rams sealed the game with four made free throws. 

Up Next 

The Warriors return to action against Mansfield on Wednesday, February 11.