By Bob Franceski, NEPASportsNation.com
A recap of the week of December 26 – January 1 for District 2 graduates in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II basketball:
SAM YENCHA
THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY WOMEN
5-foot-11 sophomore guard/forward from Holy Redeemer
Team results
Week – 2-0; Season 12-1 overall, 4-0 CACC
Thursday – at Georgian Court, Won 71-46
Saturday – vs. Felician, Won 90-63
at Georgian Court – Started, played 32 minutes; 5/11 FG, 1/2 FT, 11 points; 4 offensive, 2 defensive, 6 total rebounds; 1 assist; 2 turnovers; 1 block; 3 steals.
vs. Felician – Started, played 37 minutes; 3/5 FG, 4/4 FT, 10 points; 6 offensive, 7 defensive, 13 total rebounds; 3 assists; 1 turnover; 5 steals.
Notes
Yencha recorded her eighth career double-double and sixth this season against Felician. … Jefferson outscored Georgian Court, 43-16, over the middle two quarters to take control of the game.
The week ahead
Jefferson travels to Saint Thomas Aquinas Wednesday and Bridgeport Saturday.
KATIE STARR, CHASE PURDY
BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY WOMEN
8Starr is a 5-foot-11 sophomore forward from Berwick
Purdy is a 5-foot-10 freshman forward from Lake-Lehman
Week – 0-1; Season – 2-7; 0-5 PSAC
Friday – vs. Edinboro, Lost 85-70
Starr’s statistics
Notes
Starr led the Huskies with a season-high 18 points. … Edinboro outscored Bloomsburg, 46-32, over the middle two quarters. … Bloomsburg has now lost seven straight games. … Purdy has not played due to injury.
The week ahead
Bloomsburg hosts Millersville Wednesday and travels to Lock Haven Saturday.
CIARA LOYD, ALLYCIA HARRIS
CALIFORNIA (PA.) UNIVERSITY WOMEN
Loyd is a 5-foot-7 senior guard from Scranton
Harris is a 5-foot-9 sophomore guard/forward from Wilkes-Barre Area and Meyers
Team result
Week 1-0; Season – 7-4, PSAC 3-2
Friday – at Kutztown, Won 48-47
Loyd’s Individual statistics
at Kutztown – Started, played 40 minutes; 2/11 FG, 1/4 on 3-pointers, 2/2 FT, 7 points; 5 assists; 6 turnovers; 2 steals.
Harris’ individual statistics
at Kutztown – Started, played 34 minutes; 3/6 FG, 1/2 FT, 7 points; 5 offensive, 8 defensive, 13 total rebounds; 1 assist; 5 turnovers; 1 block; 3 steals.
Notes
Cal held a 45-30 lead at the end of the third quarter before being held without a field goal in the fourth quarter. Kutztown opened the quarter on an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to 45-41 and held the Vulcans scoreless until a free-throw with 3:48 remaining. … Harris’ 13 rebounds set a career high. … The Vulcans and Golden Bears were meeting for the first time since the semifinals of the 2019 PSAC Tournament.
The week ahead
California (PA) hosts Clarion Wednesday and travels to Slippery Rock Saturday.
COLETTE MULDERIG
FRANKLIN PIERCE UNIVERSITY WOMEN
6-foot-4 junior forward/center from Scranton
Team results
Week – 0-1, Season – 5-8 overall, 2-5 in NE10.
Sunday – at Bentley, Lost 86-50
Individual statistics
at Bentley – Came off the bench, played 4 minutes; 1 assist; no shots or other statistics.
Notes
Bentley outscored Franklin Pierce, 46-15, in the second half to pull away for the victory. … Bentley opened the second half with a 17-0 scoring run while shooting 64.7 percent (11 of 17) from the field.
The week ahead
Franklin Pierce hosts Southern Connecticut State Wednesday and Queens (N.Y.) on Saturday.
CLAIRE DOUGHERTY
HOLY FAMILY UNIVERSITY WOMEN
6-foot-1 freshman forward/center from Lake Lehman
Team results
Week – 2-0; Season 9-5; 4-0 CACC
Thursday – at Chestnut Hill College, Won 57-53
Saturday – vs. Caldwell University, Won 74-54
at Chestnut Hill College – Did not play
vs. Caldwell University – Came off the bench, played 5 minutes; 1/2 FG, 2 points; 1 defensive rebound; 1 turnover; 1 block.
Notes
Trailing by as many as 14 points in the first half and by eight at the break, Holy Family outscored Chestnut Hill, 33-21 in the second half to triumph over its city rival. … Holy Family outscored Caldwell, 22-4, in the first quarter of Saturday’s game. … Holy Family outrebounded Caldwell, 57-31, for the Tigers’ most rebounds since they had 64 in a win at Felician in 2015.
The week ahead
Holy Family travels to Wilmington University Wednesday and host Felician University Saturday.
JUSTICE SHOATS, GABE SPRINGER
LOCK HAVEN UNIVERSITY MEN
Shoats is a 5-foot-11 freshman guard from Holy Redeemer
Springer is a 6-foot-8 sophomore forward from Wallenpaupack
Team results
Week – 1-0; Season 8-2, 4-1 PSAC
Friday – vs. Gannon, Won 69-64
Shoats individual statistics
vs. Gannon – Came off the bench, played 19 minutes; 5/7 FG, 2/2 FT, 12 points; 2 defensive rebounds; 1 assist.
Springer individual statistics
vs. Gannon – Came off the bench, played 10 minutes; 0/0 FG, 0/2 FT, 0 points; 1 offensive, 1 defensive, 2 total rebounds.
Notes
With the win over Gannon, Lock Haven is off to the program’s best start since beginning the 1989-90 season 9-1 and remain perfect at home on the season. … The Bald Eagles benefitted from 20 points off the bench, which included 12 points by Shoats, and 15 second-chance points.
The week ahead
Lock Haven travels to Shepherd Wednesday and hosts Bloomsburg Saturday.
JASON SHIELDS
JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY MEN
6-foot-5 freshman guard from Scranton
Team results
Week – 1-1; Season 7-6; 3-1 CACC
Thursday – at Georgian Court, Lost 75-65
Saturday – vs. Felician, Won 95-78
Individual statistics
at Georgian Court – Came off the bench, played 13 minutes; 3/9 FG, 3/8 on 3-pointers, 1/2 FT, 10 points; 1 offensive, 2 defensive, 3 total rebounds; 2 turnovers; 1 steal.
vs. Felician – Came off the bench, played 8 minutes; 1/3 FG, 1/3 on 3-pointers, 0/1 FT, 3 points; 1 offensive, 2 defensive, 3 total rebounds; 1 turnover.
Notes
Against Georgian Court, Jefferson made double-digit 3-pointers (10-of-32) for the sixth time this season. … In the win against Felician, Jefferson outscored the Golden Falcons, 57-31, in the first half. … Jefferson scored over 90 points for the fourth time this season.
The week ahead
Thomas Jefferson travels to Saint Thomas Aquinas Wednesday and Bridgeport Saturday.
JEFF PLANUTIS
MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY MEN
6-foot-6 redshirt junior guard from Hazleton Area
Team result
Week – 1-0; Season 8-1; 4-1 PSAC
Friday – at Mansfield, Won 88-58
Individual statistics
at Mansfield – Started, played 24 minutes; 4/12 FG, 0/5 on 3-pointers, 0/0 FT, 8 points; 2 offensive, 1 defensive, 3 total rebounds; 1 assist; 1 steal.
Notes
Mercyhurst won its sixth consecutive game by 20 or more points. … Both teams played even to start with five lead changes and two ties through the first 10 minutes of the game. … Leading 20-18 with 8:36 remaining in the first half, the Lakers went on a 9-0 run, finished by a Planutis layup, to take control of the game. … Mercyhurst continued to roll in the second half, outscoring Mansfield, 50-34.
The week ahead
Mercyhurst hosts Edinboro University of PA Wednesday and travels to Indiana University of PA Saturday.
JACK FARRELL
EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY MEN
6-foot-6 junior forward from Dallas
Team results
Week – 1-0; Season 10-1, 4-1 PSAC
Friday – vs. Slippery Rock, Won 93-66
Individual statistics
vs. Slippery Rock – Did not play
Notes
Trailing 16-13, East Stroudsburg closed the first half with a 36-17 scoring run and held at least a 12-point lead the entire second half.
The week ahead
East Stroudsburg travels to Shippensburg Wednesday and hosts Mansfield Saturday.
