By Bob Franceski and Tom Robinson, NEPASportsNation.com
The National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II basketball season opened last week for most teams. Here is a recap of how six District 2 graduates did during the opening week:
JUSTICE SHOATS, LOCK HAVEN UNIVERSITY MEN
5-foot-11 freshman guard from Holy Redeemer
This week’s results
Lock Haven went 2-0 at the Pitt-Johnstown Tipoff Classic
Friday – Lock Haven defeated Charleston, 66-63
Saturday – Lock Haven defeated West Virginia Wesleyan, 79-57
Individual statistics
vs. Charleston – Came off the bench, played 14 minutes; 2/6 FG, 0/0 on FT, 4 points; 1 offensive, 2 defensive, 3 total rebounds; 2 assists; 1 steal
vs. West Virginia Wesleyan – Came off the bench, played 25 minutes; 8/13 FG, 0/2 on 3-pointers, 1/3 on FT, 17 points; 2 offensive, 4 defensive, 6 total rebounds; 3 assists; 5 turnovers; 3 steals; 1 block
Notes
With 10 minutes left in the first half against West Virginia Wesleyan, Lock Haven trailed, 16-8. … Lock Haven went on a 21-7 run over the next nine minutes and ended the half with a 31-26 lead. Shoats paced the offense during the run, scoring 10 points.
The Week Ahead
Lock Haven travels to Nyack Thursday and hosts Wilmington (Del.) Saturday.
GABE SPRINGER, LOCK HAVEN UNIVERSITY MEN
6-foot-8 sophomore forward from Wallenpaupack
Individual statistics
vs. Charleston – Came off the bench, played 15 minutes; 3/9 FG, 3/4 on FT, 9 points; 3 offensive, 3 defensive, 6 total rebounds; 2 turnovers
vs. West Virginia Wesleyan – Came off the bench, played 22 minutes; 1/2 FG, 3/4 on FT, 5 points; 1 offensive, 1 defensive, 2 total rebounds; 1 block
Notes
Springer transferred to Lock Haven from Lackawanna College where he averaged 5.5 points and 6.7 rebounds during the 2021-22 season. … For team results and week ahead, see Shoats listing above.
SAM YENCHA, THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY WOMEN
5-foot-11 sophomore guard/forward from Holy Redeemer
This week’s results
Jefferson won both its games in the East Region Challenge, which it hosted.
Saturday – Jefferson routed Molloy, 60-18
Sunday – Jefferson defeated Queens (N.Y.), 79-56
Individual statistics
vs. Molloy – Started, played 32 minutes; 3/6 FG, 4/6 FT, 10 points; 8 offensive, 5 defensive, 13 total rebounds; 4 steals
vs. Queens – Started, played 29 minutes; 5/8 FG, 2/4 FT, 12 points; 5 offensive, 5 defensive, 10 total rebounds; 2 assists; 3 steals
Notes
After sitting out the 2020-21 season for COVID, Jefferson went 24-9 last season and won its first NCAA Division II Tournament game in 24 years. … Yencha earned all-tournament honors in the Central Atlantic Athletic Conference. … In her first college season, Yencha played all 33 games, started 32 and averaged 6.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 44.3 percent from the floor. … Her 13 rebounds Saturday was a game-high.
The week ahead
Jefferson has two more home games, Wednesday against Shippensburg and Saturday against Kutztown.
CIARA LOYD, CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY (PA.) WOMEN
5-foot-7 senior guard from Scranton
This week’s results
California opened the season by participating in the MEC/PSAC Conference Challenge at Charleston (WVa.).
Friday – California defeated West Liberty, 70-67 in overtime
Saturday – Charleston (WV) defeated California, 80-73
Individual statistics
vs. West Liberty – Started, played 43 minutes; 10/24 FG, 1/4 on 3-pointers, 7/8 on FT, 28 points; 1 offensive, 1 defensive, 2 total rebounds; 4 assists; 6 turnovers; 5 steals
vs. Charleston – Started, played 34 minutes; 3/10 FG, 1/4 on 3-pointers, 5/6 on FT, 12 points; 1 offensive, 1 defensive, 2 total rebounds; 5 assists; 3 turnovers; 1 steal
Notes
Loyd’s 28 points led all scorers. … Last season, she scored a season-high 25 points in the semifinals of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament. Loyd was named All-PSAC West First-Team and was honored twice as PSAC West Athlete of the Week during the 2021-22 season. … The victory over West Liberty marks the eighth-consecutive season the Vulcans begin the year 1-0.
The week ahead
California will host Bowie State (Md.) Friday in its home opener.
ALLYCIA HARRIS, CALIFORNIA (PA) UNIVERSITY WOMEN
5-foot-9 sophomore guard/forward from Wilkes-Barre Area and Meyers.
Individual statistics
vs. West Liberty – Came off the bench, played 23 minutes; 3/9 FG, 1/2 on FT, 7 points; 5 offensive, 5 defensive, 10 total rebounds; 2 turnovers; 1 steal
vs. Charleston – Came off the bench, played 29 minutes; 1/2 FG, 0/2 on FT, 2 points; 1 offensive, 3 defensive, 4 total rebounds; 1 assist; 1 turnover; 1 steal
Notes
Harris played at University South Carolina Aiken during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 season. Harris appeared in all seven games with three starts during the 2021-2021 season, averaging 6.4 points and 7.0 rebounds in 17.0 minutes per game. In the 2021-22 season, Harris appeared in 25 games with 23 starts while averaging 8.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals. … Harris has been granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA in light of the COVID-19 pandemic in the 2020-21 season. … For team results and week ahead, see Loyd listing above.
CLAIRE DOUGHERTY, HOLY FAMILY UNIVERSITY WOMEN
6-foot-1 freshman forward/center from Lake-Lehman
This week’s results
Holy Family split two games at the Staten Island Tournament.
Saturday – Holy Family won at College of Staten Island, 75-66.
Sunday – Franklin Pierce University defeated Holy Family, 62-51.
Individual statistics
vs. Staten Island – Came off the bench, played 2 minutes; no shots; 1 steal
vs. Charleston – Came off the bench, played 6 minutes; 0/1 FG; 1 offensive rebound
Note
Holy Family, a Philadelphia school, is a member of the Central Atlantic Athletic Conference.
The week ahead
Holy Family hosts District of Columbia Wednesday and plays at Shippensburg Saturday.
COLETTE MULDERIG, FRANKLIN PIERCE UNIVERSITY WOMEN
6-foot-4 junior forward/center from Scranton
This week’s results
Franklin Pierce split two games at the Staten Island Tournament.
Saturday – Bridgeport defeated Franklin Pierce, 87-70.
Sunday – Franklin Pierce defeated Holy Family, 62-51.
Individual statistics
vs. Bridgeport – Came off the bench, played 7 minutes; 1/3 FG, 2 points; 1 defensive rebounds; 1 assist
vs. Holy Family – Started, played 8 minutes; 0/2 FG, 0 points; 2 defensive rebounds; 2 blocked shots
Notes
Sunday’s start was the first of Mulderig’s college career. … Franklin Pierce played just two games in 2021-22 because of COVID. … Mulderig made one appearance last season, playing less than a minute in a November game and missing her only shot.
The week ahead
Holy Family hosts District of Columbia Wednesday and plays at Shippensburg Saturday.
