Bob Franceski, NEPASportsNation.com
A recap of the week of February 13 – February 19 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 – 1-0; Season – 23-3 overall, 14-1 CACC
Tuesday – vs. Georgian Court, Won 82-57
vs. Georgian Court– Started, played 32 minutes; 7/14 FG, 2/4 FT, 16 points; 9 offensive, 5 defensive, 14 total rebounds; 1 assist; 1 steal.
Notes
Jefferson used a 16-6 run late in the first quarter to open a 10-point lead and pull away for the win. … Yencha and teammate Cassie Murphy both recorded a double-double in the same game for the third time this season. It was Yencha’s third consecutive double-double and 14th of the season. … Jefferson holds a two-game lead for first place in the South Division of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) with two games remaining in the regular season. The Rams have secured a home game for the quarterfinals on Feb. 28th.
The week ahead
Jefferson hosts Goldey-Beacom Wednesday and Holy Family Saturday.
KATIE STARR, CHASE PURDY
BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY WOMEN
Starr is a 5-foot-11 sophomore forward from Berwick
Purdy is a 5-foot-10 freshman forward from Lake-Lehman
Week – 0-2; Season – 9-15 overall, 7-13 PSAC
Wednesday – at Mansfield University, Lost 54-45
Saturday – at Shippensburg University, Lost 75-62
Starr’s statistics
at Shippensburg University – Started, played 25 minutes; 3/7 FG, 6 points; 1 offensive, 5 defensive, 6 total rebounds; 2 assists.
Notes
Bloomsburg led by as many as seven points early but Shippensburg went on a 13-0 run in the second quarter that took 5 minutes off the clock. Shippensburg used a 5-0 run to end the first half and take a 39-31 lead at the break. … Shippensburg converted 16 Bloomsburg turnovers into 17 points. … Purdy has not played due to injury.
The week ahead
Bloomsburg hosts Kutztown University Wednesday and West Chester University Saturday.
CIAIRA 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 – 16-10 overall, 12-8 PSAC
Wednesday – vs. Seton Hill University (PA), Won 68-66
Loyd’s Individual statistics
vs. Seton Hill University (PA) – Started, played 40 minutes; 3/9 FG, 1/3 on 3-pointers, 6/8 FT, 13 points; 2 defensive rebounds; 12 assists; 6 turnovers; 2 steals.
Harris’ individual statistics
vs. Seton Hill University (PA) – Started, played 27 minutes; 4/7 FG, 3/4 FT, 11 points; 4 offensive, 6 defensive, 10 total rebounds; 1 assist; 2 turnovers; 2 steals.
Notes
Despite foul trouble, Harris recorded her fifth double-double of the season. … Loyd recorded her fourth points/assists double-double of the season.
The week ahead
California (PA) travels to Pitt-Johnstown Wednesday and hosts Indiana University (PA) Saturday.
COLETTE MULDERIG
FRANKLIN PIERCE UNIVERSITY WOMEN
6-foot-4 junior forward/center from Scranton
Team results
Week – 0-2; Season – 8-18 overall, 4-15 NE10.
Wednesday – at Southern Connecticut State, Lost 62-40
Saturday – vs. Bentley, Lost 70-43
Individual statistics
at Southern Connecticut State – Came off the bench, played 20 minutes; 1/3 FG, 2 points; 1 offensive, 3 defensive, 4 total rebounds; 1 assist; 1 steal, 2 turnovers.
vs. Bentley – Started, played 18 minutes; 1/2 FG, 2 points; 1 defensive rebound; 3 turnovers.
Notes
Turnovers got the best of Franklin Pierce in the loss to Bentley. The Ravens were held to single-digit scoring in the third and fourth quarters while being outscored, 34-14 in the second half.
The week ahead
Franklin Pierce wraps up the regular season at Pace Tuesday.
CLAIRE DOUGHERTY
HOLY FAMILY UNIVERSITY WOMEN
6-foot-1 freshman forward/center from Lake Lehman
Team results
Week – 1-0; Season – 18-8 overall, 13-3 CACC
Tuesday – vs. Chestnut Hill College, Won 65-57
vs. Chestnut Hill College – Did not play.
Notes
Holy Family defeated city-rival Chestnut Hill College in a battle for control of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) South Division No. 2 seed. … Holy Family’s Carolyn Prevost led all scorers with 23 points on 10-for-15 shooting while adding a team-high 10 rebounds for her second consecutive double-double.
The week ahead
Holy Family hosts Wilmington University (Del.) Wednesday and travels to Jefferson Saturday.
ERIN GIBBONS
SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY WOMEN
5-foot-8 graduate student guard from Wyoming Valley West
Team results
Week – 2-0; Season – 21-5 overall, 16-4 PSAC
Wednesday – vs. Millersville University, Won 65-57
Saturday – vs. Bloomsburg University, Won 75-62
Individual statistics
vs. Millersville University – Started, played 35 minutes; 2/6 FG, 2/4 on 3-pointers, 6 points; 1 offensive, 1 defensive, 2 total rebounds; 4 assists; 3 turnovers; 2 steals.
vs. Bloomsburg University – Started, played 31 minutes; 0/2 FG, 0/2 on 3-pointers, 0 points; 1 assist.
Notes
With the win against Millersville, Shippensburg achieved its first 20-win season since going 21-9 in 2019-20. The victory also secured a first-round bye in the PSAC Tournament and the right to host a quarterfinal game on March 1.
The week ahead
Shippensburg University travels to Shepherd University Wednesday and hosts Lock Haven 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 – 0-1; Season – 16-9 overall, 12-8 PSAC
Saturday – at West Chester University, Lost 81-78
Shoats individual statistics
at West Chester University– Came off the bench, played 19 minutes; 3/5 FG, 0/1 on 3-pointers; 7/10 FT, 13 points; 1 offensive, 2 defensive, 3 total rebounds; 2 assists; 2 turnovers; 1 steal.
Springer individual statistics
at West Chester University – Came off the bench, played 11 minutes; 1/2 FG, 2/3 FT, 4 points; 2 offensive, 1 defensive, 3 total rebounds; 1 block.
Notes
Lock Haven led, 45-37, at halftime. The eight-point margin was the largest for either team. … The game went back-and-forth in the second half until West Chester took its biggest lead of the game, 78-73, with one minute remaining. Shoats converted a free throw to complete a three-point play and cut the Rams lead to two points before Dymir Montague scored a game-tying bucket with 26 seconds remaining. West Chester’s Kyle McGee made a 3-pointer with two seconds remaining to give the Rams the win.
The week ahead
Lock Haven hosts East Stroudsburg University Wednesday and travels to Shippensburg University Saturday.
JEFF PLANUTIS
MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY MEN
6-foot-6 redshirt junior guard from Hazleton Area
Team result
Week – 2-0; Season – 20-4 overall, 16-4 PSAC
Wednesday – vs. Pitt-Johnstown, Won 85-69
Saturday – vs. Clarion University, Won 62-55
Individual statistics
vs. Pitt-Johnstown – Started, played 36 minutes; 3/9 FG, 2/3 on 3-pointers, 5/6 FT, 13 points; 3 offensive, 5 defensive, 8 total rebounds; 1 turnover; 3 blocks; 2 steals.
vs. Clarion University – Started, played 32 minutes; 8/17 FG, 2/5 on 3-pointers, 3/3 FT, 21 points; 4 defensive rebounds; 1 steal.
Notes
Planutis scored a game-high 21 points, including the first 8 points for the Lakers in the win over Clarion. … Mercyhurst has four 20-win seasons in the last five years. … With the win over Clarion, Mercyhurst retains sole possession of second place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West. The Lakers hold a one-game lead over University of Pitt-Johnstown while IUP has a 3½-game lead to retain first place.
The week ahead
Mercyhurst travels to Seton Hill University (PA) Wednesday and Gannon University Saturday.
JASON SHIELDS
JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY MEN
6-foot-5 freshman guard from Scranton
Team results
Week – 1-0; Season 14-11; 10-5 CACC
Tuesday – vs. Georgian Court, Won 78-59
Individual statistics
vs. Georgian Court – Came off the bench, played 28 minutes; 5/11 FG, 5/9 on 3-pointers, 1/2 FT, 16 points; 1 offensive, 4 defensive, 5 total rebounds; 1 assist; 2 turnovers; 1 steal.
Notes
With the game tied, 8-8, with 14:52 remaining in the first half, Jefferson went on an 18-6 run over an eight-minute span on its way to a 38-23 halftime lead. Shields led the Rams with seven points in the run. … Shields has scored in double figures for the second consecutive game and his five made 3-pointers is a season high. … The Rams have secured a home game for the quarterfinals on Feb. 28th.
The week ahead
Jefferson hosts Goldey-Beacom Wednesday and Holy Family Saturday.
JACK FARRELL
EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY MEN
6-foot-6 junior forward from Dallas
Team results
Week – 1-1; Season – 20-7 overall, 14-7 PSAC
Wednesday – vs. Kutztown University, Lost 90-87
Saturday – vs. Shepherd University, Won 74-58
Individual statistics
vs. Kutztown University – Did not play.
vs. Shepherd University – Did not play.
Notes
East Stroudsburg’s defense forced 25 Shepherd turnovers in the victory on Senior Day. … With the win over Shepherd, the Warriors secured their 14th 20-win season in program history and improved the chances of a home playoff game after the regular season winds down next week.
The week ahead
East Stroudsburg University travels to Lock Haven University Wednesday
