Saturday’s National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament featured four District 2 graduates in action.
Here is a recap of how each did:
SAM YENCHA
THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY WOMEN
5-foot-11 sophomore guard/forward from Holy Redeemer
Saturday’s result
Jefferson, the No. 3 seed (28-4), defeated Southern New Hampshire, the No. 2 seed (22-8), 62-49, in an East Region semifinal.
Individual statistics
vs. Southern New Hampshire – Started, played 40 minutes; 2/6 FG, 9/12 FT, 13 points; 6 offensive, 7 defensive, 13 total rebounds; 1 assist; 3 turnovers.
Notes
Jefferson led 43-41 after three quarters of play but outscored Southern New Hampshire, 19-8 over the final 10 minutes to pull away for the win. Yencha scored six points on a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the decisive fourth quarter and recorded her 16th double-double of the season. … Jefferson’s defense held Southern New Hampshire to 30.4 percent shooting (21-for-69) and allowed just one basket over the final five minutes to earn a spot in the regional final. … The Rams’ Haley Meinel recorded a career-high 10 steals. It is the fifth double-digit steals performance by a Division II player this season. … The win was the 700th at Jefferson for head coach Tom Shirley.
Up Next
Jefferson advances to play Assumption, the No. 1 seed, in the East Region Championship Monday at 7 p.m. Assumption defeated Bentley, 62-47 in the other semifinal. The winner advances to the Elite Eight.
ERIN GIBBONS
SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY WOMEN
5-foot-8 graduate student guard from Wyoming Valley West
Saturday’s result
Shippensburg University, the No. 4 seed (25-7) lost to Glenville State, the No. 1 seed (31-2), 107-76 in an Atlantic Region semifinal.
Individual statistics
vs. Glenville State – Started, played 36 minutes; 3/8 FG, 1/4 on 3-pointers, 7 points; 2 offensive, 1 defensive, 3 total rebounds; 2 turnovers; 2 steals.
Notes
Shippensburg held a 16-14 lead with 2:16 remaining in the first quarter but Glenville State, the reigning national champion closed on a 10-2 run to lead by six after one quarter of play. The Lady Pioneers scored 27 or more points in each of the last three quarters to pull away for the win. … Shippensburg is now 12-10 in NCAA Tournament games and Friday night’s win over West Virginia State is the first NCAA Tournament win since it defeated Delta State in 2001. … The Raiders 25 wins are the most in a single season in 22 years, dating back to the 2000-01 team that went 28-5 and reached the NCAA Final Four. … Gibbons averaged 5.8 points per game and 2.0 rebounds per game this season.
Up Next
Season complete.
JEFF PLANUTIS
MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY MEN
6-foot-6 redshirt junior guard from Hazleton Area
Saturday’s result
Mercyhurst University, the No. 3 seed (25-5) defeated East Stroudsburg University, the No. 6 seed (23-9), 72-66 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Individual statistics
vs. East Stroudsburg University– Started, played 38 minutes; 4/13 FG, 1/3 on 3-pointers, 0/2 FT, 9 points; 2 offensive, 1 defensive, 3 total rebounds; 2 assists; 1 steal.
Notes
Planutis got off to a good start, scoring five of the Lakers’ first seven points, to give Mercyhurst an early lead. … The remainder of the first half was back and forth as the final 13 minutes saw 4 lead changes and 5 ties. Mercyhurst headed to the locker room, trailing 35-32 at the half. … The Lakers came out of the break strong, going on a 6-2 run to begin the half and take a 38-37 lead. The hot start continued as Mercyhurst hit half its shots from the floor through the first eight minutes of the second half with three different players scoring five or more points. … East Stroudsburg cut the lead to 60-59 with 3:09 remaining, but Mercyhurst’s Michael Bradley and Nicholas Yang combined to score the final 12 points to secure the win.
Up Next
Mercyhurst University advances to play West Liberty, the No. 2 seed in the Atlantic Region semifinals Sunday at 5 p.m. West Liberty defeated University Pitt-Johnstown, 112-88 in the first round.
JACK FARRELL
EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY MEN
6-foot-6 junior forward from Dallas
Saturday’s result
East Stroudsburg University, the No. 6 seed (23-9), lost to Mercyhurst University, the No. 3 seed (25-5), 72-66 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Individual statistics
vs. Mercyhurst University – Did not play.
Notes
The loss to Mercyhurst University was a back-and-forth battle that saw 15 lead changes, with neither team leading by more than 9 points. … East Stroudsburg had a strong presence on the glass, outrebounding Mercyhurst 41-21.
Up Next
Season complete.
