By Bob Franceski, NEPASportsNation.com
A recap of the week of January 16 – January 22 for District 2 graduates in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II basketball:
COLETTE MULDERIG
FRANKLIN PIERCE UNIVERSITY WOMEN
6-foot-4 junior forward/center from Scranton
Team results
Week – 0-1; Season – 6-12 overall, 2-9 NE10.
Saturday – at American International, Lost 68-61
Individual statistics
at American International– Came off the bench, played 22 minutes; 5/7 FG, 5/6 FT, 15 points; 2 offensive, 6 defensive, 8 total rebounds; 1 assist; 2 turnovers.
Notes
Mulderig’s 15 points are a career-high and she tied for team lead with 8 rebounds.
The week ahead
Franklin Pierce hosts Assumption Tuesday and New Haven Saturday.
SAM YENCHA
THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY WOMEN
5-foot-11 sophomore guard/forward from Holy Redeemer
Team results
Week – 2-0; Season – 17-2 overall, 9-0 CACC
Tuesday – at Holy Family, Won 65-50
Sunday – vs. Alliance, Won 72-32
at Holy Family – Started, played 40 minutes; 4/10 FG, 2/4 FT, 10 points; 8 offensive, 9 defensive, 17 total rebounds; 2 assists; 1 steal.
vs. Alliance – Started, played 35 minutes; 9/13 FG, 18 points; 2 offensive, 8 defensive, 10 total rebounds; 1 assist; 1 turnover; 4 steals.
Notes
Yencha’s 17 rebounds against Holy Family set a career best. … In the win against Alliance, Yencha registered her fourth consecutive double-double. … Jefferson’s defense held Alliance to single digit scoring in each of the first three quarters.
The week ahead
Jefferson travels to Chestnut Hill Wednesday and Dominican (NY) 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 – 1-1; Season – 5-10 overall, 3-8 PSAC
Wednesday – vs. Shippensburg University, Won 76-73
Saturday – at Seton Hill University (Pa.), Lost 74-50
Starr’s statistics
at Seton Hill University (PA) – Started, played 24 minutes; 6/17 FG, 0/2 FT, 12 points; 5 offensive, 4 defensive, 9 total rebounds; 3 turnovers; 1 block.
Notes
Starr found teammate Megan Fisher with 4 seconds remaining in a tie game for a game-winning 3-pointer as Bloomsburg University defeated PSAC East leader, Shippensburg University. The win snapped a four-game losing streak against the Raiders. … Bloomsburg played tough in the second half against Seton Hill but could not overcome a 35-15 halftime deficit. … Purdy has not played due to injury.
The week ahead
Bloomsburg hosts Mansfield University Monday, travels to Kutztown University Wednesday, and visits 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 0-2; Season – 10-7 overall, 6-5 PSAC
Wednesday – vs. Mercyhurst, Lost 61-51
Saturday – at Indiana University of PA, Lost 71-65
Loyd’s Individual statistics
vs. Mercyhurst- Started, played 40 minutes; 5/19 FG, 0/3 on 3-pointers, 4/6 FT, 14 points; 2 offensive, 6 defensive, 8 total rebounds; 4 assists; 10 turnovers.
at Indiana University of PA – Started, played 40 minutes; 5/14 FG, 1/4 on 3-pointers, 11 points; 1 defensive rebound; 8 assists; 4 turnovers; 1 steal.
Harris’ individual statistics
vs. Mercyhurst – Started, played 35 minutes; 4/8 FG, 1/2 FT, 9 points; 2 offensive, 3 defensive, 5 total rebounds; 2 turnovers; 3 blocks.
at Indiana University of PA – Started, played 35 minutes; 3/10 FG, 3/4 FT, 9 points; 5 offensive rebounds; 1 assist; 2 turnovers; 4 steals.
Notes
Mercyhurst outscored California (PA), 20-11, in the fourth quarter to pull away for the win. … Indiana (PA) trailed California (PA), 53-47, after three quarters but outscored the Vulcans, 24-12, in the deciding fourth quarter.
The week ahead
California (PA) travels to Seton Hill University (PA) Monday, hosts Mansfield University Wednesday, and Pitt-Johnstown Saturday.
CLAIRE DOUGHERTY
HOLY FAMILY UNIVERSITY WOMEN
6-foot-1 freshman forward/center from Lake Lehman
Team results
Week – 1-1; Season – 14-6 overall, 9-1 CACC
Tuesday – vs. Jefferson, Lost 65-50
Saturday – at University of Bridgeport, Won 64-50
vs. Jefferson– Did not play
at University of Bridgeport– Came off the bench, played 8 minutes; 2/5 FG, 1/2 FT, 5 points; 3 defensive rebounds; 1 turnover.
Notes
Holy Family’s eight-game winning streak, its longest since the 2015-16 season, came to an end with the loss to Jefferson. … In the win over University of Bridgeport, Holy Family’s bench outscored the Purple Knights’, 23-8.
The week ahead
Holy Family hosts Georgian Court University Wednesday and travels to Bloomfield College Saturday.
ERIN GIBBONS
SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY WOMEN
5-foot-8 graduate student guard from Wyoming Valley West
Team results
Week – 1-1; Season – 14-3 overall, 9-2 PSAC
Wednesday – at Bloomsburg, Lost 76-73
Saturday – vs. Kutztown, Won 68-62 in overtime
Individual statistics
at Bloomsburg – Started, played 32 minutes; 1/3 FG, 1/2 on 3-pointers, 3 points; 1 offensive, 1 defensive, 2 total rebounds; 1 assist; 1 block.
vs. Kutztown – Started, played 30 minutes; 1/6 FG, 0/3 on 3-pointers, 2 points; 1 offensive, 2 defensive, 3 total rebounds.
Notes
Shippensburg University had its five-game winning streak come to an end against Bloomsburg University despite committing a season-low eight turnovers and shooting 46 percent from the field. … Shippensburg trailed Kutztown by eight points with less than five minutes remaining but went on a 9-2 scoring run that ultimately sent the game into overtime.
The week ahead
Shippensburg University plays at Millersville University Monday, hosts Shepherd University Wednesday, and travels to 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 – 0-2; Season – 11-5 overall, 7-4 PSAC
Wednesday – vs. West Chester University, Lost 73-68
Saturday – vs. Millersville University, Lost 73-67
Shoats individual statistics
vs. West Chester University– Came off the bench, played 15 minutes; 1/5 FG, 0/1 on 3-pointers, 2/2 FT, 4 points; no other statistics.
vs. Millersville University – Came off the bench, played 25 minutes; 3/7 FG, 0/1 on 3-pointers, 2/2 FT, 8 points; 1 offensive, 3 defensive, 4 total rebounds; 4 assists; 4 turnovers; 1 steal.
Springer individual statistics
vs. West Chester University – Came off the bench, played 8 minutes; 1/3 FG, 2 points; 3 defensive rebounds.
vs. Millersville University – Came off the bench, played 4 minutes; 0/1 FG, 0 points; no other statistics.
Notes
Lock Haven mounted a furious comeback and rallied to tie the game in the final minutes against West Chester. The visiting Rams used clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch to earn a hard-fought victory.
The week ahead
Lock Haven travels to Slippery Rock Monday, East Stroudsburg Wednesday, and hosts Shippensburg Saturday.
JEFF PLANUTIS
MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY MEN
6-foot-6 redshirt junior guard from Hazleton Area
Team result
Week – 2-0; Season – 13-2 overall, 9-2 PSAC
Wednesday – at California University (PA), Won 66-65
Saturday – vs. Gannon University, Won 72-58
Individual statistics
at California University (PA) – Started, played 33 minutes; 9/14 FG, 1/3 on 3-pointers, 3/3 FT, 22 points; 3 defensive rebounds; 2 assists; 1 turnover; 2 steals.
vs. Gannon University – Started, played 34 minutes; 6/15 FG, 2/5 on 3-pointers, 14 points; 2 offensive, 3 defensive, 5 total rebounds; 4 assists; 1 turnover; 1 steal.
Notes
Planutis led the way against California (Pa.) as he registered his sixth game of 20 points or more this season and his second straight after a season-high of 23 against Slippery Rock last week. … Against Gannon, Mercyhurst trailed 26-19 at the half. Planutis scored 10 points in the second half as the Lakers outscored their crosstown rivals, 53-32, to rally for the win.
The week ahead
Mercyhurst travels to Pitt-Johnstown Monday, Clarion University Wednesday, and hosts Seton Hill University (PA) Saturday.
JASON SHIELDS
JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY MEN
6-foot-5 freshman guard from Scranton
Team results
Week – 1-1; Season 10-9; 6-3 CACC
Tuesday – at Holy Family, Lost 64-63
Sunday – vs. Alliance, Won 87-61
Individual statistics
at Holy Family – Came off the bench, played 2 minutes; 1 offensive rebound; no other statistics.
vs. Alliance – Came off the bench, played 2 minutes; 1/2 FG, 1/1 on 3-pointers, 3 points; 1 offensive rebound; 1 assist.
Notes
Jefferson’s loss to Holy Family was just the second in the last 11 meetings. Holy Family took the lead with two minutes remaining and the Ram’s game-winning attempt at the buzzer was off the mark. … Jefferson improved to 5-0 at home with the win over Alliance. … Jefferson shot over 50 percent from the field (52.4 percent) for the seventh time this season while producing its best 3-point shooting percentage (56.5 percent.)
The week ahead
Jefferson travels to Chestnut Hill Wednesday and Dominican (N.Y.) Saturday.
JACK FARRELL
EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY MEN
6-foot-6 junior forward from Dallas
Team results
Week – 0-2; Season – 14-3 overall, 8-3 PSAC
Wednesday – at Shepherd University, Lost 96-88
Saturday – vs. West Chester University, Lost 86-81
Individual statistics
at Shepherd University – Did not play
vs. West Chester University – Did not play
Notes
Trailing by as many as 19 points in the second half at Shepherd, ESU rallied to slice the deficit to 4 points but could not complete the comeback. … East Stroudsburg placed five players in double figures against West Chester but could not overcome a 15-point second half deficit. … ESU’s loss along with a Shippensburg win over Kutztown, puts the Warriors in second place in the PSAC East, one game ahead of West Chester, Lock Haven, and Shepherd.
The week ahead
East Stroudsburg travels to Kutztown University Monday, hosts Lock Haven University Wednesday and travels to Indiana University of PA Saturday.
