By Bob Franceski, NEPASportsNation.com
A recap of the week of January 30 – February 5 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 – 20-3 overall, 11-1 CACC
Thursday – vs. Caldwell, Won 77-41
Saturday – at Post, Won 77-71
vs. Caldwell – Started, played 28 minutes; 5/8 FG, 1/1 FT, 11 points; 3 offensive, 5 defensive, 8 total rebounds; 3 assists; 1 turnover; 1 block; 1 steal.
at Post – Started, played 40 minutes; 3/8 FG, 5/6 FT, 11 points; 5 offensive, 8 defensive, 13 total rebounds; 2 steals.
Notes
Yencha recorded her 11th double-double of the season against Post, putting her in the top 20 in the country in that category among NCAA Division II players. … Jefferson erased an 18-point deficit on the road at Post. … With the win over Post, Jefferson officially clinched a spot in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Tournament. The Rams are in first place in the Southern Division with five conference games remaining.
The week ahead
Jefferson hosts Wilmington (Del.) Wednesday and travels to Caldwell 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 1-1; Season – 14-8 overall, 10-6 PSAC
Wednesday – at Clarion University, Won 61-55
Saturday – at Edinboro University, Lost 83-77
Loyd’s Individual statistics
at Clarion University – Started, played 40 minutes; 5/13 FG, 2/4 on 3-pointers, 0/2 FT, 12 points; 5 defensive rebounds; 5 assists; 5 turnovers; 2 steals.
at Edinboro University – Started, played 37 minutes; 4/14 FG, 0/2 on 3-pointers, 4/8 FT, 12 points; 1 defensive rebound; 7 assists; 3 turnovers; 3 steals.
Harris’ individual statistics
at Clarion University – Started, played 33 minutes; 4/5 FG, 2/3 FT, 10 points; 3 offensive, 2 defensive, 5 total rebounds; 1 assist; 1 turnover; 1 block; 1 steal.
at Edinboro University – Started, played 38 minutes; 10/12 FG, 3/6 FT, 23 points; 5 offensive, 10 defensive, 15 total rebounds; 2 assists; 2 turnovers; 1 block; 1 steal.
Notes
Harris set career-highs in both points and rebounds while tallying her third double-double of the season at Edinboro University. She is averaging 16.2 points over the last five games while shooting 70.6 percent (36-for-51). … Loyd ranks fifth in the country in Division II with 152 assists and in assist average at 6.9.
The week ahead
California (Pa.) hosts Slippery Rock University Monday, Gannon University Wednesday, and travels to Mercyhurst University 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 – 8-12 overall, 6-10 PSAC
Wednesday – vs. Lock Haven University, Won 48-45
Saturday – at Millersville University, Lost 70-58
Starr’s statistics
at Millersville University – Started, played 28 minutes; 4/7 FG, 2/2 FT, 10 points; 3 offensive, 7 defensive, 10 total rebounds; 4 turnovers.
Notes
Millersville’s defense forced 26 Bloomsburg turnovers that led to 18 points. … The Marauders outscored the Huskies, 34-23, over the middle quarters en route to the 12-point win. … Starr posted her second double-double of the season and leads the Huskies in scoring at 9.7 points per game. … Purdy has not played because of injury.
The week ahead
Bloomsburg hosts East Stroudsburg University Monday and travels to Shepherd University Saturday.
ERIN GIBBONS
SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY WOMEN
5-foot-8 graduate student guard from Wyoming Valley West
Team results
Week – 1-0; Season – 18-3 overall, 13-2 PSAC
Saturday – at East Stroudsburg University, Won 76-67
Individual statistics
at East Stroudsburg University – Started, played 34 minutes; 2/5 FG, 1/2 on 3-pointers, 4/4 FT, 9 points; 2 offensive, 4 defensive, 6 total rebounds; 2 assists; 2 turnovers; 1 block; 2 steals.
Notes
Shippensburg opened the game on an 8-0 run and shot 46 percent in the first quarter against East Stroudsburg University. … Shippensburg’s defense held Ryan Weise, the nation’s leader in 3-pointers made per game (3.45), to just one 3-pointer on 1-for-10 shooting from behind the arc.
The week ahead
Shippensburg University hosts West Chester University Monday, travels to Kutztown University Wednesday, and Mansfield University Saturday.
COLETTE MULDERIG
FRANKLIN PIERCE UNIVERSITY WOMEN
6-foot-4 junior forward/center from Scranton
Team results
Week – 1-1; Season – 7-15 overall, 3-12 NE10.
Wednesday – at Saint Michael’s, Won 59-41
Saturday – at LeMoyne, Lost 72-44
Individual statistics
at Saint Michael’s – Came off the bench, played 27 minutes; 2/6 FG, 0/1 on 3-pointers, 4 points; 2 offensive, 6 defensive, 8 total rebounds; 5 blocks; 3 turnovers.
at LeMoyne – Came off the bench, played 9 minutes; 1/2 FG, 2 points; 1 offensive, 1 defensive, 2 total rebounds; 2 assists; 2 turnovers.
Notes
Franklin Pierce’s victory over Saint Michael’s was its first Northeast-10 Conference victory since December 6th over Saint Anselm College. … In the victory over Saint Michael’s both teams went scoreless for a four-minute stretch. Franklin Pierce responded with a 6-2 run which started and ended with baskets by Mulderig. … LeMoyne started out quickly and led, 26-13, after one quarter of play in its victory over the Ravens.
The week ahead
Franklin Pierce hosts Southern New Hampshire Tuesday and Saint Anselm Saturday.
CLAIRE DOUGHERTY
HOLY FAMILY UNIVERSITY WOMEN
6-foot-1 freshman forward/center from Lake-Lehman
Team results
Week – 2-0; Season – 17-7 overall, 12-2 CACC
Wednesday – vs. Goldey-Beacom, Won 662-54
Saturday – at Alliance University, Won 74-51
vs. Goldey-Beacom– Did not play
at Alliance University – Came off the bench, played 11 minutes; 0/3 FG, 1/ 2 FT, 1 point; 1 offensive, 2 defensive, 3 total rebounds; 1 assist.
Notes
Holy Family clinched its spot in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Tournament with the win at Alliance University. … Holy Family scored the first 10 points at Alliance and led throughout the game. … Holy Family’s 25 assists were its most since it had 26 in a win over District of Columbia in 2018.
The week ahead
Holy Family travels to Dominican (N.Y.) 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 – 2-0; Season – 15-6 overall, 11-5 PSAC
Wednesday – at Bloomsburg University, Won 108-70
Saturday – vs. Shepherd University, Won 64-58
Shoats individual statistics
at Bloomsburg University– Came off the bench, played 22 minutes; 4/6 FG, 0/1 on 3-pointers, 5/6 FT, 13 points; 1 offensive, 2 defensive, 3 total rebounds; 2 assists; 3 turnovers; 3 blocks.
vs. Shepherd University – Came off the bench, played 16 minutes; 2/5 FG, 2/3 FT, 6 points; 2 assists; 1 turnover; 1 steal.
Springer individual statistics
at Bloomsburg University – Came off the bench, played 16 minutes; 4/6 FG, 0/1 FT, 8 points; 2 defensive rebounds; 1 block; 1 steal.
vs. Shepherd University – Came off the bench, played 5 minutes; 1/1 FG, 2 points; 1 defensive rebound.
Notes
In the win at Bloomsburg, the Bald Eagles shot 66.7 percent from the field in the first half and carried an insurmountable, 60-24, lead into halftime. … Five minutes into the contest, Bloomsburg hung tough at 14-10. Lock Haven then went on a 20-4 scoring run and closed the half on an extended 46-16 run. … With the win over Shepherd University, Lock Haven has won four out of its last five games, and has officially sealed its first winning season since 2013-14 when the Bald Eagles finished 17-10.
The week ahead
Lock Haven hosts Mansfield University Monday, travels to Millersville University Wednesday, and hosts Kutztown University Saturday.
JEFF PLANUTIS
MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY MEN
6-foot-6 redshirt junior guard from Hazleton Area
Team result
Week – 1-0; Season – 16-3 overall, 12-3 PSAC
Wednesday – at Edinboro University, Won 81-67
Individual statistics
at Edinboro University – Started, played 19 minutes; 3/10 FG, 0/3 on 3-pointers, 6 points; 1 offensive, 3 defensive, 4 total rebounds; 2 assists; 1 block.
Notes
Mercyhurst opened the game on a 21-6 run on its way to building a 43-29 halftime lead. … With the win, the Lakers maintain second place in the PSAC West.
The week ahead
Mercyhurst hosts Indiana University (PA) Monday, travels to Slippery Rock University Wednesday, and hosts California University (PA) Saturday.
JACK FARRELL
EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY MEN
6-foot-6 junior forward from Dallas
Team results
Week – 2-0; Season – 17-5 overall, 11-5 PSAC
Wednesday – at Mansfield University, Won 95-70
Saturday – vs. Shippensburg University, Won 65-52
Individual statistics
at Mansfield University – Came off the bench, played 3 minutes; no shots; 1 defensive rebound; 1 assist.
vs. Shippensburg University – Did not play.
Notes
East Stroudsburg used a 20-5 run late to defeat first-place Shippensburg. With the win, the Warriors pick up a season-sweep of the Raiders and hold a potential tiebreaker over Shippensburg. … East Stroudsburg’s defense held Shippensburg to a season-low 52 points, forced a season-high 26 turnovers, and held the Raiders to 34.5 percent shooting from the floor.
The week ahead
East Stroudsburg University travels to Bloomsburg University Monday, West Chester University Wednesday, and hosts Millersville University Saturday.
JASON SHIELDS
JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY MEN
6-foot-5 freshman guard from Scranton
Team results
Week – 0-1; Season 12-10; 8-4 CACC
Saturday – at Post, Lost 76-61
Individual statistics
at Post – Came off the bench, played 18 minutes; 3/9 FG, 2/6 on 3-pointers, 8 points; no other statistics.
Notes
Jefferson trailed, 10-2 early, before going on a 13-2 scoring run to take a 15-12 lead. Shields led the way with a pair of 3-pointers. … In the second half, Post got out quickly, scoring 12 of the first 16 points. Jefferson was able to cut the lead to 49-46 before post pulled away with a 12-0 run to lead by 15 points with 9:14 remaining. … Jefferson’s 27.3 percent (9-of-33) shooting from the field is just the fourth time this season the Rams had a field goal percentage under 40 percent. … Despite the loss, Jefferson holds a two-game lead for first place in the South Division with five conference games remaining.
The week ahead
Jefferson hosts Wilmington (Del.) Wednesday and travels to Caldwell Saturday.
