By Bob Franceski, NEPASportsNation.com
A recap of the week of February 6 – February 12 for District 2 graduates in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II basketball:
JEFF PLANUTIS
MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY MEN
6-foot-6 redshirt junior guard from Hazleton Area
Team result
Week – 2-1; Season – 18-4 overall, 14-4 PSAC
Monday – vs. Indiana University (PA), Won 62-49
Wednesday – at Slippery Rock University, Won 72-57
Saturday – vs. California University (PA), Lost 76-71
Individual statistics
vs. Indiana University (PA) – Started, played 38 minutes; 10/16 FG, 2/3 on 3-pointers, 22 points; 1 offensive, 3 defensive, 4 total rebounds; 2 assists; 1 turnover; 1 block.
at Slippery Rock University – Started, played 35 minutes; 4/9 FG, 1/3 on 3-pointers, 1/2 FT, 10 points; 1 offensive, 6 defensive, 7 total rebounds; 2 assists; 1 block; 3 steals.
vs. California University (PA) – Started, played 33 minutes; 7/13 FG, 1/4 on 3-pointers, 6/7 FT, 21 points; 5 defensive rebounds; 1 assist; 1 turnover; 1 steal.
Notes
Mercyhurst’s win over Indiana University (Pa.), brought the No. 1 team in the country’s 33-game win streak to an end. The previously unbeaten Crimson Hawks were held under 50 points for the first time in nearly a decade. … Planutis led three Lakers in double figures with a game-high 22 points in the win over IUP. … The win over Slippery Rock marked the fifth straight victory of double-digits by the Lakers. … Mercyhurst had previously clinched its spot in postseason play, but the loss to California University (PA) ties the Lakers for second place in the PSAC West, and puts them in jeopardy of having to go on the road to begin their tournament run.
The week ahead
Mercyhurst hosts Pitt-Johnstown Wednesday and Clarion 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 – 1-2; Season – 16-8 overall, 12-7 PSAC
Monday – vs. Mansfield University, Won 89-76
Wednesday – at Millersville University, Lost 78-52
Saturday – vs. Kutztown University, Lost 98-61
Shoats individual statistics
vs. Mansfield University – Came off the bench, played 16 minutes; 6/10 FG, 3/3 FT, 15 points; 1 offensive, 1 defensive, 2 total rebounds; 4 assists; 1 turnover.
at Millersville University – Came off the bench, played 30 minutes; 3/13 FG, 1/2 FT, 7 points; 4 defensive rebounds; 1 assist; 2 steals.
vs. Kutztown University – Came off the bench, played 23 minutes; 5/9 FG, 1/3 FT, 11 points; 1 assist; 1 turnover; 1 steal.
Springer individual statistics
vs. Mansfield University – Came off the bench, played 10 minutes; 1/1 FG, 2/2 FT, 4 points; 3 defensive rebounds; 1 assist; 2 blocks.
at Millersville University – Came off the bench, played 25 minutes; 3/4 FG, 0/1 FT, 6 points; 2 offensive, 4 defensive, 6 total rebounds; 3 turnovers; 3 blocks.
vs. Kutztown University – Came off the bench, played 5 minutes; no shots or other statistics.
Notes
Behind a balanced offensive attack which saw six players score double figures, Lock Haven soared past Mansfield University. … Despite the loss at Millersville University, Lock Haven wrapped up a spot in the PSAC playoffs. The Bald Eagles will make its fourth straight trip to the conference postseason. … On Saturday, Kutztown jumped out to a 17-7 lead in the first five minutes and pushed its lead to as high as 30 points, entering halftime with a 52-28 lead.
The week ahead
Lock Haven travels to West Chester University Saturday.
JASON SHIELDS
JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY MEN
6-foot-5 freshman guard from Scranton
Team results
Week – 1-1; Season 13-11; 9-5 CACC
Wednesday – vs. Wilmington (DE), Won 81-59
Saturday – at Caldwell, Lost 97-95 in overtime.
Individual statistics
vs. Wilmington – Did not play.
at Caldwell – Came off the bench, played 25 minutes; 4/6 FG, 2/3 on 3-pointers, 5/5 FT, 15 points; 3 offensive, 3 defensive, 6 total rebounds; 1 assist; 1 steal.
Notes
Caldwell used a length of court pass with 2.4 seconds remaining in regulation to convert a layup and send the game to overtime. … The Cougars rode the momentum of their tying basket into the extra session, producing the first eight points for a 91-83 advantage. … Leading 97-92 with 12 seconds remaining, Caldwell inexplicably fouled Shields on a 3-point attempt with five seconds on the clock. Shields converted all three free-throws to cut the deficit to two. Caldwell turned it over on the in-bounds play, however Erik Timko’s 3-point attempt was blocked.
The week ahead
Jefferson hosts Georgian Court Tuesday.
JACK FARRELL
EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY MEN
6-foot-6 junior forward from Dallas
Team results
Week – 2-1; Season – 19-6 overall, 13-6 PSAC
Monday – at Bloomsburg University, Won 96-74
Wednesday – at West Chester University, Lost 106-98
Saturday – vs. Millersville University, Won 75-65
Individual statistics
at Bloomsburg University – Came off the bench, played 1 minute; no shots or other statistics.
at West Chester University – Did not play.
vs. Millersville University – Did not play.
Notes
After a fast start that saw East Stroudsburg University build a 14-2 lead over Millersville University, the Warriors held on to beat the Marauders and snap their nine-game winning streak. … With the win, the Warriors move into a tie for second place with Millersville and now hold a potential tiebreaker over Millersville.
The week ahead
East Stroudsburg University hosts Kutztown University Wednesday and Shepherd University Saturday.
SAM YENCHA
THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY WOMEN
5-foot-11 sophomore guard/forward from Holy Redeemer
Team results
Week – 2-0; Season – 22-3 overall, 13-1 CACC
Wednesday – vs. Wilmington (Del.), Won 70-33
Saturday – at Caldwell, Won 85-54
vs. Wilmington (DE) – Started, played 28 minutes; 3/6 FG, 6 points; 3 offensive, 1 defensive, 4 total rebounds; 2 assists.
at Caldwell– Started, played 38 minutes; 5/7 FG, 3/4 FT, 13 points; 4 offensive, 10 defensive, 14 total rebounds; 3 assists; 4 turnovers; 3 steals.
Notes
In the win over Caldwell, Jefferson dominated the second quarter for the second game in a row. The Rams outscored Caldwell, 22-5, to take control of the game. … Yencha registered a double-double for the 12th time this season against Caldwell. … Jefferson increased its hold on first place in the South Division to two games thanks to Holy Family’s loss at Dominican (N.Y.). The Rams magic number to clinch a home game for the quarterfinals is down to two, excluding tiebreakers, with three games left in the regular season.
The week ahead
Jefferson hosts Georgian Court Tuesday.
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 – 9-13 overall, 7-11 PSAC
Monday – vs. East Stroudsburg University, Lost 52-42
Saturday – at Shepherd University, Won 79-70
Starr’s statistics
at Shepherd University – Started, played 40 minutes; 8/10 FG, 6/7 FT, 22 points; 4 offensive, 4 defensive, 8 total rebounds; 3 assists; 1 turnover; 2 blocks; 1 steal.
Notes
Starr recorder her second consecutive double-double in the loss to East Stroudsburg. … In the second half against Shepherd, Starr scored 14 points in 15 minutes of action. At one point in the third quarter, Starr scored eight straight points in just over one minute. … Purdy has not played due to injury.
The week ahead
Bloomsburg travels to Mansfield University Wednesday and Shippensburg 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 1-2; Season – 15-10 overall, 11-8 PSAC
Monday – vs. Slippery Rock University, Won 74-68
Wednesday – vs. Gannon University, Lost 76-65
Saturday – at Mercyhurst University, Lost 57-46
Loyd’s Individual statistics
vs. Slippery Rock University – Started, played 40 minutes; 6/9 FG, 1/3 on 3-pointers, 7/8 FT, 20 points; 2 offensive, 7 defensive 9 total rebounds; 7 assists; 7 turnovers.
vs. Gannon University – Started, played 40 minutes; 6/10 FG, 1/2 on 3-pointers, 3/3 FT, 16 points; 2 defensive rebounds; 7 assists; 9 turnovers; 1 steal.
at Mercyhurst University – Started, played 40 minutes; 5/14 FG, 0/2 on 3-pointers, 0/2 FT, 10 points; 2 defensive rebounds; 2 assists; 5 turnovers.
Harris’ individual statistics
vs. Slippery Rock University – Started, played 40 minutes; 13/20 FG, 1/2 FT, 27 points; 4 offensive, 5 defensive, 9 total rebounds; 3 turnovers.
vs. Gannon University – Started, played 40 minutes; 4/12 FG, 1/1 FT, 9 points; 6 offensive, 4 defensive, 10 total rebounds; 2 turnovers; 2 blocks; 2 steals.
at Mercyhurst University – Started, played 35 minutes; 8/19 FG, 1/2 FT, 17 points; 8 offensive, 6 defensive, 14 total rebounds; 4 turnovers; 1 block; 1 steal.
Notes
Loyd and Harris combined for 47 points in the win over Slippery Rock. … Harris’ 27 points set a new career high. … Loyd tallied her fifth 20-point game of the season against Slippery Rock. … California University (Pa.) was unable to overcome its season-worst shooting performance against Mercyhurst. The Vulcans shot 26 percent (19-for-73) from the field and just 7.7 percent (1-for-13) from 3-point range. … Harris recorded her fourth double-double of the season against Mercyhurst.
The week ahead
California (Pa.) hosts Seton Hill University (Pa.) Wednesday.
COLETTE MULDERIG
FRANKLIN PIERCE UNIVERSITY WOMEN
6-foot-4 junior forward/center from Scranton
Team results
Week – 1-1; Season – 8-16 overall, 4-13 NE10.
Tuesday – vs. Southern New Hampshire, Lost 71-63
Saturday – vs. Saint Anselm, Won 79-60
Individual statistics
vs. Southern New Hampshire – Came off the bench, played 16 minutes; 1/6 FG, 1/2 FT, 3 points; 5 defensive rebounds; 1 block.
vs. Saint Anselm – Came off the bench, played 4 minutes; 0/1 FG, 0 points; 1 defensive rebound.
Notes
All five starters scored in double figures in the win over Saint Anselm. … Trailing, 18-16, after the first quarter, Franklin Pierce scored 21 points in each of the remaining quarters, outscoring the Hawks, 63-42 to defeat its in-state rival.
The week ahead
Franklin Pierce travels to Southern Connecticut State Wednesday and hosts Bentley Saturday.
ERIN GIBBONS
SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY WOMEN
5-foot-8 graduate student guard from Wyoming Valley West
Team results
Week – 1-2; Season – 19-5 overall, 14-4 PSAC
Monday – vs. West Chester University, Lost 80-70
Wednesday – at Kutztown University, Lost 74-47
Saturday – at Mansfield University, Won 91-53
Individual statistics
vs. West Chester University – Started, played 33 minutes; 1/5 FG, 1/5 on 3-pointers, 3 points; 4 assists.
at Kutztown University – Started, played 31 minutes; 0/7 FG, 0/3 on 3-pointers, 0 points; 1 offensive, 1 defensive, 2 total rebounds; 3 assists; 1 turnover; 1 steal.
at Mansfield University – Started, played 29 minutes; 2/5 FG, 0/2 on 3-pointers, 4 points; 1 defensive rebound; 5 assists; 1 steal.
Notes
West Chester outscored Shippensburg, 31-17, in the fourth quarter to win the battle of the top two teams in the PSAC East. … Shippensburg could not overcome a slow start at Kutztown as the Golden Bears held a 37-19 halftime lead over the Raiders. …In the win over Mansfield, Shippensburg dominated inside, scoring 62 of its 91 points in the paint. … Shippensburg shot a season-high 54.8 percent from the field, making it the fifth time this season the team shot 50 percent or higher from the field.
The week ahead
Shippensburg University hosts Millersville University Wednesday and Bloomsburg University Saturday.
CLAIRE DOUGHERTY
HOLY FAMILY UNIVERSITY WOMEN
6-foot-1 freshman forward/center from Lake Lehman
Team results
Week – 0-1; Season – 17-8 overall, 12-3 CACC
Saturday – at Dominican (N.Y.), Lost 67-58
at Dominican (NY) – Did not play.
Notes
Holy Family came up short in a matchup between the two second-place teams in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. … Holy Family junior Carolyn Prevost recorder her third career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
The week ahead
Holy Family hosts Chestnut Hill College Tuesday.
