Pictured above: Erin Gibbons
By Bob Franceski, NEPASportsNation.com
Friday’s National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Women’s Basketball Tournament featured four District 2 graduates in action.
Here is a recap of how each did:
ERIN GIBBONS
SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY WOMEN
5-foot-8 graduate student guard from Wyoming Valley West
Friday’s result
Shippensburg University, the No. 4 seed (25-6), defeated West Virginia State, the No. 5 seed (22-7), 87-83 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Individual statistics
vs. West Virginia State – Started, played 31 minutes; 6/7 FG, 3/4 on 3-pointers, 15 points; 1 offensive, 5 defensive, 6 total rebounds; 2 assists; 2 turnovers; 1 steal.
Notes
Gibbons was one of four Raiders to score in double figures as Shippensburg advanced to the second round of the NCAA Women’s Division II Basketball Tournament. … Gibbons took part in the NCAA postgame press conference, which was posted on the Shippensburg athletic website. “We talk all season about not really settling for threes,” Gibbons said. “We talk about playing inside-out. We have really good drivers on this team and we have one of the best posts in the PSAC. We know when we start driving and getting this eventually they’re going to collapse. That’s when we get threes.” … Ariel Jones also hit three 3s while scoring 25 points for the Raiders.
The week ahead
Shippensburg University advances to play Glenville St, the No. 1 seed, in the Atlantic Region semifinals Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
SAM YENCHA
THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY WOMEN
5-foot-11 sophomore guard/forward from Holy Redeemer
Friday’s result
vs. Daemen – Started, played 38 minutes; 4/12 FG, 4/6 FT, 12 points; 5 offensive, 6 defensive, 11 total rebounds; 2 assists; 3 turnovers; 1 block.
Notes
Jefferson outscored Daemen, 35-18 in the second half to pull away for the opening round victory. … Both teams struggled early, shooting a combined 4-for-22 over the first five minutes. Jefferson found its rhythm and made six of its next nine attempts for the remainder of the quarter, taking a 21-11 lead into the second quarter. … Yencha recorded a double-double for the 15th time this season. … Jefferson has won an NCAA Tournament game in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history. … The Rams 27th win of the year tied for second-best in school history.
The week ahead
Jefferson advances to play Southern New Hampshire, the No. 2 seed, in the East Region semifinals Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
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
Friday’s result
California (Pa.) University, the No. 6 seed (21-11) lost to West Chester University, the No. 3 seed (23-8), 80-67 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Glenville, WV
Loyd’s Individual statistics
vs. West Chester University – Started, played 40 minutes; 8/21 FG, 0/4 on 3-pointers, 4/6 FT, 20 points; 3 defensive rebounds; 6 assists; 2 turnovers; 2 steals.
Harris’ individual statistics
vs. West Chester University – Started, played 27 minutes; 4/5 FG, 3/4 FT, 11 points; 3 offensive, 4 defensive, 7 total rebounds; 1 assist; 3 turnovers; 1 steal.
Notes
California University worked a 15-point deficit down to one point in the third quarter before being eliminated from the NCAA Tournament. … The Vulcans made an eighth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament after capturing the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship last week. … Loyd scored a team-high 20 points. She finishes the year with a conference-leading 216 assists, which are the fourth-most in single-season school history. Loyd finishes her career ranked eighth all-time in school history with 393 assists while playing just two seasons. … Harris played only 27 minutes because of foul trouble. … California University finished the game shooting 41.2 percent (28-for-68) from the floor while shooting 22.2 percent (4-for-18) from 3-point range. … West Chester junior Leah Johnson set a single-game school record with 44 points on 17-for-28 shooting from the floor and converting all nine free throw attempts.
The week ahead
Season complete.
