By Bob Franceski, NEPASportsNation.com
A recap of the week of January 9-15 for District 2 graduates in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II basketball:
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 – 1-1; Season – 11-3 overall, 7-2 PSAC
Wednesday – at Mansfield University, Lost 76-64
Saturday – at Kutztown University, Won 87-77
Shoats individual statistics
at Mansfield University– Came off the bench, played 28 minutes; 6/8 FG, 4/4 FT, 16 points; 1 defensive rebound; 2 assists; 3 turnovers.
at Kutztown University – Came off the bench, played 24 minutes; 9/13 FG, 1/2 on 3-pointers, 4/5 FT, 23 points; 1 offensive rebound; 1 assist; 1 turnover; 1 block.
Springer individual statistics
at Mansfield University – Came off the bench, played 5 minutes; no shots; 1 defensive rebound; 1 block.
at Kutztown University – Came off the bench, played 5 minutes; 2/2 FT, 2 points; 2 defensive rebounds; 1 block.
Notes
Shoats scored a career-high 23 points against Kutztown and was one of four Bald Eagles to score in double figures. … Shoats is averaging 10.3 points per game.
The week ahead
Lock Haven hosts West Chester University Wednesday and Millersville University Saturday.
JEFF PLANUTIS
MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY MEN
6-foot-6 redshirt junior guard from Hazleton Area
Team result
Week – 2-0; Season – 11-2 overall, 7-2 PSAC
Wednesday – vs. Shepherd University, Won 70-45
Saturday – vs. Slippery Rock University, Won 81-51
Individual statistics
vs. Shepherd University – Started, played 28 minutes; 3/7 FG, 1/2 on 3-pointers, 2/2 FT, 9 points; 2 defensive rebounds; 1 block.
vs. Slippery Rock University – Started, played 27 minutes; 10/14 FG, 3/4 on 3-pointers, 23 points; 3 offensive, 6 defensive, 9 total rebounds; 2 assists; 1 steal.
Notes
Against Slippery Rock University, Planutis scored 20 points or more in a game for the fifth time this season, continuing to show himself as one of the top scorers in the conference. … Planutis leads the Lakers in scoring at 15.8 points per game.
The week ahead
Mercyhurst travels to California University of PA Wednesday and hosts Gannon University Saturday.
JASON SHIELDS
JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY MEN
6-foot-5 freshman guard from Scranton
Team results
Week – 1-1; Season 9-8; 5-2 CACC
Tuesday – at Goldey-Beacom, Lost 77-72
Sunday – vs. Bloomfield, Won 97-87
Individual statistics
at Goldey-Beacom – Came off the bench, played 4 minutes; 0/1 FG, 0/1 on 3-pointers, 0 points; no other statistics.
vs. Bloomfield – Did not play
Notes
In its last two games, Jefferson has scored 40 or more points in three of the four halves. … Jefferson was hurt by 20 turnovers in the loss to Goldey-Beacom. … Jefferson shot 41.4 percent (12-of-29) from 3-point range in the win against Bloomfield.
The week ahead
Jefferson travels to Holy Family Tuesday and hosts Alliance (formerly Nyack) Saturday.
JACK FARRELL
EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY MEN
6-foot-6 junior forward from Dallas
Team results
Week – 2-0; Season – 14-1 overall, 8-1 PSAC
Wednesday – vs. Bloomsburg University, Won 91-73
Saturday – at Millersville University, Won 86-75
Individual statistics
vs. Bloomsburg University – Did not play
at Millersville University – Did not play
Notes
Leading 67-61 with just over nine minutes remaining, the No. 19/22 ESU Warriors closed the game with a 24-12 run. … With the victory over Bloomsburg, ESU head coach Jeff Wilson moves to fifth all-time in the PSAC with 371 career wins, passing Dick Delaney (West Chester, 1987-2008).
The week ahead
East Stroudsburg travels to Shepherd University Wednesday and hosts West Chester University Saturday.
SAM YENCHA
THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY WOMEN
5-foot-11 sophomore guard/forward from Holy Redeemer
Team results
Week – 2-0; Season – 15-2 overall, 7-0 CACC
Tuesday – at Golden-Beacom, Won 90-67
Sunday – vs. Bloomfield, Won 76-56
Individual statistics
at Goldey-Beacom – Started, played 33 minutes; 4/10 FG, 4/4 FT, 12 points; 7 offensive, 8 defensive, 15 total rebounds; 4 turnovers; 1 steal.
vs. Bloomfield – Started, played 27 minutes; 5/8 FG, 10 points; 4 offensive, 7 defensive, 11 total rebounds; 2 assists; 2 steals; 1 turnover.
Notes
Yencha’s two double-doubles this week give her 8 for the season and 10 for her career.
The week ahead
Jefferson travels to Holy Family Tuesday and hosts Alliance (formerly Nyack) 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 – 10-5 overall, 6-3 PSAC
Wednesday – vs. Edinboro, Won 69-59
Saturday – at Gannon, Lost 70-63
Loyd’s Individual statistics
vs. Edinboro – Started, played 39 minutes; 4/13 FG, 1/2 on 3-pointers, 5/6 FT, 14 points; 7 defensive rebounds; 11 assists; 8 turnovers; 2 steals.
at Gannon – Started, played 31 minutes; 9/17 FG, 0/3 on 3-pointers, 2/3 FT, 20 points; 2 defensive rebounds; 4 assists; 7 turnovers.
Harris’ individual statistics
vs. Edinboro – Started, played 22 minutes; 5/8 FG, 10 points; 2 offensive, 4 defensive, 6 total rebounds; 2 turnovers; 2 blocks; 2 steals.
at Gannon – Started, played 18 minutes; 2/5 FG, 4 points; 4 offensive, 1 defensive, 5 total rebounds; 1 block.
Notes
Loyd registered her second double-double of the season against Edinboro. Her 11 assists are a season-high. … In the win over Gannon, Loyd’s 20 points led all Vulcans scorers. All of Loyd’s points came in the second half. … Harris was forced to the bench against Gannon after being whistled for a pair of fouls in the opening two-plus minutes. She fouled out with 36 seconds remaining in the game.
The week ahead
California (Pa.) hosts Mercyhurst Wednesday and travels to Indiana University (Pa.) Saturday.
ERIN GIBBONS
SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY WOMEN
5-foot-8 graduate student guard from Wyoming Valley West
Team results
Week – 2-0; Season – 13-2 overall, 8-1 PSAC
Wednesday – at West Chester, Won 83-70
Saturday – vs. Mansfield, Won 70-48
Individual statistics
at West Chester – Started, played 32 minutes; 4/6 FG, 4/5 on 3-pointers, 2/2 FT, 14 points; 1 offensive, 2 defensive, 3 total rebounds; 2 assists; 2 turnovers.
vs. Mansfield – Started, played 28 minutes; 1/7 FG, 0/3 on 3-pointers, 2 points; 3 offensive rebounds; 4 assists; 1 turnover.
Notes
Shippensburg went on an 18-5 run in the third quarter to secure the win at West Chester. … Gibbons went 4-for-5 from behind the arc, scoring two more three-pointers than her previous Shippensburg game high, and just one short of her career high. … Shippensburg is undefeated at home and is atop the PSAC East standings. … Gibbons transferred to Shippensburg from Mansfield University. She has played in the last three seasons that Shippensburg has been active (no games in 2020-21 because of COVID) after playing two seasons, primarily as a starter, at Mansfield. … Gibbons has started 9 of 16 games and is averaging 5.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists.
The week ahead
Shippensburg plays at Bloomsburg Wednesday January 18th and hosts Kutztown 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
Team results
Week – 2-0; Season – 4-9 overall, 2-7 PSAC
Wednesday – at East Stroudsburg, Won 61-52
Saturday – vs. Shepherd, Won 76-37
Starr’s statistics
at East Stroudsburg – Started, played 35 minutes; 2/7 FG, 2/2 FG, 6 points; 4 offensive, 4 defensive, 8 total rebounds; 1 assist; 1 turnover; 3 blocks.
vs. Shepherd – Started, played 14 minutes; 5/9 FG, 2/3 FT, 12 points; 1 offensive, 1 defensive, 2 total rebounds; 2 turnovers; 1 steal.
Notes
Bloomsburg’s win over East Stroudsburg ended a nine-game losing streak. In the victory over Shepherd, Bloomsburg took the lead with 2:52 to play and never looked back. … The Huskies shot 52.6 percent (10-for-19) in the second quarter and outscored Shepherd, 23-14, to take a 39-21 halftime lead. … Purdy has not played because of injury.
The week ahead
Bloomsburg hosts Shippensburg Wednesday and travels to Seton Hill University (Pa.) Saturday.
COLETTE MULDERIG
FRANKLIN PIERCE UNIVERSITY WOMEN
6-foot-4 junior forward/center from Scranton
Team results
Week – 0-2; Season – 6-11 overall, 2-8 NE10.
Tuesday – at Adelphi, Lost 75-63
Saturday – vs. Saint Rose, Lost 76-57
Individual statistics
at Adelphi – Came off the bench, played 7 minutes; 0/6 FG, 0/0 FT, 0 points; 2 offensive rebounds; 1 assist.
vs. Saint Rose – Came off the bench, played 12 minutes; 2/3 FG, 4 points; 2 defensive rebounds; 1 assist; 1 steal; 2 blocks; 1 turnover.
Notes
Saturday’s game against Saint Rose was close throughout the first half, but Franklin Pierce was outscored, 39-25, in the second half. … The Ravens have lost two consecutive games and have fallen in their last five against Northeast-10 Conference opponents.
The week ahead
Franklin Pierce travels to American International Saturday.
CLAIRE DOUGHERTY
HOLY FAMILY UNIVERSITY WOMEN
6-foot-1 freshman forward/center from Lake Lehman
Team results
Week – 2-0; Season – 13-5 overall, 8-0 CACC
Tuesday – vs. Saint Anselm College, Won 72-57
Saturday – vs. Post University, Won 56-34
Individual statistics
vs. Saint Anselm College – Did not play
vs. Post University – Came off the bench, played 4 minutes; no shots; 1 turnover; 1 steal.
Notes
Holy Family used a dominant second quarter against Saint Anselm, outscoring the Hawks, 19-6, to build a lead it had no problem holding. … In the victory over Post, Holy Family’s defense held Post to 34 points on 20 percent shooting from the field. Post’s 20 percent field goal percentage (13-for-65) was the lowest by a Holy Family opponent since Concordia shot 16.2 percent in February 2014.
The week ahead
Holy Family hosts Jefferson Tuesday and travels to University of Bridgeport Saturday.
