LADY EAGLES TOPPED BY SLIPPERY ROCK, 69-59

(Lock Haven, Pa.) – A strong first half would help the visiting Slippery Rock University (13-14, 5-7 PSAC West) squad over the Lady Eagles, 69-59, in what was both teams’ final contest of the season.  Lock Haven closes out the 2004 campaign with an 8-18 overall mark and a 2-10 record in the PSAC Western Division.
            Slippery Rock jumped out to a 14-4 lead early, but the Haven was able to cut that lead down to three points, 18-15, at 11:54 .  A nine-point run by the Rock late in the half brought the advantage back to double figures, 35-20, and the first stanza would end with the Lady Eagles trailing by 11 points, 37-26. 
            Lock Haven came out of the intermission and outscored Slippery Rock, 33-32, but first half differential proved to be too large to dig out of.  The Rock had gone ahead by as much as 16 points, 50-34, with 13:44 remaining, and the Lady Eagles battled to within six points on three occasions, including a 65-59 deficit with 28 seconds remaining. Slippery Rock made four free throws in the final seconds of the game to take the final 69-59 win.
            Lock Haven’s Cyndi Crowl (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) led the Lady Eagles with 14 points along with a team best seven rebounds.  Candace Sillers (Lebanon/Lebanon) added 10 points, while Elizabeth Gabrielle (State College/State College) chipped in with nine points and three assists.  
           Slippery Rock was led by Stacey Green, who poured in 27 points and came down with nine rebounds.  Erin Frankovich added 17 points and 12 boards in the win, and Amber McFeely distributed the ball for 11 assists.  

LADY EAGLES FALL TO DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 74-59

(Washington, D.C.) – The Lady Eagle cagers were outdone by the University of the District of Columbia, 74-59, on the road this evening.  The non-conference loss drops Lock Haven to 8-17 overall.
       The Haven started the game with the momentum, but as the first half wore down, so too did the Lady Eagles' luck. The Firebirds went on a run to go into the intermission with a 34-26 lead.  Lock Haven was unable to make up the difference in the second half, and gave up a season high of 29 turnovers in the process before the 74-59 final.
       Cyndi Crowl (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) and Allison Hall (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) led LHU in scoring, each with 16 points.  Crowl added five rebounds and three assists, while Hall contributed a game-best nine rebounds.  Elizabeth Gabrielle (State College/State College) had nine points and seven assists.
        The District of Columbia was led by Ti-Nishia Townsend with 21 points.  Keir Dargon had 16 points and a game high of eight steals.
        Lock Haven (8-17, 2-9 PSAC West) returns home for its final contest of the season, hosting a divisional match-up against Slippery Rock University on Sat., Feb. 28, at 1 p.m.

HAVEN CAGERS FALL SHORT, 68-62, VERSUS CLARION

(Lock Haven, Pa.) – Despite matching up evenly in the second half, the Lock Haven University women’s basketball team was on the short end of the 68-62 final versus the visiting Clarion University (13-11, 5-5 PSAC) squad this afternoon in Thomas Fieldhouse.  The Lady Eagles are now 8-16 overall and 2-9 in the PSAC West.
            A close game to start with six ties in the first half, the Golden Eagles finally gained an advantage and broke open the game with a minute-long seven-point run to wind up ahead, 26-21, with 5:31 to play. By the intermission, Clarion held on to a 32-26 lead.
            Lock Haven fought back early in the second stanza, and two made free throws by Elizabeth Gabrielle (State College/State College) brought the game to within four points, 39-35, with 14:41 to go. Clarion would jump back out into a more sizeable lead, however, including seven unanswered points, to take a 56-44 lead with just under seven minutes to play. 
            The Lady Eagles were once again able to claw their way back to a single digit deficit, but a 66-62 margin with eight seconds remaining was the closest they would get as Clarion went on to take the 68-62 win.
            Clarion out-shot the Lady Eagles, hitting 45.6-percent compared with Lock Haven’s 35.8-percent shooting.  The Golden Eagles also hit on 8-of-17 three-pointers to up the difference.  Lock Haven did hold a small 37-35 advantage in rebounding.
            Lock Haven had four players in double figures led by a 16-point effort from Allison Hall (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg).  The rookie guard also added three steals and three boards. Forward Melissa Picarsic (Acme/Mt.Pleasant) was strong on the blocks, coming up with 15 points and six rebounds.  Elizabeth Gabrielle added 13 points and three assists, while Cyndi Crowl (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) bucketed 10 points along with six rebounds.
            Clarion’s Amelia Harris led all scorers with 21 points off of seven three-point shots. Both Shay Godwin and Heather Cigich added 19 points, Cigich also coming away with 15 rebounds.
            The Lady Eagles (8-16, 2-9 PSAC West) are on the road at the University of the District of Columbia on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 6 p.m.

LADY EAGLES STUMBLE, 74-56, AT SHIPPENSBURG

(Shippensburg, Pa.) – A slow start would haunt the Lock Haven University women’s basketball team (8-15, 2-8 PSAC West) as the Shippensburg University (16-8, 6-3 PSAC West) Lady Raiders built on a 12-point halftime advantage for the 74-56 win. 
            The Lady Eagles turned the ball over 15 times and found the bottom of the net for only 19 points in the first half, digging themselves into a 12-point hole, 31-19.  Lock Haven opened the second half on a 7-2 run, moving to within six points, 33-27, on a three-point play by Elizabeth Gabrielle (State College/State College). Shippensburg answered with a three-pointer to push the lead back to nine points, then another trey gave the home team the double-figure advantage, 39-27, at 14:20.  Lady Eagle attempts to shrink the lead would fall short, as Shippensburg went on to claim the final 74-56 victory.
            Lock Haven was led by a pair of freshmen guard, Elizabeth Gabrielle and Allison Hall (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg).  Gabrielle had 15 points, four rebounds and three assists in the effort, while Hall added 10 points along with three boards and three assists.  Both Cyndi Crowl (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) and  Melissa Picarsic (Acme/Mt.Pleasant) posted nine points, Picarsic also leading the Haven with eight rebounds.
            Shippensburg’s Jennifer Scaffidi led all scorers with 25 points in addition to seven assists.  Katie Bray totaled 16 points and Emily Swingler had 15 total points.
            The Lady Eagles (8-15, 2-8 PSAC West) return home on Sat., Feb. 21, to face Clarion University at 1 p.m.

LADY EAGLE FALL TO #1 CALIFORNIA (PA), 95-72

(California, Pa.) – A game-high 23 points by Elizabeth Gabrielle (State College/State College) was not enough to secure a win over California (Pa.) University (24-0, 9-0 PSAC West), the top team in NCAA Division II, as the Lock Haven University women’s basketball team fell to the Vulcans, 95-72, in Hamer Hall.  The Lady Eagles are now 8-14 overall and 2-7 in the PSAC Western Division.
            The No. 1-ranked California squad took control early, leading 44-25 at the half, and held strong for the decisive victory.  The Lady Eagles shot an impressive 53.1-percent in the second half and were outscored by only four points in that stanza.  The Vulcans followed suit, however, shooting 56.4-percent in the second half and using an 11-rebound differential to make a difference in second-chance scoring.  California also totaled 16 steals as the Lady Eagles gave up 21 turnovers.
            Elizabeth Gabrielle poured in a career high of 23 points, including three long range field goals and an 8-for-8 game at the free throw line. She also distributed four assists in the loss. Both Melissa Picarsic (Acme/Mt.Pleasant) and Ginger Williams ( Pasadena , Md. / Chesapeake ) added 12 points. Picarsic had a team best of eight rebounds while Williams followed with six boards.
            California benefited from balanced scoring with five players in double figures led by a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double for Sara McKinney.  Erin Dillon added 17 points and Becky Siembak had 14 tallies. Sameera Philyaw and Lisa Gottuso each posted 10 points.
            The Lady Eagles (8-14, 2-7 PSAC West) will travel to Shippensburg University on Wed., Feb. 18, for a 6 p.m. match-up.

STRONG FIRST HALF LIFTS LADY EAGLES TO A 72-64 WIN OVER INDIANA 

(Lock Haven, Pa.) – A dominating first-half performance by the Lock Haven University women’s basketball team (8-13, 2-6 PSAC West) helped earn their second win in the PSAC Western Division with the 72-64 decision over the visiting Indiana (Pa.) University (12-10, 2-6 PSAC West). The win also snaps a five-game skid dating back to Jan. 21.
            The Lady Eagles shot 45-percent in the first half and held Indiana to only 19 points, shooting just over 18-percent from the floor, for the 35-19 lead going into intermission.  The Haven would need that extra cushion, as Indiana bounced back from the slow start and chipped away at the deficit until it had come within five points, 57-52, at 4:42 .  Lock Haven was able to fire back as time faded, matching Indiana ’s points to keep just out of striking range.  The Lady Eagles went on a five-point run in the last minute of the game and hit 7-of-12 free throws to fend off the late surge.
            Lock Haven not only out-shot Indiana , but the Lady Eagles also totaled 49 rebounds to the visitors’ 42 boards. Allison Hall (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) led all scorers with 19 points, including an 11-for-14 night from the free throw line, and also grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Lady Eagles to the win. Cyndi Crowl (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) was good for 14 points and added six rebounds and three steals. Melissa Picarsic (Acme/Mt.Pleasant) had 12 points and five rebounds, while Elizabeth Gabrielle (State College/State College) totaled 11 points and seven assists.
            Indiana ’s Jacqui Martin had 15 points and seven rebounds, and Molly Miller had a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards.  Jess Conner added 11 points.
            The Lady Eagles (8-13, 2-6 PSAC West) are on the road this weekend, traveling to No. 1-ranked California ( Pa. ) University on Sat., Feb. 14, for a 3 p.m. contest.

LADY EAGLE CAGERS OVERCOME BY EDINBORO, 61-35

(Edinboro, Pa.) – The Lock Haven University women’s basketball team (7-13, 1-6 PSAC West) was held to a season-low of 35 points as the Fighting Scots of Edinboro University (16-6, 4-3 PSAC West) defeated the Lady Eagles 61-35 in Edinboro’s McComb Fieldhouse. 
            The Lady Eagles kept things close throughout the first half, both teams shooting under 35-percent to enter halftime with Edinboro in a 25-20 lead. The Fighting Scots were unstoppable in the second half, however, shooting 50-percent from the floor to pile on another 36 points. The Lady Eagles only bucketed five field goals the entire half, held to a dismal 18.5-percent shooting performance for just 15 points.
            Lock Haven actually outrebounded Edinboro, 39-37, but gave up twice as many turnovers with 26 compared with the Fighting Scots’ 13 giveaways.  The Haven did match its single-game high with eight blocked shots, including five by freshman forward Shameka Lee ( Washington , D.C. /HD Woodson). 
            Lee, along with Ginger Williams ( Pasadena , Md. / Chesapeake ), paced the Lady Eagle scoring with six point each. Lee added a game-high of nine rebounds to go along with her five blocks and two steals. Amanda Jones (Middletown/Middletown) and Amanda Walker (Lock Haven/Central Mountain) both added five points.
            Edinboro had three players in double figures paced by 19 points from Maria DiVecchio.  Both Megan Zitner and Courtney Thompson added 12 points.
            The Lady Eagles (7-13, 1-6 PSAC West) return home to face Indiana ( Pa. ) University on Wed., Feb. 11, at 6 p.m.

LADY EAGLES SUCCUMB TO LATE SRU RALLY, 58-51

(Slippery Rock, Pa.) – The Lock Haven University women’s basketball team (7-12, 1-5 PSAC West) was unable to survive a late Slippery Rock University (10-9, 3-2 PSAC West) rally as they fell, 58-51, in conference action this afternoon. In the loss, Lady Eagle senior Cyndi Crowl (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) reached the 1,000-point plateau after an 11-point contribution, only the 11^th Lock Haven women’s basketball player in history and the first since the 1997 season to achieve the milestone.
            Lock Haven had stormed out to a 25-18 lead by the halftime intermission. The Rock had battled back to tie up the game numerous times in the second half, taking over the lead and building it to as large as four point, 48-44, with 7:12 remaining. The Lady Eagles would answer and tie up the game once more, and then a three pointer by Elizabeth Gabrielle (State College/State College) at 4:45 put LHU out into a 51-48 lead.  That small spark would not be enough to hold down the home team forces, however, as the Rock turned out a 10-0 rally over the remainder of the game to steal away the victory, 58-51.
            Lock Haven’s Elizabeth Gabrielle led the team in scoring with 16 points, including three treys, along with six assists.  Cyndi Crowl needed only 10 of her 11 points to reach the 1,000-point mark.  Both Amanda Jones (Middletown/Middletown) and Melissa Picarsic (Acme/Mt. Pleasant) added eight points in the loss.
            Slippery Rock’s Stacey Green led all scorers with 17 points while Kristin Bonner added 16 points.
            The Lady Eagles (7-12, 1-5 PSAC West) next travels to Edinboro University on Sat., Feb. 7, for a 1 p.m. contest.

STRONG SECOND HALF NOT ENOUGH AS LHU FALLS, 71-56, AT CLARION

(Clarion, Pa.) – The Lock Haven University women’s basketball team (7-11, 1-4 PSAC West) got off to a slow start and despite a strong second half, still wound up on the low end of the 71-56 final against Western Division opponent Clarion University (10-8, 2-2 PSAC West). Freshman guard Elizabeth Gabrielle (State College/State College) led the Lady Eagles with 14 points and a season high of seven steals.
            The Clarion defense kept Lock Haven in single digits well into the first half, the Lady Eagles shooting only 23-percent to open the game. A pair of free throws by Gabrielle with 4:28 remaining in the first period finally got LHU over the 10-point mark, 26-11.  The Haven outscored Clarion 6-5 before the break to go into the locker room with a 14-point deficit, 31-17.
            The Golden Eagles built as much as a 23 point lead, 49-26, at 12:35 in the second half.  A ten point run by the Lady Eagles followed, including six points from Amanda Jones (Middletown/Middletown), to pick up the tempo of the Haven offense and shrink the lead down to 13 points, 49-36, at 8:44 .  The Haven was unable to cut that deficit to under 10 points with the teams exchanging baskets throughout the rest of the game. A three-pointer from Gabrielle with 33 seconds remaining brought the score to 66-56, but five free throws by Clarion closed out the game at 71-56 in the Golden Eagles’ favor.
            Elizabeth Gabrielle posted 14 points, six assists and the best steals total by a Lady Eagle this season with seven.  Amanda Jones added 12 points, and Alex Benshaw (Williamsport/Williamsport) chipped in with nine points and 11 rebounds. 
            Clarion had two players register double-doubles, Shay Godwin (20 pts., 15 rbs) and Heather Cigich (19 pts, 13 rbs.).  Amelia Harris totaled 12 points and five assists. 
            The Lady Eagles (7-11, 1-4 PSAC West) will next be on the road at Slippery Rock University on Sat., Jan. 31, at 1 p.m.

LADY EAGLES FALL TO #1 CALIFORNIA (PA), 83-49

(Lock Haven, Pa.) – The Lock Haven University women’s basketball team (7-10, 1-3 PSAC West) came up against the top ranked team in the nation in California (Pa.) University (18-0, 3-0 PSAC West), falling 83-49 in Thomas Fieldhouse this afternoon.
            Lock Haven was held to just 20 first-half points, trailing by 17 points at the half, 37-20.  The Vulcan lead stuck in the second half as they built the margin up to a high of 36 points before the final 83-49 score. 
            California shot just over 50-percent on the game while holding Lock Haven to 38-percent shooting. The Vulcans also picked up the advantage on the boards by coming away with 44 rebounds to the Haven’s 27 total. Four California players totaled double-figure scoring led by a 21 point, 13 rebound effort from guard Sara McKinney.  Becky Siembak added 18 points, Sameera Philyaw had 16 tallies and eight boards, and Lisa Gottuso chipped in with 10 points. 
            Cyndi Crowl ( Stroudsburg , Pa. /Stroudsburg) paced the Lady Eagles with 16 points, leaving the senior guard just 12 shy of reaching the 1,000 point milestone. Melissa Picarsic (Acme/Mt. Pleasant) added nine points and seven rebounds, while point guard Elizabeth Gabrielle (State College/State College) had eight points and five assists.
            The Lady Eagles (7-10, 1-3 PSAC West) begin a three-game road stint at Clarion University on Wed., Jan. 28, at 6 p.m. California (18-0, 3-0 PSAC West) hosts Shippensburg University on Jan. 28 at 6 p.m.

SHIPPENSBURG OVERWHELMS LADY EAGLES, 75-44 

(Lock Haven, Pa.) – The Lock Haven women’s basketball team (7-9, 1-2 PSAC West) lost a 75-44 conference tilt against Shippensburg University (11-5, 2-0 PSAC West) this evening in Thomas Fieldhouse. 
            The Red Raiders opened up a 10-point lead midway through the first half, 20-10, and never looked back. Shippensburg put together a ten point run ending at 5:09 to the advantage to 36-15, and went into the intermission with a 43-22 lead.
            Lock Haven fell behind in the second half by as much as 37 points, battling back to within 27, 70-43, before the 75-44 final.
            Shippensburg shot a blazing 65.5-percent from the floor in the first half and held the Haven to only 21.9-percent shooting in the second half to secure the victory.  Lock Haven was out-rebounded by Shippensburg, 49-34.
            Lock Haven’s Amanda Jones (Middletown/Middletown) had 11 points and five rebounds. Kendra Tribue (York/York Suburban) added nine points and five boards along with four steals. 
            Shippensburg had four players in double figures led by 15 points by Katie Bray.  Kim Strickland had 13 points, Casey Reath collected a double-double with 11 points and 12 boards, and Emily Swingler added 10 points.
            The Lady Eagles (7-9, 1-2 PSAC West) remain at home, hosting No. 1-ranked California (Pa.) University on Sat., Jan. 24, at 3 p.m. Shippensburg (11-5, 2-0 PSAC West) will host Edinboro University on Jan. 24.

HAVEN WINS FIRST PSAC WEST GAME OF SEASON, 52-46, OVER EDINBORO 

(Lock Haven, Pa.) – A late rally lifted the Lock Haven University women’s basketball team to a 52-46 victory over Edinboro University (12-5, 0-2 PSAC West) in divisional action this afternoon in Thomas Fieldhouse. The Lady Eagles improve to 1-1 in the PSAC West and 7-8 overall.
            The Lady Eagles were down, 27-23, after one half of play, but would outscore the Fighting Scots, 29-19, in the second half.  Edinboro came out of the halftime break and built a six point lead, 33-27, at 16:54 , but the Haven began chipping away and tied up the game at 33-33 just three minutes later on a layup by Elizabeth Gabrielle (State College/State College).  The Fighting Scots regained the lead and held a three point advantage, 39-36, with 9:48 left in the game.  Back on the offensive, LHU’s Cyndi Crowl (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) hit a medium-range jumper to move within one point, then two free throws by Amanda Jones (Middletown/Middletown) tied, then turned the lead, 40-39, over to the Haven.  
            Despite a small push by Edinboro, the Haven never trailed over the rest of the contest after taking the 40-39 lead at the nine-minute mark. A trey by Gabrielle at 4:27 was the beginning of the end for the Fighting Scots, pushing Lock Haven out into a four-point, 41-45 lead.  Melissa Picarsic (Acme/Mt. Pleasant) soon followed that up with a pair of free throws to add to the lead and Shameka Lee (Washington, D.C. /HD Woodson) came down with three crucial rebounds in the final minute of the game to usher in the 52-46 victory.
            The Haven out-rebounded Edinboro, 44-34, and was slightly more accurate from the floor, shooting 36.4-percent compared with Edinboro’s 31.7-percent.
            Lock Haven’s Elizabeth Gabrielle led the squad in scoring with 11 points.  Shameka Lee had nine points and a game high of 11 rebounds.Amanda Jones added nine points and four boards, while Melissa Picarsic had seven points and four rebounds.
            Edinboro’s Maria DiVecchio led all scorers with 19 points along with five boards.  Both Megan Zitner and Danielle Lantzy added eight points each.
            The Lady Eagles (7-8, 1-1 PSAC West) remain at home, hosting Shippensburg University on Wed., Jan. 21, at 6 p.m. Edinboro University (12-5, 0-2 PSAC West) is on the road at Indiana (Pa.) University on Jan. 21.

LADY EAGLES FALL 76-55 AGAINST INDIANA (PA) IN CONFERENCE OPENER 

(Indiana, Pa.) – The Lock Haven University women’s basketball team was on the short end of a 76-55 final against Indiana (Pa.) University (11-4, 1-0 PSAC West) in what was the PSAC Western Division opener for both squads.  The Lady Eagles are now 6-8 overall and 0-1 in the PSAC West.
            Lock Haven had but one short-lived lead in the contest, taking a brief 16-15 advantage at 11:32 . Indiana answered with a ten-point run that lasted almost eight minutes to move out into a 25-16 lead then entered the break ahead by 12, 34-22.  A series of runs by the Indians put the game away in the second half before closing on the final 76-55 mark.
            The tell-tale statistical difference came in points scored off of turnovers, Indiana collecting 25 tallies off of 16 steals and 23 total Haven turnovers. The Lady Eagles registered eight points off of six steals and a total of 16 turnovers.  Indiana held a small margin over the Lady Eagles in rebounding, 44-38, while both teams had an average night shooting, IUP hitting for 41.4-percent of its shots and Lock Haven making good on 37.4-percent.
            Lock Haven was led by Cyndi Crowl (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) and Alex Benshaw (Williamsport/Williamsport). Crowl paced the Lady Eagles with 14 points, including two three pointers, while Benshaw had 12 points, shooting 6-for-8 on the evening.  Elizabeth Gabrielle (State College/State College) had eight assists along with six points, and Shameka Lee (Washington, D.C. /HD Woodson) had a team high of eight rebounds.
            Indiana was led by 25 points and nine rebounds from Jacqui Martin. Jordin Schaffner had 13 points and six boards.
            The Lady Eagles (6-8) will next host Western Division opponent Edinboro University on Sat., Jan. 17, at 1 p.m.

LADY EAGLES WIN SECOND STRAIGHT WITH 81-75 DECISION OVER CHEYNEY 

(Cheyney, Pa.) – The Lock Haven University women’s basketball team captured an 81-75 win on the road against Cheyney University (4-10) in its final PSAC cross-over contest of the season. Kristy Shadduck (Meshoppen/Elk Lake) posted season highs in both points (15) and rebounds (12), while rookie Allison Hall (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) tied the school record for free throws made in a game after making 13-of-14 in the win.  The Lady Eagles improve to 6-7 overall.
            Lock Haven got off to a slow start, falling behind 16-8 before going on a 13-point run to take over the lead, 21-16, at the ten-minute mark.  The lead changed hands four more times before the end of the half, with the Lady Eagles taking a 37-36 advantage into the intermission after a layup by Elizabeth Gabrielle (State College/State College) as time ran out.
            The see-saw battle continued in the second half with six more lead changes.  Cheyney tied up the game at 62-62 with 5:07 remaining.  A free throw and two-point bucket later the Wolves had moved into a 65-62 lead. Kristy Shadduck hit two free throws then Elizabeth Gabrielle made the front half of a two-shot foul to knot the game at 65-65 at 3:56 on the clock. A minute later the Lady Eagles were on the attack again, and persistence on the offensive boards sent Allison Hall (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) to the charity stripe where the freshman hit both for the two point lead. 
            The two teams exchanged a pair of layups, but LHU’s Shadduck was fouled on the way up and completed the three-point play for the 70-67 lead with 2:22 left.  Hall hit 7-of-8 free throws in the final 43 seconds of the game, and the Haven would hold onto the small lead the rest of the way.  The Lady Eagles scored the last six points of the game on a run initiated by two of Hall’s foul shots to close the deal at 81-75. 
            Kristy Shadduck recorded a double-double with season highs of 15 points and 12 rebounds to pace the Lady Eagles. Allison Hall added 17 points, tying the school record for free throws made in a game with 13 (13-14), along with six boards. Elizabeth Gabrielle had 10 points and added five assists.
            Cheyney was led by Tiffany Smith’s 23 points and 11 rebounds.  Ashley Green added 15 points and Latoya Showell had 13 points.
            The Lady Eagles (6-7) open up Western Division competition on Wed., Jan. 14, on the road at Indiana ( Pa. ) University at 6 p.m.

LOCK HAVEN SQUEAKS BY KUTZTOWN, 66-64
Hall's Free Throws With Four Seconds Left Clinch Lady Eagle Win

(Lock Haven, Pa.) – The Lock Haven University women’s basketball team claimed its fifth victory of the season with a 66-64 nailbiter against Kutztown University (2-10).  Lady Eagles Cyndi Crowl (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) and Elizabeth Gabrielle (State College/State College) paired up to lead the way, each scoring a game-high 15 points in the victory to improve to 5-7 on the season.
            The game did not begin as close as it ended, with Kutztown jumping out to score the first eight points then taking a 16-5 lead after six minutes of play. Lock Haven would claw its way back into the game after the slow start, getting to within one point on a jumper by Crowl, 27-26, with 3:24 remaining in the half.  Kutztown broke out a three point lead at 1:33 but a three pointer by Gabrielle with 1:17 to go tied things up at 31-31 for the halftime break.
            Lead changes in the second half came rapidly, as both squads battled to break open the game. The Lady Eagles built a 53-45 lead by 10:19, only to see it fade as the Golden Bears tied the game at 53-53, then took over a three-point lead on a jumper by Brooke Martin with 2:57 remaining. Kristy Shadduck (Meshoppen/Elk Lake ) made one of two from the free throw line to cut the lead to two points, and a bucket from Crowl tied things up at 62-62 at 2:13 .  Melissa Picarsic (Acme/Mt. Pleasant) gave LHU the lead with a mid-range jumper at the two-minute mark, 64-62. Kutztown was forced to foul, sending the Lady Eagles’ Shadduck to the line.  The Haven forward missed both, however, and a subsequent Haven foul on the other end sent Amanda Zinobile to the line. Zinobile made both to tie up the game, 64-64, with 20 seconds to go.
            The Lady Eagles brought the ball up the court and worked it around the arc before Allison Hall (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) drew the foul on a shot attempt underneath the hoop with four seconds left. The freshman guard hit both, and the last second effort by the Golden Bears fell short as LHU took the 66-64 victory.
            Cyndi Crowl and Elizabeth Gabrielle paced the Lady Eagles with 15 points each, Gabrielle’s total including three treys. Allison Hall pitched in with 13 points, including six-for-six from the free throw line.  Ginger Williams ( Pasadena , Md. / Chesapeake ) added seven points and a game-high eight rebounds.
            Jess Brady led Kutztown with 11 points followed up by a 10-point effort by Brooke Martin.
            Lock Haven (4-8) travels to Cheyney University on Sun., Jan. 11, for a 1 p.m. contest. Kutztown opens up PSAC Eastern Division play on Jan. 14 at Mansfield University at 5:30 p.m.  

MANSFIELD RALLIES FOR 78-69 WIN OVER LADY EAGLES

(Lock Haven, Pa.) – A Mansfield rally midway through the second half would seal the win for the visiting Mountaineers (6-8) as they defeated Lock Haven, 78-69, in Thomas Fieldhouse this afternoon. The Lady Eagles are now 4-7 on the season.  
            Mansfield broke open a close game as the first half wore down, going ahead by as much as eight points with 4:43 remaining. Lock Haven had an answer, going on a 15-2 run to close out the half, including six points from Cyndi Crowl (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) and four compliments of Allison Hall (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg), to move into a 38-33 halftime lead.
            The Haven lead held early in the second half of play, and the Lady Eagles grabbed a seven-point advantage on a jumper from Crowl, 50-43, with 13:35 left in the game.  The momentum began to shift, however, on a nine-point run by the Mountaineers sparked by a three-pointer from Stephanie Rieser that ended with a bucket by Alison Tagliaferri for the Mansfield 52-50 lead just two minutes later. Following a tie at 54-54 with 10 minutes remaining, the Mountaineers would assemble their biggest run of the day with 15 unanswered points to tuck the game away.
            In the loss, the Lady Eagles owned a modest 44-39 advantage on the boards which included a 25-7 difference in offensive rebounds. The Haven tallied 17 steals and forced Mansfield into 32 total turnovers while giving up 21 of their own.  The main statistical advantage for Mansfield was its field goal percentage, closing out the game shooting 53.3-percent while LHU hit 31.1-percent of its shots.
            Lock Haven had four players in double figures led by 15 points from Kristy Shadduck (Meshoppen/Elk Lake ). Allison Hall ended with 12 points and six boards, while Cyndi Crowl added 13 points.  Melissa Picarsic (Acme/Mt. Pleasant) contributed 10 points and nine rebounds.
            Mansfield ’s Jessica Pfeiffer led all scorers with 20 points.  Alison Tagliaferri added 16 points, Stephanie Rieser had 12 points while Rachel Rieder posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards.
            Lock Haven (4-7) will next host Kutztown University on Fri., Jan. 9, at 6 p.m. Mansfield (6-8) next hosts Green Mountain College on Thurs., Jan. 8, at 7 p.m.

HAVEN CAGERS FALL TO NO.-7 RANKED SHAW, 84-57

(Ocean City, Md.) – Despite a spirited second half come-back attempt, the Lock Haven University women’s basketball team was unable to get past No. 7-ranked Shaw University (8-1), falling 84-57 in the final game of the Holiday Hoopla Tournament in Ocean City, Md.  The Lady Eagles are now 4-6 on the season.
                Lock Haven fell behind early, totaling only 15 points in the first half of play. Shaw shot 45.7-percent in the first half, stretching out a 25-point lead for the 40-15 halftime margin. The Lady Eagles would slice the lead to 12 points with 9:52 remaining, but Shaw held off the run and closed out the game with the 84-57 win.
                Shaw’s Kiarsha Curtis led all scorers with 26 points.  Joy Hairston added 17, while both Margiella Mobley and Jessica Hawkins totaled 11 points each.
                Candace Sillers (Lebanon/Lebanon) scored a career best 13 points to lead the Lady Eagles, including three from long range.  Elizabeth Gabrielle (State College/State College) totaled 11 points. Cyndi Crowl (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) added eight points and five boards, while Allison Hall (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) also contributed eight points and five rebounds.
                The Lady Eagles (4-6) will next host Mansfield University on Sat., Jan. 3, at 1 p.m. 

###LHU###

LADY EAGLES BACK ON TRACK WITH 99-43 VICTORY OVER 
ALBANY COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

(Ocean City, Md.) – The Lock Haven University women’s basketball team scored a season-high 99 points as they rolled to a 99-43 victory over Albany College of Pharmacy (8-3) in the first day of the Holiday Hoopla Tournament in Ocean City, Md.  The Lady Eagles, now 4-5 overall, snapped a four-game losing streak while also setting a new season high with 27 steals on the game.
                Lock Haven had 12 players score and shot 55.9-percent as a team in the overwhelming victory.  The Lady Eagles had held Albany to 18 first-half points while they poured in 56 to extend a sizeable lead.  On the game, LHU out-rebounded Albany 40-24 and posted 27 steals as it forced the Panthers into 40 total turnovers.
                The Lady Eagles were led by 17 points from Cyndi Crowl (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg), who shot 8-for-10 from the floor including the Haven’s only three-point basket.  Kendra Tribue (York/York Suburban) added 14 points and six steals, Amanda Jones (Middletown/Middletown) had 13 points and Kristy Shadduck (Meshoppen/Elk Lake) totaled 11 points. Ginger Williams (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) added nine points and six steals while point guard Elizabeth Gabrielle (State College/State College) distributed 10 assists.
                Lock Haven (4-5) will face No. 7-ranked Shaw University in the second day of the tournament, Sun., Dec. 28, at 5 p.m.

LHU FALLS, 71-69, IN DOWN TO WIRE CONTEST AGAINST SAGINAW VALLEY

(Lock Haven, Pa.) – The Lady Eagles entered today’s home game against Saginaw Valley State University (9-3) looking to snap a three-game losing streak, but were instead forced to accept a 71-69 down-to-the-wire loss.  The loss puts Lock Haven at 3-5 on the season.
            A close first half ended with Saginaw Valley ahead by one point, 33-32.  As the second half opened, the Cardinals moved out to a quick four-point advantage with a three-point play by Jennifer Hagstrom, 36-32. Cyndi Crowl (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) answered immediately with one of her two three pointers at the other end, cutting the lead back to only one tally.  
            The Haven would push out into a five-point lead, 50-45, almost midway through, but Saginaw Valley answered and regained control. The Lady Eagles responded with yet another run, the lead bouncing back to Lock Haven at 5:18 , 62-61, before stretching out another five-point lead, 67-62, with 3:17 remaining. Two straight jumpers from the Cardinals shrank the lead to one point however, 67-66.  A jumper from Jessica Wilson followed, giving the visitors the upper-hand, 68-67. A pair of made free throws from Lisa Collison bumped up the lead to three points, 70-67, with 22 seconds left.  
            The Lady Eagles brought the ball down the court, and with just 11 seconds remaining, a layup by LHU’s Ginger Williams ( Pasadena , Md. / Chesapeake ) made it a one-point game.  With the Haven forced to foul, the Cardinals’ Sara Bilunes made the second half of a double bonus attempt to bring the score to 71-69.  A last chance effort by the Lady Eagles was off-the-mark, as the Cardinals grabbed the victory.
            Saginaw Valley ’s Valerie Smith posted a 20 point, 17 rebound effort to lead the Cardinals. Jennifer Hagstrom added 17 points and six boards, while Jennifer Brogger added 11 tallies.
            Forward Melissa Picarsic (Acme/Mt. Pleasant) led the LHU effort with 14 points along with five rebounds, while both Allison Hall (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) and Cyndi Crowl added 12 points.  Point guard Elizabeth Gabrielle (State College/State College) distributed a career high of nine assists and had five points in the loss.
            Lock Haven (3-5) will next travel for the Ocean City Tournament from Dec. 27-28, where they will face Albany College of Pharmacy and No. 7-ranked Shaw University .  Saginaw Valley (9-3) will next be home to take on Mercyhurst College on Jan. 8.

###LHU###

WEST CHESTER SHUTS DOWN LADY EAGLES, 71-58

(Lock Haven, Pa.) – For the second straight evening, the Lock Haven University (3-4) women’s basketball team saw a halftime lead evaporated, with West Chester University (2-6) riding a 36 point, 13 rebound effort from Kiesha Mack for the 71-58 victory tonight in Thomas Fieldhouse.
            The Lady Eagles controlled much of the first half and did damage with points in the paint, leading by as much as nine points before entering the lockerroom at the break with a seven point, 35-28, advantage.  Post player Melissa Picarsic (Acme/Mt. Pleasant) paced the early effort with 10 points and six boards, while West Chester ’s Mack had already accounted for 12 points.
            Into the second half, the Golden Rams would engineer a 17-point run including three of Mack’s six long range jumpers to careen out into a 51-45 lead with 11:23 remaining. West Chester added to that advantage late on free throws, taking the eventual 71-58 victory.
            West Chester held a 53-44 advantage on the boards and posted its highest points total this season with 71 tallies.  Mack’s 36 points was a season high, and her 13 rebounds also tied the team’s 2003 best.  Elise McCloy also totaled a double-double, adding 11 points and 10 boards. Shauna Palmer chipped in with nine points, five boards and four steals.
            For Lock Haven, Picarsic led the way for the first time this season, pouring in 16 points and coming down with a season high of 12 rebounds.  Allison Hall (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) and Cyndi Crowl (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) both contributed nine points, Hall adding eight rebounds.  
            The Lady Eagles (3-4) will host Saginaw Valley State University on Mon., Dec. 22, at 1 p.m.   West Chester (2-6) next hosts Clarion University on Fri., Jan. 3, at 1 p.m.

###LHU###

'VILLE SCORES COME-FROM-BEHIND VICTORY OVER LADY EAGLES, 71-65

(Lock Haven, Pa. ) – Millersville University (4-4) used a strong second-half scoring burst and a season-high 21 points from Destinne Parker-Stewart to come from behind and hand Lock Haven University (3-3) the 71-65 loss in PSAC crossover competition this evening.          
            The Haven opened up the game with the hot shooting touch, knocking down 64-percent from the floor to move out into a 40-28 lead by the close of the half.  Freshman guard Allison Hall (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) paced the first-half effort with 11 points, while guard Cyndi Crowl (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) and forward Melissa Picarsic (Acme/Mt. Pleasant) each added nine tallies.
            A swing in momentum became immediately evident as the second half got underway, as Millersville assembled a 12-point run, including four points from Joni Mertz, to knot the game at 40-40. The Lady Eagles would finally answer after four scoreless minutes and regain the lead but a jumper and two made free throws by Parker-Stewart gave the lead back to the Marauders for good.  Millersville held the lead from the 14:08 mark, and cut short a Haven run near the end of regulation sealed with four made free throws from Mertz.
            The Marauders closed out the game shooting 40.3-percent from the field and owning a sizeable rebounding margin of 46-29. Parker-Stewart registered her season-high of 21 points along with 10 boards for the double-double.  Forward Kristy Garner also posted a double-double, adding 15 points and 13 boards. Mertz contributed 10 points and five assists, including a 6-for-6 tally from the free throw line.
            Lock Haven had four players in double figures led by 15 from Crowl.  Hall ended the game with 13 points and a team-best six rebounds.  Picarsic had 11 total points, while point guard Elizabeth Gabrielle (State College/State College) totaled 10 points, six assists and three steals in the loss.
            The Lady Eagles, now 3-3, will host West Chester University tomorrow, Thurs., Dec. 18, at 6 p.m. Millersville (4-4) will next be in action at the Mustang Classic in Phoenix , Ariz. , from Dec. 29-30.  

###LHU###

LADY EAGLES FALL IN CLOSE 76-71 BATTLE AGAINST BLOOMSBURG

(Bloomsburg, Pa.) – The Lock Haven University women’s basketball team was on the road at Bloomsburg University (4-2) this afternoon, falling 76-71 in a close battle versus the Huskies. The Lady Eagles are now 3-2 on the season.
            The Lady Eagles found themselves down by as many as nine points to the Huskies in the opening half but chipped away until they had tied things up at 21-21 on a made free throw by Cyndi Crowl (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg). Crowl made her second attempt from the free throw line to give LHU the one-point lead with 8:19 left in the half. Six lead changes later, the Haven regained the lead on a layup by Allison Hall (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg), then added two more on a pair of free throws from Crowl for the 36-33 advantage at the intermission.
            The second half would belong to Bloomsburg, however, as the Huskies took over the lead for good at 16:50 .  A late effort from the Lady Eagles sliced a 10-point Bloomsburg lead to just three before two free throws by the Huskies wrapped up the game at 76-61 in favor of the home team.
            Elizabeth Gabrielle (State College/State College) was the high scorer for the Lady Eagles, pocketing 20 points including four three-pointers, and also added six assists and three steals. Cyndi Crowl had 19 points, six boards and five assists.  Both Allison Hall and Melissa Picarsic (Acme/Mt. Pleasant) added seven points each.
            Bloomsburg was led by a 22 point-12 rebound effort from Jamie Kauczka.  Dominque Deveaux and Michelle Albanese each added 17 points.
            The Lock Haven women’s basketball team will next host Millersville University on Wed., Dec. 17, at 6 p.m.

###LHU###

LHU WINS THIRD STRAIGHT IN 72-64 DECISION OVER EAST STROUDSBURG 

(East Stroudsburg, Pa.) – The Lock Haven University women’s basketball team improved to 3-1 overall with a 72-64 victory on the road at East Stroudsburg University (2-3) this evening.  The Lady Eagles shot 43.5-percent from the floor and three players hit double-figure scoring to record the PSAC cross-over win.
            East Stroudsburg jumped out to an early lead, holding an advantage as large as nine points at the 15:34 mark of the first half.  Lock Haven chipped away, however, tying the score at 18-18 just five minutes later. A three-pointer by senior guard Cyndi Crowl (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) at 9:21 gave the Lady Eagles the three-point advantage and LHU never looked back, maintaining that lead the rest of the way.  Up 33-28 by the intermission, The Haven fought off several Warrior surges but came out on top by the final 72-64 margin.
            Freshman guard Allison Hall (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) led the Lady Eagles with 19 points and also chipped in with six boards.  Crowl had 13 points and four rebounds, while freshman point guard Elizabeth Gabrielle (State College/State College) added 12 points, four assists and four boards.  In the paint, forward Melissa Picarsic (Acme/Mt. Pleasant) grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds and was just one point away from a double-double with nine points.  
            The Lady Eagle basketball team next travels to Bloomsburg University for PSAC cross-over action on Sat., Dec. 6, at 1 p.m.

###LHU###

LHU WINS CAROL ECKMAN CLASSIC TITLE WITH 
76-68 VICTORY OVER DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Goldey-Beacom Defeats Saint Paul's, 50-48, in Consolation Game

(Box score -- Consolation Championship: Goldey-Beacom 50, Saint Paul's 48)

(Lock Haven, Pa.) – The Lock Haven University women’s basketball team (2-1) captured its second-straight Carol Eckman Classic title, scoring a 76-68 victory over the University of the District of Columbia in the championship game today in Thomas Fieldhouse.  Goldey-Beacom College won the tournament’s consolation game, grabbing a slim 50-48 victory over Saint Paul’s College.
            The Haven held a six point lead by the close of the first half of the championship match-up with the UDC Firebirds, Cyndi Crowl (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) and Melissa Picarsic (Acme/Mt. Pleasant) pacing the Lady Eagles with 11 and 10 points, respectively.  
            The Firebirds slowly chipped away at a lead that had extended itself to nine points early in the second half, reaching a 58-58 tie with 7:35 remaining.  Four lead changes later, Lock Haven regained control on a jumper by freshman point guard Elizabeth Gabrielle (State College/State College).  Crowl gave the Lady Eagles a bigger cushion to work with, hitting a three-pointer then following up with a three-point play. Just over a minute later, Crowl added two free throws to make the score 74-65.  Gabrielle made another two free throws with just three seconds remaining in the game to bring the final margin to 76-68.
            Five Lady Eagles reached double-figure scoring led by 21 points from Cyndi Crowl. Picarsic had 14 points, while both Allison Hall (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) and Amanda Jones (Middletown/Middletown) added 12 points.  Gabrielle had 10 points and also registered eight assists and six steals.
            The District of Columbia’s Jaime Brown, who was named the tournament MVP, had 21 points, nine rebounds and five steals to lead the Firebirds. Ti-Nisha Towsend added 14 points and Keir Dragon had 13 points and 10 boards.        
            In the consolation game, Goldey-Beacom College earned a 50-48 win over Saint Paul’s College.  Saint Paul’s held a one-point advantage at the half, 25-24, but the Lightning of GBC fought back in the second half  to leave with the win.  The Tigers had owned the lead for almost all of the second half, a free-throw by Goldey-Beacom’s Brianna Maloney at 1:28 tying up the game at 48-48. A missed shot at the other end and the rebound by Maloney gave the Lightning the chance to take the lead. Capitalizing on the possession, forward Kim Rowley made the short jumper at 0:54 and the Lightning would hold on to their 50-48 lead until the final buzzer.
            GBC’s Maloney led the team with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Saint Paul’s Quisannah Noel led all scorers with 17 points.
            The Carol Eckman Classic Most Valuable Player was the District of Columbia’s Jaime Brown.  All-Tournament Team members included: Brianne Maloney (GBC), Kim Rowley (GBC), Ti-Nisha Towsend (UDC), Cyndi Crowl (LHU) and Elizabeth Gabrielle (LHU). 

###LHU###

LADY EAGLES WILL PLAY FOR CAROL ECKMAN CLASSIC TITLE 
AFTER 78-38 WIN OVER GOLDEY-BEACOM
District of Columbia Defeats Saint Paul ’s in Other First Round Contest 

(Box score -- District of Columbia 74, Saint Paul's 67)

(Lock Haven, Pa. ) – The Lock Haven University women’s basketball team (1-1) scored a decisive 78-38 victory over Goldey-Beacom College (0-1) in the opening round of the Carol Eckman Classic to advance to the championship game on Sunday, Nov. 23.   The Lady Eagles held several statistical advantages over the Lightning, holding them to only 15 first-half points and 27-percent shooting as well as a 51-32 rebound advantage.  In the second opening round contest, the University of the District of Columbia defeated Saint Paul ’s College, 74-67.
            Lock Haven’s Allison Hall (Hollidaysburg/Hollidaysburg) and Alex Benshaw (Williamsport/Williamsport) were both in double figures by halftime, Hall posting 11 and Benshaw with 10 points.  On the game, Hall closed with 14 points and Benshaw had 10 points and six boards.  Four Lady Eagles scored in double digits before the game’s end, with Hall and Cyndi Crowl (Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg) leading the way with 14 points.  Amanda Jones (Middletown/Middletown) registered 13 points and six boards.
            Goldey-Beacom’s Kim Rowley led all scorers with 15 points in addition to a game-high eight rebounds.  Brianna Maloney added 11 points. 
            In the other first-round contest, a 20-point halftime advantage for the University of the District of Columbia (2-1) was enough to withstand a comeback attempt by Saint Paul ’s College (0-2), as the Lady Firebirds earned the trip to the championship game with a 74-67 win.
            The Firebirds had eight players scoring with guard Jaime Brown pacing the squad with 23 points, including 16 in the first half.  Forward Ronke Adedoyin added 15 points and 11 rebounds, while guard Ti-Nisha Towsend posted 10 points and five assists.  Latoya Jenkins totaled nine points and distributed six assists.
            The Tigers of Saint Paul’s recorded nine three-point field goals over the stretch, including six in the second half.  Quisannah Noel had four of those long-range shots, leading all scorers with 24 ponts in addition to nine boards and six assists.  India Elliott also registered four treys for 12 points.  LaQuanda Rouse scored the double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds.
            The consolation game of the Carol Eckman Classic will pit Saint Paul ’s College (0-2) against Goldey-Beacom College (0-1) at 1 p.m.   Defending Eckman Classic champion Lock Haven (1-1) will look to make it two in a row, as the Lady Eagles take on the University of the District of Columbia (2-1) at 3 p.m.