Women’s Basketball Routs LHU

Senior forward #25 Allison Howard returns, and the team could not be happier. Photo Credit / Ronald Hanaki Senior forward #25 Allison Howard returns, and the team could not be happier. Photo Credit / Ronald Hanaki
Senior forward #25 Allison Howard returns, and the team could not be happier. Photo Credit / Ronald Hanaki
Senior forward #25 Allison Howard returns, and the team could not be happier.
Photo Credit / Ronald Hanaki

By Ronald Hanaki
Sports Editor

On Saturday, Jan. 28, ESU’s Women’s Basketball team beat the Lock Haven University Bald Eagles 64-45 at Thomas Fieldhouse in Lock Haven, Pa.

This game was an almost wire-to-wire win for ESU, but it was significant because it marked the return of senior forward Allison Howard, who had missed the previous four games due to injury.

Howard played 15 minutes, scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds in limited play.

Howard’s return inspired the Warriors because they came out of the locker room ready to play. ESU took an early 19-14 lead after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Warriors outscored the Bald Eagles 14-4 to take a decisive 33-18 lead into halftime.

It was a cleanly-played first half as the half was over within 30 minutes.

The Warriors never allowed the Bald Eagles to get close in the second half. ESU outscored LHU 31-27 for the rest of the game on their way to a routine 64-45 win.

The Warriors were led in scoring by junior guard Imani Brown. The Lake Hopatcong, N.J. native had 16 points and eight rebounds in the win.

On Monday, Brown was named PSAC Women’s Basketball Eastern Division Athlete of the Week.

Brown’s last two games have been outstanding. In the previous game against Mansfield, Brown had 11 points and 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the season.

Senior guard Courtney Brown came off the bench to score 11 points against Lock Haven.

Senior forward Rachel Falkowski had eight points, and sophomore guard Ann McKnight came off the bench to dish out four assists.

ESU’s bench play was a big reason why the Warriors beat the Bald Eagles. ESU’s bench outscored Lock Haven’s bench 28-12.

Overall, the Warriors shot 39.7 percent from the field. In contrast, ESU’s tough defense held the Bald Eagles to just 28.1 percent from the field for the entire game.

The Warriors return to action against the Millersville University Marauders in an Alumni Game Saturday afternoon at Koehler Fieldhouse.

Email Ronald at:
rhanaki@live.esu.edu