Warriors Defeat Huskies in PSAC Tourney

Rebecca Rutkowski shoots against Bloomsburg. Photo Credit / Lance Soodeen Rebecca Rutkowski shoots against Bloomsburg. Photo Credit / Lance Soodeen
Rebecca Rutkowski shoots against Bloomsburg. Photo Credit / Lance Soodeen
Rebecca Rutkowski shoots against Bloomsburg.
Photo Credit / Lance Soodeen

By Anthony Fabrikant
Staff Writer

ESU’s women’s basketball team dominated overtime in their first round matchup against the Bloomsburg University Huskies in front of a rowdy crowd at Koehler Fieldhouse on Saturday.

Rebecca Rutkowski struggled in the first half as she quickly accumulated two personal fouls and contributed three points and three rebounds.

Rutkowski would explode in the second half for the Warriors and finished with the game’s lone double-double (fourteen points, eleven rebounds) in the Warriors’ 79-69 victory.

Rutkowski’s play (four blocks) was a symbolic performance for the Warriors as their offense continuously fed off of the momentum from their promising defensive play.

The pressure and disruption displayed by the Warriors prevented the Huskies from getting into any form of a rhythm as they were only able to shoot 41.7 percent from the field and 70 percent from the free throw line.

At no point in the game was the importance of good free-throw shooting more evident than overtime where the Warriors were able to pull away by hitting all six of their free throw attempts.

Overall, the Warriors shot 82.4 percent from the free throw line, only missing three of their attempts throughout the game.

The Huskies shot only 70 percent, missing six of their own attempts.

Bloomsburg’s bright spot of the game did not come until the waning minutes of the contest in the fourth quarter.

Alyssa Mack’s seventeen points and ability to hit long three-pointers kept the Huskies in the game and spurred a late rally that resulted in the Huskies scoring the final eight points of regulation and sending the game to overtime.

Adreana Sadowski was a key contributor for the Huskies as she added 15 points, nine rebounds, four blocks, and three assists.

Imani Brown hit some crucial shots for the Warriors and finished with twenty-two points while Allison Howard added twenty points to lead the Warriors’ offensive attack and punch their tickets to the PSAC Quarterfinals.

Tyeca Reviere added eleven points. She was also the catalyst of the offense and found open players on the floor while tallying seven assists.

Reviere’s play showcased her experience and invaluable court-vision.

The victory pits the PSAC East fourth seed Warriors against the PSAC East top seed West Chester University Golden Rams on Tuesday evening.

Email Anthony at:
afabrikant@live.esu.edu