WBB: No. 1 seed Lock Haven starts PSAC playoff push with 65-51 win; Haven to host Semifinals Saturday
LOCK HAVEN– The No. 1 seed and nationally-ranked Lock Haven women’s basketball team opened its 2024 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament run with a hard-fought 65-51 win over No. 4 seed Millersville University (13-17) tonight in front of an electric Thomas Fieldhouse crowd.
With the win, the nationally ranked No. 22/13 Bald Eagles improved to 27-2 on the season and remain perfect on the home court at 14-0.
For Lock Haven, it marked the first PSAC Quarterfinal win in 33 years and it will mark the Bald Eagles first trip to the PSAC Semifinals since that same 1990-91 season.
The 27 wins are the most ever in a single season for Lock Haven.
Standouts Alana Robinson (Rockaway, N.J./Pope John Paul II) and Jenadia Jordan (York, Pa./Linden Hall) once again powered the gritty Lock Haven effort.
Robinson’s monster stat line headlined the game as she finished with 22 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high eight blocks.
Jordan, who took the game over in the second half, netted 20 points, grabbed nine rebounds while adding three assists and three steals.
Madeline Evans (Bloomsburg, Pa./Bloomsburg) added six points and eight rebounds, while Taylor Leidy (Alexandria, Pa./Juniata Valley) chipped in with seven points.
Rhlyn Rouse (York, Pa./York Tech) and Olivia Smith (Alexandria, Pa./Juniata Valley) finished with eight and seven rebounds, respectively.
Lock Haven’s dominance on the glass led to a lopsided 54-38 advantage in rebounds and 18-4 in second-chance points to soar to victory.
The Bald Eagles’ defense forced 14 turnovers and Lock Haven shot 75 percent from the charity stripe, knocking down 18-of-24 free-throw shots.
Lock Haven got off to a hot start and led 16-7 after the first quarter. The Bald Eagle lead was 10 at halftime as The Haven led, 30-20.
After a tight third quarter, the Bald Eagles pulled away in the fourth. Lock Haven hit a pair of 3’s in the fourth and 19 total points fueled the victory.
The victory pushed Lock Haven into the PSAC semifinals for the first time in over three decades, and the Bald Eagles will take on California (Pa.) on Saturday, March 9 at home in Thomas Fieldhouse.
Updated NCAA Division II Regional Rankings:
Earlier today, the NCAA released the updated Division II Atlantic Region rankings and Lock Haven remained at No. 4 in the region, which helps them push one step closer to a berth in the 2024 NCA Division II National Championship Tournament. The full updated rankings can be found at NCAA.com.
Up Next for Lock Haven:
As the top remaining seed at No. 1 from the PSAC Eastern Division, Lock Haven will host the remainder of the 2024 PSAC Women’s Basketball Tournament. The Bald Eagles will take on California (Pa.), the No. 3 seed from the Western Division, at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 9 in Thomas Fieldhouse.
Lock Haven’s Thomas Fieldhouse also host Semifinal No. 1, which will feature No. 1 seed (West) Gannon and No. 2 seed (East) West Chester. The Gannon – West Chester game will tip at 1 p.m. Saturday. Sunday’s PSAC Championship game is set for 3 p.m. in The Haven’s Thomas Fieldhouse.
