LHU Women’s Basketball takes down Bloomsburg, advances to PSAC Final Four
LOCK HAVEN– The Lock Haven women’s basketball team is headed back to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship Final Four for the second consecutive year after defeating visiting Bloomsburg 70-64 in the quarterfinal in front of a packed crowd at Thomas Fieldhouse on Wednesday night.
Lock Haven (20-8 overall) is set to advance to the PSAC Final Four for the second straight season and will also be seeking its second consecutive championship game appearance on Saturday afternoon.
The Haven will travel to the Western Division’s top-seed Edinboro on Saturday (March 8).
In her Bald Eagle playoff debut, grad transfer Kiera Baughman scored a game-high 27 points and pulled in seven rebounds to lead the way. Baughman knocked down 10-of-10 shots at the line and 3-of-6 attempts from behind the arch.
Jenadia Jordan finished with 16 points and went 7-of-9 at the foul line, while Rhlyn Rouse powered the second unit with a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double.
Jordan and Baughman both dished out three assists.
Madeline Evans chipped in nine rebounds and five points, while Alana Robinson added seven rebounds and six points.
Lock Haven held a 28-7 advantage in free-throw makes, while leading 16-3 in offensive rebounds. After knocking down just four free throws in the first half, the Bald Eagles converted on 16 in the second half.
In the first quarter, both teams came out of the gates with high intensity and were deadlocked at 10-10 through the midway point. Jordan took over the closing five minutes of the period and scored five of Lock Haven’s next seven points to put the Bald Eagles ahead 17-13 after one.
The Haven extended its lead to 19-13 to open the second quarter, but Bloomsburg (18-12 overall) caught fire on offense and outscored the Bald Eagles 15-6 over the ensuing five minutes to go on top 28-25.
Baughman went coast-to-coast after picking off a Bloomsburg pass to cut Lock Haven’s deficit to 28-27 heading into the break. Baughman lead all scorers with 10 points at the half.
The Thomas Fieldhouse crowd came alive in the third period and Lock Haven responded. The Bald Eagles turned up the pressure on both ends of the court, leading to transition opportunities and trips to the foul line. The Bald Eagles outscored Bloomsburg 18-15 in the third quarter to take a 45-43 lead into the final period.
In closing time, the Bald Eagles continued to take advantage of trips to the foul line and outscored Bloom 12-5 through the opening four minutes to take a double-digit lead.
Lock Haven didn’t look back from there and never allowed the Huskies within two scores the rest of the way to close out the victory. The Haven scored a game-high 25 points in the fourth quarter.
Earlier today, the NCAA announced the DII Atlantic Region rankings and Lock Haven came in at No. 10. The top-8 teams in the region earn a berth to the NCAA Tournament. With the victory the Bald Eagles remain alive in the hunt for March Madness.
