Shippensburg men drop hard-fought PSAC semifinal game to IUP
NDIANA — The Shippensburg University men’s basketball team lost at No. 3 IUP on Saturday, 52-44, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Semifinal game.
Shippensburg (21-9) and IUP (28-2) played within eight points of each other for the entire game. In the first half, IUP built a lead as big as eight, but the Raiders went on a 10-0 run to take a 19-17 lead. SU never regained the lead, as IUP gained a 22-21 halftime advantage.
The second half was filled with close play, and it became two-point game with one minute to play, but the Raiders were unable to create any more offense as IUP closed on a 6-0 run to create the final margin.
Neither team shot above 33 percent in the contest (SU shot 26 percent, IUP shot 33 percent). Shippensburg was held to 17-percent shooting (4-of-23) from three-point range. SU committed just eight turnovers and scored 17 points off 19 IUP turnovers.
The Crimson Hawks, who entered the game with the PSAC’s top scoring defense and field-goal defense and with the conference’s top rebounding margin, finished with a 50-35 advantage on the glass.
Graduate Jake Biss (Latrobe/Greater Latrobe) created a team-high 11 points and added six rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Redshirt junior Rashon Johnson (Philadelphia/Simon Gratz (Highland C.C.)) contributed t0 points, seven rebounds, one assist and a steal.
Junior Carlos Carter (Indiana/Indiana) had eight points, eight rebounds, two steals and an assist. Redshirt junior Dom Sleva (Pittsburgh/Montour) put up eight points, five rebounds, two blocks, two steals and one assist. Senior Kiyon Hardy (Philadelphia,/The Shipley School (Kutztown)) had seven points, two rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
Junior Luke Nedrow (Pittsburgh/Central Catholic (Marist)) played in his first game since January 24, a span of 12 contests, and had 10 minutes of action. Senior Youssef Diabate (Philadelphia/Constitution) and freshman Michael Dunn (Washington,/Trinity) also had 10 minutes off the bench; Dunn had three steals.
IUP got 12 points and five assists from Armani Foster, the PSAC Western Division Athlete of the Year. Tomiwa Sulaiman, the PSAC Western Division Rookie of the Year, had a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds. Dave Morris had nine points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Shippensburg falls to 3-5 in PSAC Semifinal games since 1980. Saturday marked SU’s fifth appearance in the PSAC Semifinals in the last six seasons dating back to 2016.
The Raiders posted their sixth consecutive 20-win season under head coach Chris Fite. Shippensburg has posted a 140-44 record (.761 winning percentage) under Fite’s direction since the start of the 2015-16 season.
Shippensburg’s seniors: Biss, Hardy and Diabate, have a combined total of 257 games and 2,282 points.
California, Pa., downs Shepherd in PSAC women’s basketball semifinals
KUTZTOWN — Ciaira Loyd had 25 points and seven assists to lead California University of Pennsylvania (24-4) to a 78-49 win over Shepherd University (24-7) in semifinal action of the PSAC Women’s Basketball Tournament at Kutztown on Saturday.
Graduate student forward Sydney Clayton (Frederick, Md./St. John’s) led the Rams with 18 points, seven boards, and four steals. Clayton connected on 7-of-16 field goals with a 4-of-5 effort from the free throw line.
Graduate student guard Marley McLaughlin (Haymarket, Va./Battlefield) and junior guard Abby Beeman (Ridgeley, W.Va./Frankfort) each contributed 14 points. Beeman added four assists.
Shauna Harrison had 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Vulcans. Dejah Terrell added 11 points and 13 boards
Cal had a 36-29 lead at halftime.
Shepherd shot 35.9 percent (19-54) from the floor with a 25 percent effort (3-12) from three-point range for the game. The Rams connected on 61.5 percent (16-18) of their free throws.
California hit on 44.6 percent (25-56) from the floor with a 47.1 percent effort (8-17) from three-point range for the game. The Vulcans connected on 87 percent (20-23) of their free throws.
Cal had a 40-29 edge in rebounding. Shepherd forced 17 turnovers and committed 20.
California advanced to Sunday’s championship game. Shepherd awaits word on seeding for NCAA II regional play.
Shepherd lacrosse team defeats Frostburg State
SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.VA. – Sophomore attacker Sam Lassahn (Baltimore/Concordia Prep) scored three goals and graduate student attack Sidney Kelly (Hagerstown, Md./South Hagerstown) added a goal and five assists to lead Shepherd (2-1) to an 11-9 win over Frostburg State (0-4) in women’s lacrosse action Saturday afternoon.
Freshman attacker Kelsey King (Fallston, Md./Concordia Prep) netted a pair of goals for the Rams. Senior attack Katherine Campbell (Montgomery Village, Md./Watkins Mill), senior midfielder Maddison Young (Carlisle/Carlisle), sophomore midfielder Paige Stoner (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright), sophomore midfielder Kaiya Edwards (Brogue/Red Lion), and freshman midfielder Katie Paredes (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) each tallied a goal. Stoner led the Shepherd defense with six caused turnovers.
Anna Kearney led the Bobcats with three goals. Cameron Baldwin and Stephanie King each netted a pair of goals. Baldwin added a match-high six draw controls.
Shepherd had a 7-5 lead at the half.
The Rams return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Wilmington for a 3 p.m. contest.
