×

Bald Eagle women win on Senior Day over WCU

LOCK HAVEN — The basic philosophy of Lock Haven University women’s basketball coach is “give me your best effort and whatever you do, don’t quit.”

Down at times, but never out, the Lady Eagles were as tough as nails down the stretch as they posted a 62-57 win over West Chester on Senior Day on Saturday afternoon.

While the final score of the women’s game between was a 5-point victory for LHU, it was all about the seniors as the Lady Eagles honored the four seniors: Lysa Mealing, Sydney Morse, Mackenzie Livingston and Emily James.

Mealing was a double-double machine during her senior year, leading the NCAA Division III in rebounding last season. Going into Saturday’s game, Mealing once again was high in the ranks in both scoring and rebounding.

“We have been in a little bit of a rut, but today everyone came together and played selfless basketball,” said Mealing. “We just like to make our coaches a little nervous and if everyone was on board, I knew we could pull it out and we did.”

After a solid season one year ago, Livingston was hoping to be one of the stalwarts of the Lady Eagles, but in the third game of the season against Indiana (Pa.), Livingston was headed down the court when she fell in a heap and had to be led from the court.

Unfortunately for her, the injury was of the season-ending variety, but she has since indicated that she will return for the 2017-18 season.

“I decided that I was coming back the day I found out that I broke my leg,” said Livingston. “I only played three games and that is when I decided I wasn’t going to go out like that. It was so difficult sitting on the bench watching my teammates out there because I wanted to be out there helping them out. Overall they just did a tremendous job.”

“Mac doesn’t want to go out the way this year went for her,” said Smith. “It is really important for her to get back and go out the way she wanted to go out. She transferred in and battled through some injuries and you aren’t going to find a kid who works harder than she does.”

Listed as a redshirt junior, James has one more year of eligibility remaining, but at the present time, she is undecided as to whether or not she will return next season. On the other hand, Morse doesn’t have that choice to make as her eligibility has been burned and her career is over.

After playing through four ties and a pair of lead changes, the Lady Eagles took a 19-13 lead at the end of the first period on buzzer-beating trey by Rileigh Devine.

Although Lock Haven led for most of the second, the Rams closed the gap until they led by as many as four before LHU cut its deficit to 29-27 at the half.

Lock Haven fell behind by ten, 45-35, in the third before rallying back and cutting the West Chester lead to 51-47 heading into the fourth.

“That shows a lot of heart when you come back from ten down in the fourth quarter,” said Smith. “We can be a really good team if we just focus and follow our game plan. We always preach to our kids to never give up and they certainly didn’t do that today.”

The Lady Eagles began the fourth quarter with a spark, going on a 7-0 run for a 54-41 lead and held on the rest of the way.

As she had so many times, Mealing led Lock Haven to the win with yet another double-double with 17 points and 12 boards. Narrowly missing a double-double of her own was Kayla Henderson with eight boards and 12 points.

“I really pushed her this year to score more points instead of just focusing on her rebounding,” said Smith. “She has been putting together double-doubles night after night and she really needed to finish out like this.”

West Chester (9-15, 9-11 PSAC)

Porscha Speller 5-18 4-6 17; Rylee Power 3-4 2-2 9; Mariah Traywick 3-12 1-2 7; Jenna Widdicombe 1-10 4-4 6; Gabrielle Troisi 2-5 0-2 6; Katherine Fisher 2-2 0-0 5; Tori Smick 1-6 2-4 4; Alexis Anderson 1-7 1-2 3. Totals 18-64 14-22 57.

Lock Haven (9-15, 6-14 PSAC)

Lysa Mealing 7-13 3-4 17; Kayla Henderson 4-9 4-4 12; Maimuna Kenneh 3-4 3-3 9; Rileigh Devine 2-8 2-2 8; Emily James 1-4 2-2 5; A. McGill-Jefferson 0-2 4-4 4; Madison McHale 0-4 3-4 3; A. Dombrowski 1-1 0-0 2; Becca Reilly 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 19-47 21-23 62.

West Chester 13 16 22 6 — 57

Lock Haven 19 8 20 15 — 62

3-point goals: WCU 7-18 (Speller 3-9; Troisi 2-2; Power 1-1; Fisher 1-1; Anderson 0-5), LHU 3-16 (Devine 2-7; James 1-3; McHale 0-3; Reilly 0-1; Henderson 0-1; Mealing 0-1). Fouled out: WCU-none, LHU-none. Rebounds: WCU 36 (Traywick 7), LHU 43 (Mealing 12). Assists: WCU 10 (Speller 4), LHU 5 (McHale 2). Total fouls: WCU 18, LHU 16. Technical fouls: WCU-none, LHU-none. A: 374.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today