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Bald Eagles avenge earlier 31-point loss

LOCK HAVEN — After dropping a 31-point loss to Shippensburg in the first meeting a month ago, the Lock Haven University women’s basketball team had a message to deliver to the Red Raiders.

Playing arguably their best game of the year, the Bald Eagles played a total team game as they took care of business by beating the Red Raiders, 76-65, on Saturday at Thomas Fieldhouse.

“All the way around, it was really a good team win for us,” said Lock Haven coach Jennifer Smith. “We tend to play better at home than on the road so when someone comes into our house, we know we have to take care of business.”

After opening the game with a pair of lead changes and four ties the Red Raiders scored the final four points of the period for a 16-13 lead.

That is when the Bald Eagles put their transition game in motion as they opened the second period on a 7-2 run for a 20-18 lead.

Playing with good intensity on both ends of the floor, LHU combined defense with its rapid transition game to take a 32-27 lead at the half.

The good defense was evident in holding Shippensburg to 34 percent shooting while out-rebounding the Red Raiders, 22-17.

Lock Haven came out strong after the break to open up a 10-point lead, but Shippensburg responded to the challenge as they tied the game at 45-all before the Bald Eagles took a 49-45 lead at the turn for home.

“We talked at halftime that we needed to separate ourselves from them. That is one area that we have struggled with in the past,” said Smith. “We talked about getting off to a good start and they really took that to heart and did a really good job with it.”

Not to let the Red Raiders back in the game, Lock Haven opened up a 68-55 lead with three minutes left and never looked back.

Maybe the key to the win was the total team effort by Lock Haven. Offensively they had four players in double figures with Rileigh Devine leading the way with 16 points.

“I think that is a product of the new style of play we are working with,” said Smith. “When you go fast and are getting up a ton of shots the ball should be distributed around. Hopefully going forward we can see more of that.”

Joining Devine were Bink Redman and Kayla Henderson with 14 points each, while Mackenzie Livingston added 13.

Although the smallest player on the floor, Redman turned in her second double-double in a row, adding 11 boards to her 14 points.

“I think she is getting more and more comfortable playing at the college level,” said Smith. “She is getting more and more confident in her game and she plays just so hard. If you asked her to, she would try to run through a brick wall. It is just great to see her succeeding.”

Redman feels it is just her playing with a lot of enthusiasm and a big heart as well.

“My high school coach always told me that it isn’t the size of the player, but the size of the player’s heart,” said Redman. “I believe in myself that I can up and get the rebounds as well as handle the ball.”

As for the improvement, it comes down to the Bald Eagles coming together as a team.

“At the beginning of the year, we just weren’t ready to play as a team,” said Redman. “As time went past, that all changed and now we know what we need to do, who needs to shoot shots and right now, we are just playing as a team. I love playing with these girls.”

LHU 76, Shippensburg 65

Shippensburg (5-18, 4-13 PSAC)

Kryshell Gordy 8-10 3-6 19; Kasey Engle 7-9 2-2 16; Lili Benzel 5-13 0-0 13; Kristin McGeough 2-9 2-2 6; Victoria Blackburn 0-7 5-5 5; Ariel Jones 1-9 1-2 4; Jazzie Orth 1-5 0-0 2; Gabriela Blackburn 0-0 0-0 0; Ireland Pelletier 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-62 13-17 65.

Lock Haven (5-17, 4-14 PSAC)

Rileigh Devine 6-15 1-2 16; Kayla Henderson 5-8 2-4 14; Bink Redman 5-9 4-8 14; Mackenzie Livingston 5-9 2-4 13; Ahnera Parker 4-11 0-0 8; J. Shelton-Burleigh 3-5 0-0 6; Jordyn Kloster 1-4 2-2 5; Becca Reilly 0-2 0-0 0; Annie Dombrowski 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 29-65 11-20 76.

Shippensburg 16 11 18 20 — 65

Lock Haven 13 19 17 27 — 76

3-point goals: Shippensburg 4-17 (Benzel 3-7; Jones 1-6; V. Blackburn 0-3; Engle 0-1), Lock Haven 7-20 (Devine 3-9; Henderson 2-3; Kloster 1-2; Livingston 1-2; Reilly 0-2; Shelton-Burleigh 0-1; Parker 0-1). Fouled out: Shippensburg-none, Lock Haven-none. Rebounds: Shippensburg 35 (McGeough 10), Lock Haven 43 (Redman 11). Assists: Shippensburg 15 (McGeough 4), Lock Haven 5 (Devine 1; Redman 1; Kloster 1; Reilly 1; Livingston 1). Total fouls: Shippensburg 15, Lock Haven 15. Technical fouls: Shippensburg-none, Lock Haven-none. A: 255.

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