West Chester And Kutztown Fall in PSAC-East Sectionals

By Mel Greenberg

Both area teams were eliminated in Division II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference quarterfinal action Tuesday night in the East Division games.

Third-seeded West Chester (20-7) fell at second-seeded Millersville, 70-65, while fourth-seeded Kutztown finished at 15-12 after losing 80-66 at top-seeded Bloomsburg.

The semifinals and finals will be held at Bloomsburg (22-5) with Millersville (22-5) opening at 5:30 p.m. Friday night against Edinboro (24-3), the West top seed, before the Huskies play West three-seed California (Pa.) at 7:30 p.m.

The Vulcans (21-6) pulled the lone upset on the road Monday ending second-seeded Indiana (Pa.)’s season at 19-8 with a 61-51 triumph.

Cal’s Kayla Smith scored 21 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, while shooting 8-of-11 from the field. Amy Johns scored 14 points and Ryah Gadson scored 12.

Edinboro grabbed an easy 75-51 win over fourth-seeded Mercyhurst (15-15), ruining the Lakers’ first ECAC tournament appearance.



The Fighting Scots maintained their season-long balanced attack on offense with Samantha Blazetic and Kiara Brown each scorinfg 15 points.

Raven Metz and Darche' Jackson both scored 12 points.

Here are accounts of both Tuesday games gleamed directly off the websites of West Chester and Kutztown with some Guru editing in the interest of space:

Millersville Subdues West Chester

MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – Megan Stewart and Alex Lennon each scored 14 points, and Allison Hostetter finished with a double-double (11 points, 15 rebounds), but host Millersville outlasted visiting West Chester, 70-65, in a PSAC women’s basketball quarterfinal round matchup inside Pucillo Gym Tuesday evening.

Stewart knocked down a 3-pointer with 4:17 left in the game to draw visiting West Chester into a tie with host Millersville, 60-60. However, the Marauders rang up the next nine points to move out to a comfortable lead.

Aurielle Mosley (18 points, 11 rebounds) converted a layup with four minutes left to give Millersville the lead for good.

Domonique Stroman (12 points) hit a jumper in the lane and Gabrielle Styles (7 points) dropped in a baseline jumper at the 2:24 mark to give the Marauders a 66-60 advantage. All three Millersville baskets followed high percentage shots by West Chester (20-7) that did not fall.

“I think Millersville hit some big time shots down the stretch,” West Chester head coach Deirdre Kane said. “We hung around. We didn’t go anywhere.

“I stayed with the zone because I didn’t want to see the ‘Mashira-dishes-to-Mosley’ show, if I went to a man-to-man.”

Millersville put four players in double figures. Mashira Newman finished with 15 points and Sophia Waters scored 11.

Lennon added seven rebounds and four blocked shots to her 14-point effort, offensively.

Bloomsburg Brings Career Finish To Kutztown Senior Stars

BLOOMSBURG, PA – The curtain has closed on the careers of seniors Melissa McQuade and Meredith Starr as the Kutztown University women's basketball team dropped an 80-66 decision to Bloomsburg University Tuesday night in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Quarterfinal match at Nelson Field House.

The two seniors combined for 25 points and after being subbed out in the final minutes, were found embracing one another in a career-ending hug as current members of the Kutztown women's basketball team. The pair of roommates and best friends off the court have built a bond and chemistry between them over the past four years that finding each other on the court has almost become a task they could do in their sleep.

“Melissa is such a great person to play with and just a great person overall,” said Starr. “On the court, we have figured out where each other are on the floor at all times. Even if I close my eyes I could probably tell you where she is on the floor. I know exactly when she's going to cut, I know exactly when she's going to pass, and I know exactly when she's going to shoot. I couldn't have asked for anything else when coming to KU four years ago.”

McQuade certainly had an outstanding career as she cemented her legacy as arguably the greatest player in Kutztown University women's history. McQuade is Kutztown's all-time leading scorer (1,624 points) and rebounder (973) in program history. In addition to leading the Golden Bears in scoring and rebounding, McQuade is third on the all-time 3-point list with 152, fourth on the all-time steals list with 207, and fifth on the all-time assist list with 342. McQuade has led the Golden Bears in scoring in each of the last three seasons and helped KU to the PSAC playoffs for a third straight year. McQuade has recorded 30 double-doubles, scored in double figures 84 times, and helped the Golden Bears win 65 games during her career.

Looking back over her career, a smile came to McQuade's face that lit up the dimly lit bus on her final road-trip back to KU. She has enjoyed everything that Kutztown offered, both on and off the basketball court.

“It has been awesome and just a great experience,” said McQuade. The teammates I've had over the years have been great. I am going to miss playing at Kutztown so much. I wouldn't trade it for anything.”

This year, McQuade led Kutztown in scoring (16.9 points per game), rebounding (9.0), steals (60), blocked shots (19), and assists (102). A two-time All-PSAC East first team selection, McQuade was named the Lehigh Valley Small College Coaches' Organization Player of the Year this season. She was also named to the Capital One Academic All-America second team and All-District II first team.

The Golden Bears fought to the final whistle against Bloomsburg as they refused to give up and truly left everything on the floor. After being down by as many as 18 early in the second half and 67-53 with 7 minutes, 4 seconds remaining, KU dug in on the defensive end and started the comeback.

Fittingly, McQuade started the run for the Golden Bears with a mid-range jumper and Starr capped off the eventual 10-0 run with a layup of her own to bring the game to four at 67-63 with 4:11 remaining. That toughness and desire to win has carried this year's edition of Kutztown basketball and head women's basketball coach Janet Malouf couldn't be any prouder of her senior class.

“They've done a tremendous job,” said Malouf. Meredith and Melissa are our hardest workers and are also our two best players. Every day at practice was a joy to come to because we knew they were going to give everything they had. I can truly say that they are two of my favorite people and I am looking forward to continuing the relationship and the friendship I have with those two.”

When asked about at their time after KU, it was shocking the similarities between the two scholar-athletes who both hold an impressive 3.94 GPA. Despite the intense eight-hour drive between their hometowns of Pittsburgh and Richmond, VA, both seniors talked about keeping in touch on almost a daily basis with even references to being in each other's weddings.

“She's my best friend,” said Starr. “We weren't roommate's freshman year, but we were basically roommates who lived right next to each other because we were always together with basketball. We have lived together ever since and it has just been great. I know we'll stay in touch after we graduate. She'll probably be in my wedding someday and I can already see us raising each other's kids to be little basketball players.”

Starr also ends her career with impressive numbers. Starr finished her career fifth on the all-time list for made 3-pointers with 107 and third on the all-time assist list with 389. She has scored in double figures 21 times during her career. Starr scored 708 points during her time in the maroon-and-gold.

“Meredith has been the best point guard I have ever played with,” said McQuade. “I always know where she is on the court and where she likes to shoot from, and I'm going to miss having that player to rely on who I am can play with so comfortably.”

KU also lost its third senior Kristen Murray earlier in the year to injury. She had been averaging 9.6 ppg until she went down in KU's first conference game of the season.

In Tuesday’s game, freshman Andrea Sisson led the team with 17 points, including 5-for-9 from 3-point range. Both of which tied her career-highs.Steph Zewe added 11 points for the Golden Bears and led the team with seven rebounds.

The Huskies were led by sophomore Kayla Oxenrider who had a game-high 29 points off 8-for-16 shooting including 5-for-9 from 3-point range. She also made eight free throws. Dana Wieller had 17 points and Kelsey Gallagher added 16 points. Alyssa Flanagan had a game-high nine rebounds.

Swarthmore’s Stockbower A National Finalist
(Courtesy of an email report from the Garnet)

SALEM, Va. - Senior Kathryn Stockbower of the Swarthmore College women's basketball team has been named a finalist for the prestigious Jostens Trophy, the Salem (Va.) Rotary Club announced on Tuesday.

The Jostens Trophy is a national award created by the Rotary Club of Salem, Va., to honor the most outstanding men's and women's Division III basketball players of the year. The award takes into account three vital parts: basketball ability, academic prowess and community service. This year's class marks the 14th year the award has been presented.

Stockbower is aiming to become the second member of the Swarthmore College women's basketball program to win the award; Heather Kile '02 won the coveted trophy in 2002.

The senior captain from Fort Washington, Pa. capped off an illustrious career with a record-breaking final season at the College. For the 2010-11 season, she led the Centennial Conference in rebounding average (12.4 rpg), finished fourth in scoring average (14.8 ppg), fifth in shooting percentage (48%) and 16th in the nation in rebounding average.

During the season, Stockbower broke numerous Swarthmore program records and reached several national and conference milestones. With 83 career doubles-doubles, she is the all-time NCAA Division III leader, breaking the record with her 80th career double-double at Johns Hopkins on February 5. She also became Swarthmore's all-time leading rebounder against Muhlenberg on February 2. She finished the season as Swarthmore's all-time leading rebounder (1,335) and third-leading scorer (1,677), as well as the Centennial Conference's fifth-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder. Stockbower is one of only three players in Centennial Conference history to reach 1,500 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.

A double major in biology and German studies, Stockbower has compiled numerous academic and athletic awards over her career.

Her accolades in the classroom include 2010-11 Capital One Academic All-America and All-District II First Team, 2009-10 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America Third Team, 2009-10 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District II First Team, 2008-09 and 2009-10 Philadelphia Inquirer All-Area Academic All-Star Teams, 2009-10 Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Women's Basketball Player of the Year and 2008-09, 2009-10, and 2010-11 Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll selection.

On the court, Stockbower is one of only two players in Centennial Conference history to be named to the All-Centennial Conference First Team for four seasons (the other is Swarthmore's Kile). Over her career, she has been honored as a 2010-11 D3Hoops.com Second Team Preseason All-American, 2009-10 WBCA All-America Honorable Mention, 2009-10 D3Hoops.com Fourth Team All-American, and 2008-09 Centennial Conference Player of the Year.

A remarkably consistent player over her four-year career, Stockbower scored in double figures in a Centennial Conference record 73 consecutive games and has been named the Centennial Conference Player of the Week seven times for her career.

Holy Family Ranked 15th

The Tigers, heading into this weekend’s showdown in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference women’s, as well as men’s, semifinals and finals at Holy Family, moved up two spots to 15th in Tuesday’s USAToday/ESPN Division II coaches poll while also holding the top spot in the NCAA Division II East region.

Holy Family (22-3) the South Division top seed, will open play at noon Friday against North No. 2 Caldwell (21-5).

Goldey-Beacom (16-11), the South No. 2 will meet North top seed Bloomfield (19-8) at 2 p.m.

The winners will play for the championship at Campus Center in Northeast Philadelphia Saturday at 4 p.m.

-- Mel