Box Score (New/Sortable Format) EDINBORO (Feb. 9, 2013) – The old adage goes that it's not how one starts, but how they finish that really counts. On Saturday, the Edinboro women's basketball team needed a strong start and a strong finish to overcome a furious Lock Haven rally in the middle and hold on for a 69-61 victory at McComb Fieldhouse.
The victory improves the Fighting Scots to 17-4 overall and 14-3 in PSAC play while Lock Haven drops to 6-15, 3-14.
It was a combination of senior
Kiara Brown and freshman Aignee Freeland that put the Boro over the top – Brown netted a game-high 25 points while Freeland had a dominating performance of 15 points and career-high 18 rebounds, 13 of which came during the second half.
It was all Edinboro in the early going with a 16-0 run to begin the game. The Fighting Scots blitzed Lock Haven from the tip as Brown scored the first 10 points in the opening 1:34 of game time before the Lady Eagles attempted to stem the tide with a timeout. The timeout didn't change much, though, as Edinboro stretched its edge to 16 before Lock Haven was finally able to get on the board on a jumper from Sami Lane after six minutes, 38 seconds of game action.
Lauren Hippo converted three shots at the line following a Lock Haven foul and after a pair of misses on both ends and another foul from the visitors, two more shots from the stripe by Freeland gave the Boro a commanding 21-4 advantage.
The Lady Eagles completely erased their deficit before halftime, however, launching into a 33-14 run over the final 12:26 of the half to not only fight back, but take the lead. A 3-pointer from Hannah Gildea with 22 seconds remaining before the break allowed the Lady Eagles to take a 37-35 lead to intermission.
Freeland began what would be a dominating second half by making good on a jumper to tie the game and later added another bucket to give Boro the lead back, 41-39. Lock Haven refused to go away, though, taking the lead again on a basket from Gildea for a 46-44 edge with 14:40 left. It would turn out to be the Eagles' last advantage.
Back-to-back baskets in the post from
Samantha Blazetic swung the lead back to Edinboro, 48-46, though Lock Haven hardly faded. Kacie Hershey's layup with 7:28 tied the game again at 55, but it was Freeland again who answered down low for a shot off the glass and a 57-55 lead with 5:46 left. Fellow freshman
Bobbi Baker scored the game's next three points, including a fast break layup off a steal from Brown for a 60-55 lead. Hershey scored another basket to trim the lead to three, but it was Freeland once more on a jumper on Edinboro's next possession and Lock Haven never drew closer.
Blazetic finished with 12 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Hippo chipped in with seven points and Baker accounted for six points and four assists.
Hershey led Lock Haven with 13 points and Lane added 12.
Edinboro bested the Eagles, second in the PSAC in rebounding, on the boards by a 55-44 margin.
Next up for the Fighting Scots is a rivalry match with nationally-ranked Gannon at the Hammermill Center in Erie on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
GAME NOTES: Edinboro went 21-of-27 at the foul line after making 11 straight free throws in the first half … Freeland's 18 rebounds are the most by an Edinboro player since Rachel Johnson hauled in 19 against West Chester on Dec. 2, 2007 … Blazetic's three blocks broke a tie for third place all-time in PSAC history with Amy Wolf of Bloomsburg (268) … Blazetic also moved into sixth in Boro all-time rebounds (741) and 14th all-time in Boro scoring (1,269 points) … it was the Scots' 11th straight win against Lock Haven.
