ESU-Cheyney Women's Basketball

WBSK1-10-01

CHEYNEY - Junior forwards Pam Helt and Michele Pilenza came off the bench to lead a 17-point East Stroudsburg University run at the end of the first half and the Warriors went on to down Cheyney, 75-55, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division women's basketball opener Wednesday night.

Behind 23-19, ESU connected on five baskets, including a three-pointer, and six free throws over the last seven minutes of the half to leave the court at halftime with a 36-23 lead.

Vanessa Kraft sank two free throws and Pilenza hit a jumper to tie the score at 23. Helt then took charge with five straight points on a free throw and two layups to give the Warriors the lead at 28-23. Dana Thompson followed with a field goal and Pilenza converted two free throws and Helt one. Pilenza then closed the half with a three-pointer.

Cheyney never got closer than 12 points in the second half and the Warriors built as much as a 26-point margin at 74-48 with 2:38 remaining.

Helt hit double figures for the first time in her career with 15 points on 3 for 6 shots from the floor and 9 of 14 from the foul line. She also grabbed nine rebounds, had two assists, three blocked shots and a steal.

Pilenza took game scoring honors with 16 points, her career high. She made 6 of 11 field goal attempts, including two three-pointers in five tries, and sank both of her foul shots. She also fed off three assists.

The Warriors (3-9, 1-0 PSAC) had two other double-figure scorers in Kelly Hutchison with 15 points on 7 for 15 shooting and Megan Ross with 11 points, which included three three-pointers. Hutchison also grabbed a game-high ten rebounds.

Guard Steph Kuhn fed off eight assists in the team's season-high total of 21 assists. The Warriors also had their most rebounds of the season with 58 which compared with Cheyney's 49

Zenobia Bey led the Wolves (1-10, 0-1 PSAC) with 12 points and eight rebounds.

ESU 75

Kuhn 1 1-2 3, Hutchison 7 1-3 15, Kraft 3 2-2 8, Ross 4 0-0 11, Garlach 1 0-0 3, Hunt 0 0-0 0, Barnes 0 0-0 0, Thompson 1 0-0 2, Wolfe 0 1-2 1, Pilenza 6 2-2 16, Helt 3 9-14 15, Puschak 0 1-2 1. Totals: 26 17-27 75

Cheyney 55

Wall 0 2-4 2, Slayton 3 1-2 7, Bey 5 2-3 12, Augustine 2 0-1 4, Pettiford 1 4-6 6, Thomas 3 0-0 9, Simmons 0 1-2 1, Butler 0 0-0 0, Brown 1 0-0 2, Evans 2 0-0 5, Frank 0 0-0 0, Cain 0 1-2 1, McNeil 3 0-1 6. Totals: 20 11-21 55

Three-Point Goals: ESU - Ross 3, Pilenza 2, Garlach; Cheyney - Thomas 3, Evans

Halftime: ESU, 36-23