Dec3

ESU vs. Concordia - Women's Basketball

EAST STROUDSBURG - The East Stroudsburg University women's basketball team used a dominating first half performance en route to a 77-59 victory over Concordia (N.Y.) in the opening round of the 35^th annual Rotary Pocono Classic Friday evening at ESU's Koehler Fieldhouse.

Kelly Hutchison and Shannon Schwilk paced the Warriors with 12 points apiece. Freshman Erin Brennan added a career-high 11 points.

ESU (2-3) opened the game with a 17-4 run behind six points from Hutchison and five from Schwilk. After a Concordia basket, the Warriors ran off eight straight points and turned that into a 24-10 run to build their largest lead of the game at 41-16. Concordia (0-4) outscored the Warriors 11-4 over the final 2:46 to pull to 45-27 at the half.

Warrior coach Rose Haller used all 14 of her players in the contest, with 12 scoring points. Concordia's Jennifer Batchelor led all scorers with 16 points. She also grabbed nine rebounds. Shamecca Salley added 11 points for the Cardinals and Raelynn Berthoff contributed 10. Sabrina Carter led the game with 14 rebounds.

ESU will now face undefeated Indiana University of Pennsylvania in tomorrow's championship game at 3:00 p.m. IUP (6-0) knocked off St. Michael's 64-57 behind 17 points from Carrie Maitland. Concordia will meet St. Michael's at 1:00 p.m.

ESU 77

Ross 3-7 1-3 7, Brennan 1-9 9-12 11, Schwilk 5-10 2-3 12, Galebach 0-1 0-0 0, Kuhn 0-1 2-4 2, Schlegel 2-6 2-2 6, Barnes 1-1 2-2 4, Pilenza 2-5 2-4 6, Camisa 1-3 0-0 2, Helt 0-0 0-2 0, Wentworth 0-0 1-2 1, Hutchison 5-6 2-2 12, Buss 3-8 0-0 6, McLoughlin 4-7 0-2 8. Totals: 27-64 23-38 77.

Concordia 59

Berthoff 3-11 4-8 10, Keating 1-5 0-0 3, Salley 4-11 3-7 11, Batchelor 6-14 4-5 16, Carter 3-10 0-2 6, Roegner 3-5 0-0 6, Manotti 3-7 0-0 7. Totals: 23-63 11-22 59.

Three-Point Goals: Concordia - Keating, Manotti.

Halftime: ESU, 45-27