City of Basketball Love

Owen McCue (@Owen_McCue)
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The area’s Division II programs mostly finished up the first part of their schedules last week with many not back in action until 2023 or just before the start of the new year. It seems like a good time to check on how the local programs are faring a little more than a third of the way and a little before the halfway point of their seasons:

CACC

Chestnut Hill (5-5, 0-1 CACC)

The Griffins only needed to replace two starters this offseason, but they haven’t found the same success of last year’s 24-win team. Sophomore forward Emily Chimiel (C.B. West) is leading the team in scoring (12.7 ppg) and rebounding (5.8 rpg). After her no one is averaging more than seven points per game. Chestnut Hill has missed senior guard Lauren Crim (Lansdale Catholic), who’s missed four games since late November. Junior wing and Penn Charter product Kaitlyn Carter (6.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg) has taken her spot in the starting five. Graduate forward Bri Hewlett (North Penn), sophomore guard Siobhan Boylan (Cardinal O’Hara) and graduate guard Abbey Spratt (C.B. West) round out the local-heavy starting five.

Georgian Court (2-6, 0-2 CACC)

The Lions won seven of their eight regular-season games last season, so the slow start is nothing new, but they’d like to end a four-game losing skid sooner rather than later. Sophomore guard Erika Aspajo (16.9 ppg, 4.6 apg, 3.9 rpg) is leading the charge. Senior guard Savawn Hughes (11.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg), freshman Imani Gillette (10.9 ppg, 10.1 rpg) and senior guard Tian Addison (10.3 ppg) are all in double figures.

Goldey-Beacom (4-8, 1-1 CACC)

Outside of an early four-game losing streak, the Lightning have played around .500 basketball for most of the season. Senior forward Alanna Speaks (11.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg) is the lone Lightning player in double figures. Senior forward Alexis Harrison has been microwave off the bench, averaging 9.1 ppg in just 12.5 mpg and three others junior guard Mickey Williams (8.0 ppg), senior guard Mone Izumi (8.0 ppg) and freshman guard Rory Ciszkowski (7.5 ppg) make up the balanced scoring attack.

Holy Family (7-5, 2-0 CACC)

The Tigers, who have won four of their last five, are relatively young with just one senior, Archbishop Ryan product, Moe Moore (7.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg) in the starting five. Freshman guard Skyler Searfoss came in right away and gave the Tigers a jolt. She’s leading the team in scoring (14.1 ppg) and assists (3.4 apg). C.B. South product Taylor Hinkle (8.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg) is another freshman chipping in. Junior center Carolyn Prevost (10.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and junior guard and Archbishop Wood product Lindsay Tretter (9.1 ppg) are two of the other top contributors.

Jefferson (10-1, 2-0 CACC)

The only hiccup thus far for the Rams was a Nov. 26 loss to West Chester as they’ve won their last five games, including their last four by double digits. They ranked No. 18 and No. 20, respectively, in the most recent D2SIDA and WBCA polls. Jefferson has had the same starting lineup in all 11 games with junior forward and C.B. South product Haley Meniel (14.8 ppg), sophomore forward Cassie Murphy (13.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg), sophomore wing Sam Yencha (11.4 ppg, 10.2 rpg), junior guard Morgan Robinson (8.7 ppg, 7.0 apg) and sophomore guard Emma Kuczynski (7.8 ppg) providing a balanced attack. Emily Keehfuss (Nazareth Acad.) and Maeve McCann (Bonner-Prendergast) are two more locals in the rotation.

Wilmington (1-10, 0-1 CACC)

Things don’t appear to have turned around too much after a 1-22 campaign in 2021-22. Junior guard Amber Washington leads the team in scoring (11.0 ppg). Sophomore guard Daja Claiborne (6.9 ppg) is the only other player averaging more than six. Junior guard Amaja Mack (Neumann-Goretti) is averaging 16 minutes per game after transferring from Caldwell Tech.

CIAA

Lincoln (7-5, 2-1 CIAA)

The Lions are another team playing good hoops right now, winning four of their last five games. This comes despite having to replace five of their top six scorers. Senior guard Kania Pollock (16.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg) has stepped up in a big way and sophomore forward Anyssa Fields (15.6 ppg, 9.0 rpg) has been a big help after transferring from Georgian Court. Freshman forward and Neumann Goretti product D'Ayzha Atkinson (7.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg) is another impactful addition this season.

PSAC

Bloomsburg (2-6, 0-4 PSAC)

The Huskies are winless in their first four conference games and are in the midst of a six-game slide overall. Bloomsburg’s rotation is very young with five sophomores, two juniors and two freshmen in the top eight. Sophomore forward Katie Starr (8.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg) is the team’s leading scorer and rebounder as no one is in double figures. Sophomore guards Ella Kale (8.4 ppg) and Allison HIlleman (7.6 ppg) are the team’s other top offensive threats. Sophomore Hailey Hudak (Spring-Ford) is the only local alum, averaging 4.1 ppg and 3.8 rpg in 17 minutes per contest. 

East Stroudsburg (6-4 overall, 2-2 PSAC)

The Warriors have dropped their last three but look much improved from a squad that went 4-21 last season and 3-19 in the PSAC. Graduate guard Ryan Weise (19.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 6.0 ppg) is having a terrific campaign, shooting 51.8 percent from the floor and 58.9 percent from three. The Warriors are very balanced after that with graduate guard Shyla Sanford (7.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and sophomore guard and Upper Dublin product Jessica Polin averaging 6.8 ppg off the bench. Junior guard Carley Adams (North Penn) has made six starts and is third in minutes.

Kutztown (5-5, 3-1 PSAC)

The Golden Bears have won three of their last four with the exception being a 61-57 loss to nationally-ranked IUP. Junior forward Abbey Hearn (12.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg) is the team’s leading scorer. Senior guard and Archbishop Wood product Annie Whalen (11.5 ppg) and senior wing and Saint Basil product Casey Remolde (10.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg) join her in double figures. Sophomore guard Bella Arcuri (Pennsbury) has seen double-digit minutes in the team’s last four games and redshirt-freshman guard Shannon Remolde (Saint Basil) is averaging 10.4 minutes per game.

Lock Haven (4-5, 2-2 PSAC East)

The Bald Eagles have a pair of seniors in the starting lineup but their a young group on the whole with mostly freshmen and sophomores in the rotation. Freshman forward Alana Robinson (12.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg) is off to a terrific start to her career with six double-figure outings in her last seven games. Sophomore guard Brooke Lawyer (10.8 ppg) is a threat off the bench and senior guard Taylor Leidy (9.6 ppg), who played in just two games due to injury last season, has been one of the team’s top contributors now that she’s healthy.

Mansfield (1-7, 0-4 PSAC)

The Mounties went 7-19 last season and are once again scuffling with five straight losses. Junior forward Jasmine Hilton (17.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg) is a double-double candidate every time out, improving on a strong sophomore campaign. Senior forward Alivia Paeglow (10.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg) is another strong inside presence. Freshman guard and Coatesville product Danae Ellzy (4.1 ppg) has carved out a role, averaging 11.3 minutes.

Millersville (6-4, 1-3 PSAC)

The Marauders got out to a 5-1 start but have seen the results dip in conference play. They’re still well on pace to surpass last season’s seven-win total. Graduate guard Taylor Langan (15.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg) has been a welcome addition after transferring from Colgate as has freshman guard Marin Miller (9.0 ppg). Sophomore forward Makiah Shaw (8.1 ppg) and redshirt-junior center La’Shyra Williams (7.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and sophomore guard Brenna Ortwein (7.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg) have been key contributors as well.

Shippensburg (8-2, 3-1 PSAC)

The Raiders entered last week's loss to Gannon on a six-game win streak, including a nationally ranked win over California (Pa.). Ship’s other loss came to Jefferson. Senior guard Ariel Jones (224 ppg, 7.6 rpg) is filling it up this season, going off for 48 points in a win over Mercyhurst last week. The 2019-20 PSAC East Player of the Year played just two games in the previous two seasons after COVID took away a season and she went down two games into last season with an injury. Junior guard Treasure George (12.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and senior forward Lauren Pettis (11.0 ppg, 9.7 rpg) are having standout seasons in their own right as well.

West Chester (5-5, 2-2 PSAC)

The Golden Rams showed their ceiling in a Nov. 26 win over Jefferson — part of a four-game win streak — but they’ve now dropped three of their last four. Junior forward and Garnet Valley product Emily McAteer (17.2 ppg, 10.1 rpg) and sophomore guard and Plymouth Whitemarsh product Anna McTamney (15.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg) lead another local-heavy squad. Sophomore forward Michelle Kozicki (14.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg) and sophomore guard Leah Johnson (14.2 ppg, 7.7 apg, 7.6 rpg) are the other stat leaders in a rotation that doesn’t have a senior with a strong sophomore class leading the way. Sophomore wing Morgan Warley (Villa Maria) has started eight games and sophomore guard Alex Abbonizio (Springfield-Delco) has made three starts.

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
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