LADY MARAUDERS HANG ON FOR WIN OVER CHEYNEY; MU RANKED EIGHTH IN EAST REGION

Jan. 30, 2008 – The Millersville University women’s basketball team jumped out to a 15-point halftime lead and held on for their fifth straight win, 65-60, over the Cheyney University Wolves at Cope Hall on Wednesday evening.

The Lady Marauders, ranked eighth in the East Region in the first weekly release of the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Regional Rankings, improve to 4-0 in PSAC Eastern Division play and 15-4 on the season.   

Millersville began the game with a 16-2 run to help build a 21-point lead with 4:03 left to play in the first  half.  Forward Jenna Craig (so. Lewistown/Lewistown) scored nine of her 13 points in the first half on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting from the field.

Cheyney found their offensive rhythm in the second-half when they unleashed an 11-0 run to cut the Marauder lead to four, 47-43, with 11:48 remaining in the game.  Back-to-back three-pointers by guard Lutfiyya Muhammad ignited the run for the Wolves who were not finished with their comeback.

The Wolves would eventually grab the lead from the Marauders, 59-58, with under four minutes (3:39) to play on another three-pointer by Muhammad.  The Wolves only lead of the game was short-lived however, as forward Gladine St. Julien (jr. Leesport/Schuylkill Valley) put Millersville back in front with a layup just 17 seconds later off of a pass from forward Ashley Romanoski (sr. Etters/Red Land).

Romanoski, playing in her first game since suffering an injury back on January 16 against Bloomsburg, finished with eight points and five rebounds in 22 minutes of action.

After the two teams traded free-throws, St. Julien sank another layup with 21 seconds remaining to give the Marauders a three-point lead and all but seal the game for Millersville.  

St. Julien finished the game with a double-double, scoring a team-high 15 points while pulling down 12 rebounds.   Forward Raquel Green (so. Philadelphia/Coppin St.) scored a season-high 12 points for the Marauders on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting from the floor.

The Marauders shot a season-high 54% from the field and outscored the Wolves 38-10 in the paint.

The Wolves, coming off back-to-back conference victories over West Chester and Mansfield, fall to 5-13 on the season and 2-3 in east play.

The MU women’s team will defend their perfect conference record when they host East Stroudsburg University on Saturday, February 2, beginning at 1 p.m.