By Brandy Thurston, Director of Sports Information
(Morrisville, NY – Jan. 20, 2013) Visiting Penn State Berks used an opening 19-0 run in the second half en route to a 74-57 North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) victory over host Morrisville State College Sunday afternoon in Morrisville.
The Mustangs drop to 1-15 overall, 1-7 in conference action, while the Nittany Lions post a 5-10 overall mark, 4-5 in NEAC play.
Nichole Young-Trapp (Reading, Pa.) led Berks with 19 points and eight rebounds as three additional teammates chipped in double figures in the win, including Shanelle Koch (Schuylkill Haven, Pa.) who posted 18 points and a team high nine rebounds, while assisting six. Kellie Wilson (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Keisha Robinson (Philadelphia, Pa.) added 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Morrisville State was led by Jasmine Oakes (Massena, N.Y.) and LaCandice Sanders (Waco, Tx.) who each came off the bench to post a collegiate best 14 points, while teammates Jennel Paul (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Akiella Parks (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) added 10 apiece in the efforts, with Paul dishing out a collegiate high eight assists. Parks controlled the boards for the Mustangs, grabbing eight.
The Mustangs struggled in the opening half and were held scoreless until the 16:53 mark when Oakes nailed a baseline jumper, and followed with two straight from long range to put Morrisville State on the board.
Despite a scoring lull over the next several minutes, Morrisville State was able to contain the Nittany Lions while finding their offensive nitch, pulling even on a three from Oakes with 3:44 to go in the period.
Morrisville State took their first lead of the half on a jumper by Sanders who followed with one from downtown, as they claimed the 31-27 lead at the break.
The Mustangs hit a wall early in the second half and did not add any to the scoreboard for the first 6:31, while Penn State Berks went on a 35-4 scoring frenzy en route to the conference win.
Morrisville State returns to the court Wednesday, traveling to Wells.