EDINBORO, Pa. – The No. 4 seed IUP women's basketball team saw their season come to a close after a heartbreaking 72-59 loss to No. 2 Gannon in the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship.
IUP concluded the 2024-25 season 23-8 overall, an appearance in the PSAC Semifinals, and a trip to the Atlantic Region Championship.
Ellie Wilkerson was named to the All-Region Tournament team after she combined for 46 points, 12 rebounds, two blocks, five steals, and a high of nine field goals in the semifinal round.
Wilkerson led the charge again with 15 points, six made field goals, four rebounds, a block, and a steal.
Nyshae' Weaver followed with 14 points, six made field goals, and eight rebounds.
Shamia Strayhorn led the team with four assists and three steals.
The teams began the first quarter trading baskets before Gannon pulled slightly ahead with two three-pointers around the four-minute mark. Strayhorn and
Lily Jordan added consecutive baskets to put them within five, 19-14.
IUP's first point in the second quarter came at 7:19 from a
Marin Miller free throw. Wilkerson added a jumper and then Weaver followed with two layups, IUP behind by seven, 28-21. IUP's final baskets of the half came from a Jordan layup and two free throw attempts from
Janeira Scott.
The Hawks headed into halftime down 33-25. Through the first half, Wilkerson led with eight points and three players each contributed four.
In the third, Weaver added four points to begin and Grace Centrualla hit a three-pointer at 6:09 that brought IUP within four, 36-32. Gannon went on a seven-point run that was halted when Wilkerson hit a triple as time expired in the quarter.
Jordan added a layup around the nine-minute mark, five IUP free throws, and a layup from Strayhorn cut their trail back to single digits. Weaver and Wilkerson added consecutive baskets to put IUP within six, 58-52 with three minutes on the clock. The game ended with free throws and two baskets from Scott and Miller.
2025 Atlantic Regional All-Tournament Team
Hallie Cowan, Seton Hill
Morgan Gentile, Edinboro
Ellie Wilkerson, IUP
Bri Claxon, Gannon
Kate Ratliffe*, Gannon
*
Tournament MVP
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