Clayton, Rams prove better than Lock Haven

Clayton, who was 12-for-17 from the field, smothered the Bald Eagles with her 28 points and game-leading seven rebounds. Courtesy photo
SHEPHERDSTOWN — For much of the game, Shepherd University’s Sydney Clayton had more points and more overall success than did the entire visiting Lock Haven team.
With Shepherd’s conference games now coming in rapid-fire order, Clayton and her starting teammates were rested for nearly all of the fourth quarter as the Rams completed a runaway, 78-50, win over the faltering Bald Eagles in the Butcher Center on Saturday.
Clayton, who was 12-for-17 from the field, smothered the Bald Eagles with her 28 points and game-leading seven rebounds.
The unbridled Shepherd success was its third straight conference win and gave it 15-3 overall record and 10-3 record in the East Division of the PSAC — good for second place behind only Kutztown.
Lock Haven, which made only 17 percent of its first-half shots to trail, 39-16, sank to 8-10 overall and 5-9 within the PSAC’s East Division.
Once Abby Beeman (15 points, seven assists) scored the game’s first points with 5:37 remaining in the first quarter, the Rams moved quickly to a definitive 15-3 lead. Lock Haven never got any closer.
The Bald Eagles misfired on their first 10 field goal attempts … and then staggered to a 39-16 deficit when the opening half closed. Clayton had the visitors outscored by herself with 22 points.
The theme of the lopsided win had been established — Shepherd refused to cede any offensive rebounds to Lock Haven and it had ruled the boards in general, claiming a 30-19 advantage by halftime.
After the Rams scored the first five points of the third quarter, Shepherd continued to double the Lock Haven point total and prepared to empty its sideline seats of ready reserves.
With games peppering the schedule after the need for make-ups of postponed dates, the Rams and coach Jenna Eckleberry brought on reserves, who excited the crowd of about 285 and the cheering group of starters because nearly every player was able to score.
Shepherd was at home on Jan. 31 to face West Chester, went to West Chester on Feb. 2 and returns to the schedule to play again tomorrow.
The remaining conference schedule is now almost an all-out sprint to the finish of the regular season. Only four teams from the East Division will even qualify for the league tournament to be staged from Feb. 28 through March 6.
The Rams are positioning themselves for not only the league tournament but also for a possible bid to the Atlantic Regional — the first event provided by the national NCAA Division II committee on any team’s road through the March-based tournament. Only eight teams are selected for the Atlantic Regional and in the PSAC alone there are seven teams that have done enough to make a serious argument to be included.
Clayton, Beeman and company took care to impress any Atlantic Region or national committee member in shredding Lock Haven.
Now comes more taxing competition and more travel dates for the hit-the-road Rams.