(RV) SSU WBB clinches RSC East Division Championship, perfect regular season home record on Senior Day in 74-52 triumph over Indiana-East

PORTSMOUTH, Ohio -- There are few things better than clinching a perfect record at home in the regular season and winning a division championship in conference play on Senior Day.

However, while those factors occuring together were simply of concidence and not of the intentional ilk, the Shawnee State women's basketball program's ability to clinch a perfect record to conclude its home slate from a regular season standpoint and win the River States Conference's East Division on Senior Day is fitting for a group that has spent much of the 2024-25 season pummeling its opposition.

Leading by a scant seven-point margin (34-27) at halftime over the Indiana-East Red Wolves' women's basketball program, Shawnee State turned up the dial in the second half by outscoring Indiana-East by a 40-25 count in the final 20 minutes of play, committing just two second-half turnovers while forcing the Red Wolves into 20 miscues over the 40-minute affair in a 74-52 victory that locked up the RSC East Division crown and no less than two home games from a postseason standpoint in a satisfying result Saturday afternoon at Waller Gymnasium in Portsmouth.

Game Summary

Both units proved to be nearly even in most stat categories -- as Indiana-East shot 42 percent (21-of-50) from the field and 40 percent (8-of-20) from three-point range, slightly outgunning Shawnee State's 37.1 percent (26-of-70) mark from the field. Both programs also obtained 34 rebounds each as well.

However, in addition to going 17-of-19 from the foul line for an 89.5 percent clip, Shawnee State's valuation of the basketball was arguably the difference in the Bears' 22-point win -- as the Bears committed a season-low six turnovers in Saturday's victory, all while notching 15 assists en route to posting a near three-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio in the contest.

Additionally, the ability of the Shawnee State defense to force 20 turnovers resulted in a significant advantage in points off of turnovers, as the Bears notched a 26-7 advantage in that category. SSU also posted a 17-2 advantage in second-chance points, a 34-18 gap in points in the pain, and a 32-9 edge on bench points as Shawnee State pulled away for the win.

With Saturday's win, Shawnee State (22-4, 13-1 River States Conference) not only sealed a division championship, but obtained its first unblemished regular season mark at home since the 2017-18 season, when the Bears went 14-0 at home, with Saturday's win.

Shawnee State also maintained a one-game lead over Oakland City in the overall race for the conference's overall best regular season record -- with the top team between both divisions combined receiving one of the River States Conference's two automatic bids into the NAIA National Tournament in March.

Second half dominance

Despite the contest remaining at a one to two possession cushion for much of the first half, Shawnee State made the necessary adjustments in the third and fourth quarters to blow the game open.

Ahead by five, 36-31, with 8:33 to play, the Bears proceeded to go on a 17-4 run over a six-minute stretch as five different players scored during the run -- which turned the tight two-possession affair into a 53-35 Shawnee State lead with just under three minutes to go in the third quarter.

Of those 17 points, the three Senior Day honorees -- Cianna Gloster, Sanaya Gregory, and Jada Johnson -- scored 12 of those tallies, with Johnson ripping off five points in a row, on her own, near the tail end of the run.

From there, Shawnee State never led by less than 15 points the rest of the way, and when SSU's lead was cut to a 60-45 margin at the end of the third quarter of play, the Bears responded with a 12-2 spurt to conclude matters as a three-pointer by Gloster, an and-one by Lexi Deaver and five straight points in a 19-second span by Lauren Hawthorne KO'ed any hopes of an Indiana-East rally as the Bears took as much as a 72-47 lead before subbing freely in the contest.

In the third quarter alone, the Bears went 10-of-20 from the field, 2-of-4 from three-point range, 4-of-4 from the free throw line and posted five assists on its 10 made baskets, then added four additional assists on its five buckets in the fourth quarter without committing a turnover in the final frame to cap off a complete second half in Shawnee State's 22-point win. 

Veteran leaders play major role in Saturday's victory

True to form, Cianna Gloster, Sanaya Gregory and Jada Johnson -- three of Shawnee State's top seven players in the main rotation as has been the case throughout most of the season -- were big in Saturday's victory.

Ultimately, Gloster, Gregory and Johnson combined for 29 points, 19 rebounds, seven steals and six assists in the RSC East Division-clinching win, with Gregory (10 points, five assists, three rebounds, one steal) and Johnson (10 points, three rebounds, two steals) joining junior guard dynamo Miyoshi Ellis (10 points, two rebounds, two assists, steal) in double-figures.

Gloster finished with 13 rebounds, nine points and four steals for the contest as the only individual to reach double-digit rebounds in the game.

No. 20 – Cianna Gloster

Having showcased a relentless motor throughout her time at Shawnee State, senior forward Cianna Gloster has willed the Bears back to national recognition.

A four-time River States Conference Player of the Week, Gloster is averaging 13.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 1.2 blocks for her Shawnee State career while shooting 55.6 percent from the field. The Flint, Mich. native currently holds the single-season rebounding record of 373 which was set last year, and now has 294 rebounds this season. Gloster has played and started in all 57 possible games during her career at SSU and has scored 912 career collegiate points as of today.

"Playing at Shawnee State has taught me that the game has its ups and downs, but you can never lose focus of your individual goals, and you can't let yourself be beaten because of lack of effort," Gloster said. "Perseverance and maintaining focus, especially when facing challenges, is key. In life or in any game, there will always be highs and lows, but success is rooted in consistency, effort, and determination. It encourages you not to be discouraged by setbacks and to always stay committed to your personal goals, no matter the obstacles. 

To the coaches, thank you for all the endless hours you've invested in helping me improve and the team. I'm proud to be a part of this program and I will carry these lessons on wherever I go.

Thank you, Mom and Dad for always believing me and supporting my dreams. 

To my girls, thank you all for always seeing the best in me even when I didn't see it in myself. It was never about individual achievements for me; it was always about what we can accomplish together. Throughout the highs and lows this season and despite them we have continued to fight through it all. Y'all are my Birds of Feather."

No. 23 – Jada Johnson

An individual who has been a part of three teams that have gone a combined 58-30 during her time at Shawnee State, Jada Johnson's physicality has been critical in Shawnee State's success. Johnson is one of seven players averaging between 6.5 to 14.9 points per game on the roster this season, and has already been a part of a conference championship runner-up squad back during the 2022-23 season.

"Thank you Shawnee for being my home the last three years," Johnson said. "To my coaches, thank you for this opportunity to play at the next level and how to be resilient. To my teammates, thank y'all for always having my back on and off the court. We will always have this place together."

Recognized: No. 4, Sanaya Gregory

Along with Cianna Gloster and Jada Johnson, Sanaya Gregory, who participated during the 2023-24 Senior Day festivities but opted to continue her graduate studies at Shawnee State and has since returned for another season, was recognized as well. Sanaya is also one of seven individuals averaging between 6.5 to 14.9 points per game, and has been a key piece in Shawnee State going 42-14 over the last two seasons.

"Being a part of this basketball team means more than just being a player on the court," Gregory said. "It involves actively participating and working together with your teammates towards a common goal - winning games and achieving success. I've learned and grown so much being apart of this team and amazing coaches they've pushed me to be the player that I am right now and I'm thankful for all of them each and everyday. I also want to thank my family and friends for their support through the years without them I would be where I am now. Go Bears!"

Additional

Along with the above mentioned players and Ellis, Jariah Steele scored an efficient nine points on 3-of-3 shooting in 11 minutes -- and finished the week averaging 15 points per game while shooting at a 78.6 percent rate (11-of-14), while Lexi Deaver posted a strong outing, scoring seven points and adding two rebounds in 12 minutes while going 5-of-6 from the free throw line and 1-of-2 from the field. Lauren Hawthorne posted seven points, two assists, two blocks and two steals in 19 minutes off of the pine as well.

Laken Williams (four points, two assists, one steal), Jonilyah Chambers (three points, three rebounds, three assists), Emily Maynard (four rebounds, three points) and Molly Howard (two points) rounded out the scoring for the Bears as 11 different players reached the scoring column in Saturday's win.

Shawnee State (22-4, 13-1 River States Conference) will look to move one step closer to obtaining the RSC's automatic bid into the NAIA National Tournament Tuesday evening at 8 p.m., when the Bears take on Midway, Ky. (15-11, 9-5 River States Conference) at Marshall Gymnasium in Midway.