FROSTBURG, Md. --- Millersville women's basketball (2–1) lit it up from the field in the second half despite the best effort from Frostburg State (1–2) to keep the game close on Wednesday night. A career night from Daniella Ranielli led the Marauders with 21 points, two rebounds, and two steals while shooting 53.3% from the field and an astounding 50.0% from beyond the arc.

The Marauders came out extremely hot and outscored the Bobcats in the first quarter, 23–12. This 11-point lead came courtesy of a 4-for-7 shooting performance from the three-point line and a 12-point quarter from freshman Daniella Ranielli. Despite the Marauders' strong first quarter, the Bobcats clawed back from the deficit in the second quarter and tied the game going into halftime, outscoring the Marauders 21–10.

Millersville ran away with it in the second half, holding Frostburg to just 26 points between both quarters. The Marauders themselves had 27 points in just the fourth quarter alone. It wasn't just Ranielli's big night that got it done for the Marauders, though. Rhyan Mitchell went nearly perfect from the field, shooting 7-for-8 and adding 15 points and two steals to the score sheet. Jillian Crawford was the third double-digit scorer for Millersville with 10 points, four rebounds, and shooting 50% from the field.

The Marauders' greatest strength through the first three games of the season is their depth. In the first two games, Bryn Zentner, reigning PSAC Athlete of the Week, got it done. Ranielli also had a strong debut for the Marauders, but burst onto the scene in tonight's match-up. With the two-way play of Rhyan Mitchell, the Marauders are a team that will only develop further under the leadership of Coach Mowen.

POST GAME WITH COACH MOWEN

•  After a 33-33 tie at halftime and a tough second quarter, what was the message to the team at halftime that led to the 48-point second half?
  • " Well, I thought the second quarter we started playing very selfish basketball. So plain and simple, I asked them to move the ball, share the ball, and start playing like we have trained them, which is ball movement and utilizing each other before we take bad shots."
• The team was lighting it up tonight from the field, 47.1% and 40.9% from beyond the arc. What was working for the team tonight, and how was the team able to create high percentage shot opportunities? 
  • "I thought we had some great penetration and pitch opportunities tonight, and when teams dig or help off shooters, we are supposed to pitch to our open teammate. We have also focused heavily this week on getting shots up, so that also might have been part of the hot shooting was our effort on working on just that."
• Your young players have had a great couple of first games, first Bryn Zentner winning a PSAC Athlete of the Week, and then Daniella Ranielli erupting tonight for 21 points and 2 steals. Can you discuss the significance of these strong performances from your underclassmen and what that means to you as a coach?
  • "I didn't say much in regards to Bryn with her tournament honor as well as her PSAC award because we have got to start understanding that we should be doing those things. My young players were recruited for their abilities, and I need them to feel success with the game they love. I got into Daniella tonight. When I'm investing so much in a freshman point guard, it's better for her to learn and adjust to the college game now, rather than in January. She responded exceptionally well to what I had to say at halftime and came out on fire the second night.  I am proud of how she responded. And I'm actually proud of how the whole team responded after what I said at halftime!! We had a goal for this break to go 2-1, and we are doing just that."

UP NEXT 
The Marauders take almost a two-week break before their next action in their home opener on December 1 at 5:30 p.m. against Bowie State.