PREVIEW: Marauders look to snap losing streak in crucial conference game against the East's No. 1 seed

Saturday, February 14

Millersville, PA

1:00 PM

Millersville University

Lock Haven

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Photo by: Kaya Wagner 2026

PREVIEW: Marauders look to snap losing streak in crucial conference game against the East's No. 1 seed

2/13/2026 10:30:00 AM | Women's Basketball

By: Dane Sabarese, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant

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ABOUT THE GAME

The Marauders control their own destiny as they near the end of the season with the risk of falling out of the PSAC East playoffs entirely while facing a three-game skid against the No. 1 seeded Lock Haven Bald Eagles. Millersville, who had positioned themselves as the four seed in the PSAC East after critical wins over Bloomsburg and West Chester, find themselves at the five seed after losses to three-win Mansfield and Shepherd who are slowly putting themselves back into the playoff picture. Three of the Marauders' four remaining games feature teams looking to solidify a top spot and currently ahead of them in the standings.
In the last outing between the Bald Eagles and the Marauders, the Bald Eagles established themselves as the dominant group in the Eastern conference. Outside of their near 40-point loss to IUP, the margin of 31 points in the last matchup against the Marauders was the worst deficit of the season thus far, the Marauders
Millersville is coming off a 21-point loss to Shepherd, a team they beat by a narrow margin at home nearly a month ago. Shepherd currently sits under Millersville with a 6-10 conference record to the Marauders' 8-9.

RECAP: Second-half struggles continue for the Marauders as they fall to Shepherd. Story: https://t.co/IaUO3UfcjQ
— Millersville Marauders (@VilleMarauders) February 12, 2026

GAME STORYLINES

The headline of the February 14th matchup is the return of Jennifer Smith to Pucillo Gymnasium.The all-time winningest coach in Lock Haven history, Smith is a distinguished Millersville alumna '02 who left a mark during her time as a Marauder, holding records for games played and three-pointers made in a single game. While her legacy in the Black and Gold is secure, her primary objective on Saturday will be leading her high-powered Bald Eagles to a season sweep over her alma mater in the very arena where her collegiate career began.
On the court, Millersville’s defensive identity will be anchored by Kelly Cleaver, the recent PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week. Cleaver’s ability to protect the rim, highlighted by her four blocks in the previous meeting, will be essential in neutralizing Lock Haven’s Alana Robinson, who enters this game as a two-time PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Year and the leading scorer for the Bald Eagles. If Millersville can dominate the glass and prevent second-chance opportunities, they can disrupt a Lock Haven offense that has proven lethal when allowed to run in transition. The Marauders will look for another scoring burst from freshman standout Daniella Ranieli, whose 18-point performance was a bright spot in their earlier encounter.
History and momentum, however, favor the visitors. Lock Haven arrives on a hot 11-game winning streak, having transformed into a Top-25 regional powerhouse under Smith’s guidance. For Millersville to pull off the upset, they must overcome a challenging recent history against the Bald Eagles and leverage the high-energy environment of Pucillo to force Lock Haven into a half-court grind. With Smith’s homecoming and Millersville’s desperation to climb the PSAC East standings, this matchup promises a postseason-level intensity.

SERIES HISTORY

Millersville and Lock Haven meet for the 84th time in a series that sits on a razor's edge. Historically, Lock Haven holds a slim 42–4 all-time record against the Marauders . While the overall record is nearly dead even, the Marauders have historically defended their home court with pride, boasting a 21–9 record at Pucillo Gymnasium.