(Courtesy of East Stroudsburg University Sports Information)

EAST STROUDSBURG, PA – Sophomore guard Andrea Veres (Phillipsburg, NJ) scored 11 of her 18 points in the final six minutes to help East Stroudsburg University to a 66-62 win over Georgian Court on the first night of the 47th Annual Pocono Classic on Saturday at Koehler Fieldhouse.

Veres made two three-pointers and was 5-for-6 on free throws down the stretch, part of a 12-for-13 day at the foul line, as the Warriors picked up their first win of the season. Senior guard Cyara Woodridge (Philadelphia, PA) added 17 points and six rebounds, freshman forward Jessica Martin (Brownstown, PA) had 10 points and five rebounds and junior forward Fayola Moise (Larchmont, NY) had eight points and eight boards.

ESU (1-2) trailed for less than two minutes in the game, but Georgian Court (1-3) cut a nine-point deficit (51-42) after Veres' first three-pointer with 5:59 to play to two points less than two minutes later.

Freshman forward Kelsey Murray (Ogdensburg, NJ) scored and Woodridge had a pair of buckets to keep the Warriors in front, and Veres was 5-for-6 at the line in the final 32 seconds after making a three that gave ESU a 60-54 lead with 1:56 remaining.

The Lions pulled within 63-62 with 13 seconds left on a three-point play by Ebony Sellers, but Veres made two at the line and Sellers missed a game-tying three with five seconds left. After a timeout, Murray took the inbounds pass and was fouled, making the second to put the Warriors ahead by four to seal the win.

Neither team established an offensive rhythm in the first half, with the Warriors leading 24-19 after holding a 9-2 advantage at the 10-minute mark. Georgian Court held a one-point edge, 43-42, in the second half. Both teams shot nearly 50 percent after intermission to finish at 36.7 (ESU) and 35.0 (Georgian Court) for the game.

Redshirt freshman guard Steph Cabald (Vendenheim, France) had seven of ESU's 15 assists and Veres made the game's only two three-pointers. ESU was 2-for-13 and Georgian Court was 0-for-5 from the three-point line.

The Lions held a 50-40 advantage on the glass paced by Christina White (three points, 13 rebounds) and Tahira Matthews (eight points, 11 boards). Sellers and Brittany Baker led Georgian Court with 14 points apiece and Shauneia McPhearson added 11.

GCU takes on Notre Dame College (Ohio) Sunday at 3 p.m. to finish this weekend's action. The Falcons (1-4) defeated Concordia College (NY), 72-61, on Saturday,