McKeesport, Pa. - The Penn State Greater Allegheny women's basketball team welcomed Penn State Fayette to Wunderley Gymnasium, Saturday afternoon, for a heated Penn State University Athletic Conference battle, where GA came out victorious, 77-64.
Celebrating their senior recognition night, Greater Allegheny came out fierce. Senior power forward Christina Floyd (Philadelphia, Pa./Sts. Neumann-Goretti) dropped the first points of the match with a made layup while freshman guard Teona Cash (McKeesport, Pa./Woodland Hills) matched her with a layup of her own. Senior guard Nakayla Layne (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) slashed both free-throws attempted to keep the score even at six with Fayette.
Floyd completed another layup and a free-throw before freshman guard Mandi Johnston (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) dropped a huge three-pointer to give GA the advantage, 12-9 just six minutes into the game. Floyd made another free-throw before sophomore guard Tra-Esha Carswell (Homestead, Pa./Steel Valley) hammered down a layup and jumper, extending GA 17-13. Freshman forward Morgan McCallister (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) bucketed a layup as Fayette continued to score.
Floyd came out with a layup and a free-throw to even the tally at 22 with less than seven to play until halftime. M. Johnston added a layup before two made foul shots from Floyd. M. Johnston tallied a jumper and a pair of free-throws to put GA at a 30-28 advantage heading into the break.
Layne dropped a layup as Cash made a free-throw just under a minute into the second half. Floyd and M. Johnston cashed in for a layup apiece as Cash put down a jumper, Greater Allegheny now infront of Fayette, 39-32. Freshman guard Tori Johnston (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) and M. Johnston comprised of the next six points before Carswell made a jumper and one, GA now ahead 48-34 just five minutes into the new half of action.
Floyd dropped a layup and a free-throw while Cash and M. Johnston teamed up for a pair of jumpers as the clock wound down within ten minutes of the finish. Layne and M. Johnston dropped two apiece as Floyd added a point from a free-throw, GA 60-50. Layne knocked down two foul shots as T. Johnston drained a trey as the clock continued to expire. Senior forward Kimberly Hall (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport Area) tuckered down a made layup and a free-throw to continue the Greater Allegheny roll.
T. Johnston bucketed a huge three-pointer while Floyd made a jump shot. Cash and T. Johnston rode out the remainder of the Greater Allegheny scoring drive with a total of four completed buckets from the foul line. Greater Allegheny found themselves on top and still alive through the Penn State University Athletic Conference bout, Greater Allegheny victorious, 77-64.
Floyd finished the game with an outstanding 24 rebounds, 19 points and four steals as she went 70% (7-of-10) from the free-throw line. With the double-double, Christina recorded her 17th total double-double on the season. M. Johnston dropped 19 points with six rebounds, four assists and three steals. T. Johnston posted ten points with three rebounds, two assists and two steals in the win. Cash earned 12 boards with nine points, five assists and four steals. Layne went 100% (4-of-4) from the free-throw line as she cashed in for eight points, four rebounds, two steals and a block.
As a team, Greater Allegheny out-rebounded Fayette by a land-slide; 66-38. The home team managed to cash in 38 points in the paint alond with 23 points off second-chance and 13 points off turnovers.
Greater Allegheny (8-13, 7-6 PSUAC) remain in the hunt for a Penn State University Athletic Conference playoff berth. GA goes on the road, Wednesday night, for a non-PSUAC match-up against Pitt-Titusville. The women are set to tip-off before the men, a 5 p.m. start.
