GA Lady Lions Stumble in First PSUAC Match over Fayette, 75-58

GA Lady Lions Stumble in First PSUAC Match over Fayette, 75-58

McKeesport, Pa. - Through 40 minutes of action, the Penn State Greater Allegheny women's basketball team dropped their first Penn State University Athletic Conference battle to Penn State Fayette, Saturday afternoon, by the tally of 75-58.

Fayette opened up the game with a 18-3 run, which included a layup from sophomore guard Mandi Johnston (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) and a free-throw from sophomore guard Tori Johnston (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin).

Junior guard Jess Manfredi (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Serra Catholic) dropped a three-pointer before sophomore forward Morgan McCallister (North Huntington, Pa./Norwin) closed the first quarter with a layup, 26-8 Roaring Lions.

Manfredi laid on points in the paint as the Johnston sisters hit back-to-back jumpers. Manfredi continued with a pair of layups as McCallister made a layup. Freshman forward Andrea Burroughs (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) and sophomore forward Laura Vazquez Diaz (San Juan, Puerto Rico/Cupey Maria Montessori) rode out the first half of action for Greater Allegheny from the free-throw line, Fayette leading going into halftime 39-23.

M. Johnston compiled ten points as Burroughs tacked on a pair of layups to continue to fight Fayette. Freshman guard Chelsy Ware (Pittsburgh, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) made a layup before T. Johnston dropped a bucket behind the arc. M. Johnston closed third quarters action with a jumper, GA trailing 55-46 with just ten minutes to play.

T. Johnston and Burroughs put up six points as Fayette swelled to 71-52 in just under six minutes of play. Freshman guard Brianna Williams (Pittsburgh, Pa./University Prep) put up two from the foul line as M. Johnston and McCallister laid on points in the paint, closing the letdown at a 75-58 Greater Allegheny disadvantage.

M. Johnston completed all six shots from the foul line as the sophomore contributed 20 points with eight rebounds and one assist. T. Johnston added ten points with four rebounds and three assists while had nine points with five boards, two steals and two assists. Burroughs went 60% (3-of-5) from the floor as the forward posted nine points with seven rebounds and three steals.

As a team, Greater Allegheny denoted 63.2% (12-of-19) their shots from the foul line while putting down 34 points in the paint, 13 points off second-chance and ten points off turnovers.

Greater Allegheny (3-7, 0-1 PSUAC) looks onward to Friday, as the women host another PSUAC match-up as Penn State Beaver comes to Wunderley Gymnasium, Friday night. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.