Scranton, Pa. - Despite a 20-point game from junior guard Mandi Johnston (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin), the Penn State Greater Allegheny women's basketball team fell to Penn State University Athletic Conference foe, Penn State Worthington-Scranton, Saturday afternoon, 66-51.
Johnston dropped a three-pointer to start the contest as she and freshman guard Justice Mitchellboth hit jumpers, 7-0 GA in just over a minute thanks to a pair of WS turnovers. Freshman guard Ronnie Upsher (Pittsburgh, Pa./McKeesport) and freshman Jayla Ellis both added jumpers and Mitchell kept the lead with a free-throw 12-11.
The second quarter started out with eight-straight from Johnston followed by a Upsher and Mitchell jumpshot, Worthington-Scranton over-taking Greater Allegheny 34-24 to head into halftime.
Upsher put up a jumpshot before Johnston completed a pair of free-throws, 36-28 Worthington-Scranton. Sophomore forward Andrea Burroughs (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) noted a jumper before Mitchell added four from the foul line, sending the two teams into the final quarter with GA trailing by eight, 42-34.
Greater Allegheny continued with jumpers from Upsher, Johnston, Ellis and freshman guard Destanie Grayson, 50-44 with four minutes remaining in regulation. Johnston completed a trey before Grayson made a jumper. Upsher knocked down the final points for Greater Allegheny, 66-51 Worthington Scranton.
Johnston put up 20 with 100% (4-of-4) completed buckets from the foul line, alongside two rebounds. Upsher posted 12 points with nine boards, four assists, five blocks and two steals as Grayson pulled down eight rebounds with four points. Mitchell put up nine points with two rebounds while Ellis added four points with seven rebounds.
As a team, Greater Allegheny out-rebounded Worthington-Scranton 43-42 as they shot 91.7% (11-of-12) from the foul line. The Lions managed 11 points off turnovers with eight points on fastbreak, four points on second-chance and four points in the paint.
Greater Allegheny (4-8, 2-4 PSUAC) take a few days off before hosting a PSUAC weekend in Wunderley Gymnasium on Friday, as Penn State Lehigh Valley is set for a 6 p.m. tip-off.
