McKeesport, Pa. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Women’s Basketball Team (2-17, 2-9) used an all-around offensive attack last time out to pick up their second win of the season. They are now looking for their first winning streak of the year when they take on Penn State Wilkes Barre (11-7, 5-6) on Friday at 6 p.m.
PSUGA saw five women finish in double digits on the night on Tuesday against Penn State DuBois when they scored a season high 67 points. Sophomore Jayla Ellis (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) continued to lead the offense putting up a team high 16 points and Lexus Santiago (Pittsburgh, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) scored a season high 12 points, 10 of which came in the second half of the game.
It was a back and forth game early on between the two teams, but PSUGA was finally able to get on a run scoring eight unanswered points before halftime to go in the locker room leading 28-25. Their only other win of the season came when they were leading at halftime and they would look to hold on for the win again here tonight.
Despite falling behind by as much as six points near the end of the third quarter, PSUGA continued to show resiliency and fought back to grab the win. With Ellis held to just two points in the second half, PSUGA got contributions from many of their young freshman core including Tina Clybourn (Pittsburgh, Pa./Brashear), Brandy Taylor (Pittsburgh, Pa./Imani Christian Academy), and Alex Hall (Washington, D.C./Bell HS) who each finished with 11 points on the night.
While PSUGA has been riding a hot streak as of late, so has PSU-Wilkes Barre. They have won four out of their last five contests including an 85-77 win over PSU-Hazleton their last time out. Wilkes-Barre was able to use a 26-point second quarter to open up the lead and another 26-point third quarter to seal the deal. While top scorer Raven Monet Kemper was held to just nine points on the night, Alaena Lloyd stepped up in a big way scoring a season high 24 points in the win.
PSUGA has found success against PSU-Wilkes Barre in past seasons compiling a record of 5-1 against them since the 2011/2012 season. Last season, PSUGA would just sneak out of Wilkes-Barre, Pa. with a win defeating them 72-70. Ellis was the third leading scorer on that night with 13 points while former Lion Mandi Johnston put up 30 points on the night.
Tip-off for tonight’s game is scheduled for 6 p.m. inside the Wunderly Gymnasium. It will be the first half of a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader.
