Lemont Furnace, Pa. – After showing promise in their second half opener over the weekend, the Penn State Greater Allegheny Women’s Basketball Team (1-13, 1-6) put it all together on Tuesday night and picked up their first win of the season defeating Penn State Fayette (3-10, 2-5) 52-50.
After playing from behind all season long, PSUGA jumped out to the early advantage scoring nine of the first 11 points to take a 9-2 lead. Fayette would come back in the quarter scoring 11 of 15 points bringing the game to a tie after one 13-13. PSUGA continued to find offensive success in the first half putting up 17 points in the second and they went into halftime on top leading 30-28.
After having a breakout weekend Tina Clybourn (Pittsburgh, Pa./Brashear) continued her success scoring eight first half points and being an instrumental reason why her team was ahead. The key for PSUGA was to keep their foot on the gas and hold the lead through the third quarter. In the first 13 games of the season, PSUGA never led going into the second half of a game. They had an opportunity to make the most of their first second half lead this season.
Fayette would regain the lead on a 7-0 run halfway through the third quarter and even though PSUGA fought back, they would find themselves down by one heading into the final quarter of play. Clybourn hit a three-pointer to give PSUGA the advantage, but Fayette continued to fight back when Hannah Stockwell hit a three to even things back up.
With :12 seconds to go, PSUGA found themselves up 51-50 and Andrea Burroughs (New Rochelle, Ny./New Rochelle) was headed to the line. Burroughs hit a key free throw to put PSUGA up by two. However, a timeout by Fayette set them up for one last play. Their leading scorer Hayley Moreland put up a two pointer and missed it sealing the victory for PSUGA.
Clybourn led PSUGA with 15 points and has been locked in so far in the second half. After averaging just 4.8 PPG through the first ten games of the season, she has come back and scored in double digits three times in the last four games and has averaged 11.5 PPG in the second half.
Alex Hall (Washington, D.C./Bell HS) finished right behind Clybourn with nine points and Brandy Taylor (Pittsburgh, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) finished with eight points. Burroughs led the team with 15 rebounds on the night while collecting six points.
The win over Penn State Fayette breaks a 16-game losing streak for the PSUGA women dating back to February 2nd of last year when they defeated Central Penn 65-48. It also marked just their fourth win against Fayette dating back to the 2011/2012 season and gives the ladies confidence heading into their last eight home games of the season.
PSUGA returns to the court on Friday night as they take on PSU-Mont Alto in the first of two PSUAC matchups this weekend. Tip-off for Friday’s game is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be the first half of a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader.
