McKeesport, Pa. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Women’s Basketball Team (4-18, 4-10) finished the 2017/2018 season in style as they defeated Penn State Fayette (3-19, 2-12) 61-52 on Monday. It was the ladies third win in the last four games giving them momentum as they head towards the offseason.
PSUGA started off slow falling behind 6-2 in the first three and a half minutes of the game. However, the offense would come to life scoring 17 of 19 to jump out to a huge 19-9 lead. Jayla Ellis (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) led the offensive charge with eight points in the first quarter helping PSUGA to build the lead.
That big offensive outburst would prove to be a big factor in the game as PSU-Fayette would punch back in the second quarter putting up 13 points, but PSUGA would not let them creep any closer scoring 14 points of their own to head into halftime leading 33-22. PSUGA was looking to continue their winning trend when leading at halftime as they were 3-0 in that scenario entering play today. Even though Ellis was unable to get on the board in the second quarter she still led the team with eight first half points.
PSU-Fayette would see their biggest offensive surge of the night in the third quarter putting up 17 points headed by Taylor Harbaugh’s 10-point effort. However, PSUGA continued their consistent offensive attack putting up 15 points, including six from Tina Clybourn (Pittsburgh, Pa./Brashear), to hold onto the lead 48-39. They would seal the deal in the final quarter of play putting up 13 points and allowing Fayette to score 13 points to secure the 61-52 victory.
Clybourn’s eight second half points were enough to make her the team leader scoring 14 points on the night. She was followed by Lexus Santiago (Pittsburgh, Pa./Imani Christian Academy), 12 points, and Ellis, 10 points. Andrea Burroughs (New Rochelle, Ny./New Rochelle) continued her consistent rebounding collecting a team leading 12 boards.
The win moves PSUGA to 4-0 when leading at halftime and marks the third win in the last four games giving the ladies confidence heading into the offseason. With most of their young roster set to return one year older, the ladies look to keep maturing and make a run for the Penn State University Athletic Conference playoffs in the 2018/2019 season.
After starting the year on a program worst 14-game losing streak, the ladies fought back and had a nice ending to the 2017/2018 season. They will look to keep growing during the offseason and come back even stronger in the 2018/2019 season.