McKeesport, Pa. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Women’s Basketball Team (2-18, 2-10) couldn’t survive an early offensive outburst on Friday when they fell to Penn State Wilkes Barre (12-7, 7-6) 68-55. Wilkes Barre scored 28 first half points to down PSUGA and hand them their 10th conference loss of the season.
PSU-Wilkes Barre opened things up early leading 10-4 with 1:29 left in the first quarter. PSUGA would find their biggest offensive outburst of the day going on a 6-0 run to bring the score back to within four points at the end of the first quarter. Brandy Taylor (Pittsburgh, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) scored three of those six points to help PSUGA get back in the game.
The battle of the runs continued as Wilkes Barre responded scoring the first 11 points of the quarter to put PSUGA down 21-8. PSUGA would bring it to within eight points before the teams would break for the locker room. PSUGA has not yet won a game when they are trailing at halftime and they would try to change that trend today.
Wilkes Barre would put the game out of reach in the third quarter scoring 23 points and opening things up to a 51-33 lead. PSUGA would respond with their highest offensive output of the day in the fourth quarter, scoring 22 points, but the lead was already to big. Wilkes Barre picked up their 12th win of the season and are now 6-6 in conference play.
Brandy Taylor (Pittsburgh, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) scored a season high 17 points on the day to lead her team. She was one of three players to finish in double digits on the night including Lexus Santiago’s (Pittsburgh, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) 15 points, a career high, and Jayla Ellis’s (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) 12-point effort.
PSUGA finished just under their goal of 30% shooting percentage shooting 29.6% (21-71) from the floor. However, they had a great day from three point range shooting 41.7% (5-12). They have two games left in the season, as they look to finish out strong at home as they prepare for next season.
PSUGA is back in action on Saturday when they take on PSU-Worthington Scranton at 1 p.m. It will be the first half of a Men’s and Women’s Basketball Double header.
