Media, Pa. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Women’s Basketball Team (0-13, 0-6) held their own against two of the upper echelon teams in the PSUAC over the weekend. However, it was not enough for them to be able to pick up that elusive first win of the season as they dropped both contests.
It started with a match up at Cedar Crest College against Penn State Lehigh Valley (9-5, 7-1) when they fell 95-56. The defense suffered in the game allowing five Lehigh Valley players to score in double digits in the loss. Lexus Santiago (Pittsburgh, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) made her PSUGA debut in the game providing some much-needed reinforcements for a team that has been low on numbers all season long.
It wouldn’t get any easier for the women as they had to turn around and face Penn State University Athletic Conference leader Penn State Brandywine (12-5, 8-0) on Saturday. The women fell behind in the game early, but were able to find their offense towards the end of the game. The first quarter went all PSU-Brandywine’s way as they quickly jumped out to a 22-7 lead on the back of Kendra Stanford’s eight-point effort.
PSUGA would start clicking offensively in the second quarter putting up 13 points, six of which coming from Sophomore Jayla Ellis (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills). However, Brandywine just kept coming and put up 19 points to increase their halftime lead to 41-20. Ellis has been the offensive leader for PSUGA all season long and they were looking for someone to step up and get them over the hump.
They would get just that in the third quarter from Freshman Alex Hall (Washington, D.C./Bell HS). Hall scored 13 points in the third quarter, the most scored in a single quarter by either team on the day, in route to a 25-point effort. They would outscore Brandywine 25-24 in the quarter and crept a little bit closer trailing 65-45 with one quarter to go. Despite scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter, it wouldn’t be enough as they fell 82-59.
Ellis and Hall tied for the team lead each scoring 15 points on the day while Brandy Taylor (Pittsburgh, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) rounded out the top three with 10 points. Andrea Burroughs (New Rochelle, Ny./New Rochelle) led the team with 11 rebounds.
Despite picking up their 13th loss of the season, Saturday’s contest saw the ladies compile their best shooting percentage of the season. They shot 40% (24 for 60) from the floor, 57.1% (4-7) from beyond the arc, and 43.8% (7-16) from the free throw line. Head Coach Chrissy French wants her team to focus on the things they can control rather then the result of the game and this is something they can build on as the season moves forward.
PSUGA will look to build on their performance against PSU-Brandywine when they go on the road on Tuesday to take on Penn State Fayette. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. as the first half of a Men’s and Women’s Basketball Doubleheader.