McKeesport, Pa. – The Penn State University Athletic Conference Playoffs kick off on Tuesday, and the #2 seed Penn State Greater Allegheny Women’s Basketball Team (15-10, 11-4) start their first run in five seasons when they host the #3 seed Penn State Fayette (12-13, 8-7) at 6 p.m. After each team got a win in the regular season, Tuesday’s match will be the grudge match as both teams try to make the PSUAC Semifinal round on Friday.
The match came along after PSUGA dropped their regular season finale to PSU-Fayette 73-66 on Friday. Despite having four players finish in double-digits, PSUGA didn’t have enough in the tank to pull out a win. It was a slow start for both offenses and Fayette edged out to a 13-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Then the offense started to click and PSUGA put up a game high 22 points in the second quarter and took their first lead of the day as they went into halftime up 32-29. However, Fayette put their foot on the gas and scored 44 points over the final 20 minutes of play. PSUGA put up 35 points over that same span and it wasn’t enough as they fell 73-66. The loss finished PSUGA’s regular season at 15-10 tying them for the most single season wins in program history.
Teaira Hartley (East Stroudsburg, PA./East Stroudsburg North HS) led the way both on offense and defense with 14 points and nine rebounds. Teammate Lexus Santiago (Pittsburgh, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) also finished with nine rebounds while finishing right behind Hartley with 13 points in the loss.
After falling in their regular season finale, PSUGA allowed PSU-Fayette to jump PSU-DuBois in the standings setting up this first round match-up. PSUGA will look to bounce back as they start their first playoff run in five seasons and first under head coach Chrissy French. The only player on the PSUGA roster with playoff experience is Hartley, who went to the conference championship with Lackawanna last season. She will be looked at to bring that playoff knowledge to PSUGA as they try for the program’s first ever PSUAC championship.
During the regular season, the two teams split the season series with the home team picking up the win in each of the games. PSUGA’s win came back on January 9th when they picked up a 79-73 win inside the Wunderly gym. Tina Clybourn (Pittsburgh, PA./Brashear HS) led the way with 19 points as PSUGA put their foot on the gas pedal and never backed down in the win. They will need that same fast start if they want to get off to their playoff run on the right foot.
Tip-off for Tuesday’s first round PSUAC matchup is scheduled for 6 p.m. inside the Wunderly Gym. You can watch all the action live at bit.ly/PSUGAYT.
