McKeesport, Pa. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Women’s Basketball team (13-9, 10-3) continued their turn around season on Monday defeating Penn State Wilkes Barre (6-11, 3-10) 56-45. The win helped them clinch a home playoff game in the first round of the Penn State University Athletic Conference playoffs, which they will host on Tuesday February 19th, and they will finish as one of the top two seeds from the West Division.
It was by no means an easy win for PSUGA as Wilkes Barre battled early in the game keeping PSUGA on their toes for the entirety of the first half. After the teams traded the first 10 points of the game, Wilkes Barre went on an 8-2 run to take a 13-7 advantage with 2:35 to go in the first quarter. The teams would once again trade the final 14 points of the quarter and PSUGA found themselves down 20-14 after one.
PSUGA’s defense stepped up and played their part in the second quarter holding the opposition to just four points and took the lead late in the quarter 25-24 and held it as the team’s broke for the locker room. Senior Andrea Burroughs (New Rochelle, NY./New Rochelle HS) led the charge with seven points and freshmen Linquita Schley (Pittsburgh, PA./Brashear HS) added four points in the quarter.
PSUGA came out and scored five of the first six points in the quarter to pull out to a 30-25 lead two minutes into the quarter. PSUGA scored the final seven points of the quarter and led 45-36 after three quarters. With Wilkes Barre only having six players, fatigue started to set in and PSUGA began to run away with the game.
After exchanging the first couple points of the quarter, PSUGA went on a 9-2 run that opened the score to 54-41 and PSUGA took control from there never looking back. They outscored Wilkes Barre 11-9 in the quarter and secured their first home playoff game since the 2013-2014 season.
Tina Clybourn (Pittsburgh, PA./Brashear HS) led the way with 17 points in the game while Burroughs put up a season high 15 in the win. Burroughs finished the day with a double-double leading the defense as well with 10 rebounds. Six of the nine PSUGA players who dressed got on the board as the team pulled out a much-needed win.
PSUGA now improves to 10-3 in conference play and can finish no lower than the two seed in the PSUAC West Division. With a big match-up looming with Penn State Beaver on Wednesday, it is a chance for PSUGA to make a statement as they head towards the PSUAC playoffs.
PSUGA’s big match-up with PSU-Beaver is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday and will be the first half of a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader.
