McKeesport, Pa. - In the first regular season contest of the 2016-17 regular season, the Penn State Greater Allegheny women's basketball team defeated CCAC-Allegheny, Wednesday night, by a margin of 98-34.
Junior guard Mandi Johnston (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) was the first on the board in the contest, banking a three-pointer. CCAC-Allegheny added a jumper before freshman guard Ronnie Upsher (Pittsburgh, Pa./McKeesport) matched them. Sophomore forward Andrea Burroughs (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) laid in points in the paint as Upsher added a layup herself, 9-2.
Freshman guard Destanie Grayson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) downed a pair of free-throws and a layup before Johnston matched her a layup of her own, 15-2 just five minutes into the game.
Two more points from CCAC before Johnston cashed in for another three-pointer, 18-4. Senior guard Tra-Esha Carswell (Homestead, Pa./Steel Valley) noted a jumper as Upsher added two and Burroughs and Johnston both added a free-throw point each. Upsher, Johnston and Carswelll rode out the scoring tally of the first quarter, 28-9 Greater Allegheny.
Carswell was first to open the new quarter as Upsher and Carswell both added points from the foul line. Senior guard Jess Manfredi (Pittsburgh, Pa./Serra Catholic) made a good jumper and two free-throws as Johnston added to points from foul herself, 39-14. Grayson and Upsher rode out the remainder of the half, Grayson good for six, sending the two teams into break, 46-20.
Upsher and Carswell put up jumpers as Burroughs added four straight points. Grayson and Upsher put up two more points each before Manfredi snapped with two made free-throws, a jumper and a three-pointer, elevating GA 65-27.
Johnston put up four before junior forward Shakeria Carter (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh CAPA) completed a layup. Grayson and Carswell rode out the third quarter with made layups, 75-27 Lions.
With just ten minutes left in regulation, the blue-and-white continued to work. Johnston slashed a free-throw as Upsher, Burroughs and Johnston all drained points in the paint, 89-30. Johnston, Manfredi and Carswell all denoted points from the foul line before Burroughs capped off the night with a made layup, Greater Allegheny achieving their first win under head coach French, 98-34.
Four Greater Allegheny Lions finished the evening with double-doubles. Johnston dropped a team-high 25 points with 13 boards and three assists while Grayson came off the bench with 15 rebounds and 14 points. Burroughs surged with 14 rebounds and 13 points while adding three steals and two blocks. Manfredi added 13 points with 13 rebounds, eight assists and four steals all the while noting a perfect 6-of-6 from the foul line. Upsher noted 17 points with nine rebounds, seven steals and two assists as Carswell surplused with 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals.
As a team, Greater Allegheny shot 42% (37-of-88) from the floor while noting 52.5% (21-of-40) from the foul line. GA out-rebounded the visitors, 83-35, while adding 56 points in the paint, 32 points off second chance, 31 points off turnovers and 14 points off second chance.
Greater Allegheny (1-0) looks onward to the weekend, as both the men and women go on the road for a United States Collegiate Athletic Association weekend at Southern State CC. Friday is set against the home team at 5 p.m. and Saturday against Cincinnati-Clermont, 12 p.m.
