Women's Basketball Dominates Hawks for Senior Day Victory
ALTOONA, Pa. - The Penn State Altoona women's basketball team recognized their seniors before Saturday's game in the Adler Arena, then defeated Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference opponent Hilbert College 85-39.
Prior to the game, Penn State Altoona women's basketball recognized seniors Jess Burns (South Fayette, PA/South Fayette), Jaidyn McCracken (Bellwood, PA/Bellwood-Antis), Allyana Stephens (Johnstown, PA/Bishop McCort), Haley Hicks (Wylie, TX/Wylie East), and Avana Sayles (Venetia, PA/Peters Township) for their contributions to the program.
Penn State Altoona (12-6, 7-2 AMCC) were on the offensive push for most of the game, as they outscored Hilbert (2-17, 2-8 AMCC) in every quarter but the fourth. The Lions' defense also stepped up, holding the Hawks to a 33.3 field goal percentage and forcing the Hawks into committing 36 turnovers.
Four players, three of them starters, scored double-digit points for the Lions. McCracken and Stephens tied for the game-high in points, with each scoring 17 points. Sayles and Lanie Wilt (Altoona, PA/Altoona) each scored 15 points. Sayles led the team in rebounding with seven, while also having two assists and two blocks. Wilt had a game-high five steals along with four assists.
For the Hawks, Caycee Scott led the team in scoring, with eight points. Learsi Sabala had a game-high 10 rebounds.
The Lions started off the front foot, as McCracken scored a three-pointer six seconds into the game to give Penn State Altoona an early 3-0 lead.
The Lions went on an early 9-2 run at the 7:15 mark, with baskets from Stephens and Sayles making it 12-4 in favor of the Lions.
At 2:35, the Lions went on a 10-0 run that would last for the remainder of the first quarter. McCracken scored a three-pointer; Wilt scored a layup and three free throws; and Madison Rusnica (DuBois, PA/DuBois) scored a layup as the Lions ended the quarter leading 25-8.
The second quarter went similarly to the first as the Lions only allowed six points throughout the entire quarter.
The Lions started the quarter off by going on an 11-2 run at 8:33. In it, McCracken scored a layup and two free throws, Sayles scored a jump shot, Wilt scored a layup, and Stephens scored a three-point jump shot.
Penn State Altoona followed that up with a massive 14-2 run at 3:41 in the quarter. Stephens scored three three-pointers, and McCracken scored a layup as well as a three-pointer. This run gave the Lions a 51-14 lead going into the halftime break.
The second half started with both teams exchanging baskets. At 8:00, Promesse Rwigamba scored a three-pointer to close the gap to 37 points.
The Lions responded, going on a 10-1 run at 4:23 to increase their lead to 47 points. In the run, Addy Nardolillo (Hinsdale, NH/Hinsdale) scored a layup, Halle Kuzminski (Warren, PA/Warren) scored two free throws, Rusnica scored a free throw, Addi Schirato (Salix, PA/Forest Hills) scored a layup, and Wilt scored a three-pointer.
The Lions lifted their foot off the gas pedal in the fourth quarter as they looked to close out the game and get the victory at home.
The Hawks tried to close the gap, going on a 9-2 run at 8:25 to make it 78-34. The Lions fired back though, going on a 7-1 run to extend the lead to 50 points. Ellie Irvin (Calvin, PA/Southern Huntingdon) scored two jumpers, and Hannah Glunt (Clearfield, PA/Clearfield) scored a three-point jump shot. Hilbert then scored two more baskets as the game finished 85-39 in favor of the Lions.
Penn State Altoona women's basketball returns to action Monday, February 2, in a rescheduled game against Pitt Bradford. Tipoff is set for 5:00 p.m.
