Lions Power Past Redhawks, 61-54
ALTOONA, Pa. - The Penn State Altoona women's basketball team persevered to get their sixth consecutive win Saturday afternoon, when the Lions came back to defeat La Roche University 61-54.
Penn State Altoona (15-6, 10-2 AMCC) found themselves down two points at the halftime break in a tight first half. However, the Lions came roaring back in the second half, outshooting and outscoring La Roche (12-10, 12-1 AMCC) to hand the Redhawks their first Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference loss of the season.
The last time Penn State Altoona women's basketball defeated La Roche was January 22, 2020, when the Lions defeated the Redhawks 91-76 at Adler Arena.
Lanie Wilt (Altoona, PA/Altoona) scored 30 points in the victory, tying her performance for the fourth most points in a game in Penn State Altoona women's basketball history.
Avana Sayles (Venetia, PA/Peters Township) recorded her 12th double-double of the season for the Lions, scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Halle Kuzminski (Warren, Pa/Warren) also grabbed 10 rebounds.
Catherine Kelly led in scoring for the La Roche, getting 14 points for the Redhawks. J'La Kizart and Jazmine Dunn scored 12 points apiece for La Roche.
La Roche jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter, scoring 10 points to the Lions three in the first four-and-a-half minutes. The Lions responded to this early deficit by scoring through a Wilt jump shot, and Haley Hicks (Wylie, TX/Wylie East) layup and jump shot to make it 10-9. After two baskets by each team, the scoreboard read 12-11 in favor of the Redhawks heading into the second quarter.
The Redhawks started the second quarter on the front foot as well, scoring six baskets in the first three minutes to take a seven-point lead. The Lions fired back, going on a 7-0 run at 6:55 with a layup and free throw from Sayles, free throws from Wilt, and a jumper from Kuzminski to tie the game at 18.
The Lions took their first lead in the game after Allyana Stephens scored a three-pointer at 4:36 to make it 24-21.
La Roche went on a 9-2 run at 4:16 to make the score 30-26 in favor of the Redhawks. Wilt scored two free throws with 29 seconds left to halve the deficit to two points going into the halftime intermission.
The tide started to shift in the third quarter as the Lions grew more into the game. Beginning at 6:45, the Lions went on an 8-3 run with baskets from Sayles and Wilt giving the Lions a 41-36 lead. La Roche tried to come back, but Penn State Altoona kept them at bay, going into the fourth quarter with a 43-42 lead.
The beginning of the fourth quarter was a tight affair, with the lead changing hands twice in a minute-and-a-half timespan. Penn State Altoona got a firm grip in the game at 5:44 as Wilt scored a layup to make it 50-48. After this basket, the Lions led the rest of the game.
Following Wilt's basket, a three-pointer and jump shot from Ellie Irvin (Calvin, PA/Southern Huntingdon) as well as a layup from Jaidyn McCracken (Bellwood, PA/Bellwood-Antis) gave the Lions an eight-point lead with 2:26 to play.
La Roche tried to claw their way back, scoring to reduce the gap to six points, but the Lions proved to be too much, winning by seven points, 61-54.
Penn State Altoona women's basketball team's next game is Wednesday, February 11, when they will face Mount Aloysius at Adler Arena. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
