Lions Improve to 2-0 in AMCC with Home Win
by McKenzie Quirin
ALTOONA, Pa. – A strong start boosted the Penn State Altoona women's basketball team as they came out on top, 61-47, in their second Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference matchup of the season against Hilbert College Saturday afternoon in Adler Arena.
Hilbert (0-5, 0-2 AMCC) scored the game's first basket on a layup from Kayla Johnson, but Penn State Altoona (4-3, 2-0 AMCC) took the lead shortly thereafter and never trailed again for the rest of the game, improving on its AMCC standing by posting another conference win.
Jaidyn McCracken (Bellwood, PA/Bellwood-Antis) led the Lions with a game-high total of 18 points, as well as three rebounds, one assist and two steals. Jordan Bisignani (Pittsburgh, PA/Peters Township) and Raniyah Green (Hillside, NJ/East Orange/Hillside) also contributed for the Lions. Bisignani ended the game with 13 points, two rebounds, three assists and one steal, and Green had a double-double with 12 rebounds and 10 points.
Jess Burns (South Fayette, PA/South Fayette) and Avana Sayles (Venetia, PA/Peters Township) put up seven points apiece for Penn State Altoona.
Alesia Hamm and Kelsey Schlagenhauf led Hilbert in their loss to the Lions, as Hamm had 16 points and 13 rebounds, one assist and two steals, and Schlagenhauf had 14 points with 10 rebounds and three assists.
Although the Hawks had a 2-0 advantage at 9:13 of the first quarter, Penn State Altoona tied the game at two apiece on a Burns layup exactly 17 seconds later. Hilbert was able to fend off the Lions until Bisignani made a layup, extending the lead to 4-2. With Green's two made layups and three free throws from Burns, Penn State Altoona increased their lead to 11-2. Keeping up with the Lions' pace, the Hawks managed to cut their deficit to one with 3:11 left in the first. Penn State Altoona held their lead to 17-16 as the clock wound down to zero, ending the first quarter of play.
Penn State Altoona picked up where they left off as the second quarter began, as Bisignani put up two points on a jump shot, allowing the Lions to grow their lead to 19-16. Sayles added a point on a free throw to extend the Hawks' deficit to four, 20-16. Quickly, Penn State Altoona piled on four more points, leading 24-16 when Bisignani and Sayles posted two jump shots. Hilbert applied pressure on the Lions' defense, which resulted in multiple scoring opportunities to cut Penn State Altoona's lead to 28-24 with 2:42 remaining. The Hawks' pressure did not shake the Lions, however, as they closed the second quarter with a 32-28 lead.
The Lions came out strong to start the third quarter, getting a made layup from Bisignani that allowed Penn State Altoona to hold a 34-28 lead. Both teams went three minutes without scoring, but Hilbert's Hamm cut their deficit to four after making a layup at 6:35. It was not long for the Lions to answer, as McCracken hit a much-needed three-pointer to extend the Lions' advantage to seven, 37-30. From that point on, it was all Penn State Altoona offensively, as they were ahead of the Hawks 50-43 as the third quarter ended, despite points late in the period by Hilbert.
McCracken made a layup for the Lions at 8:36 to start the fourth quarter scoring. The Lions' Rakaya Cooper (East Orange, NJ/East Orange) got on the board, when she added a layup to widen Penn State Altoona's lead to 54-43. With a few turnovers by the Hawks, Penn State Altoona was able to stretch its lead as the clock wound down. Penn State Altoona held Hilbert to just four points during the fourth quarter, as the Lions' strength and resilience helped the finish with its second win in AMCC play.
The Penn State Altoona women's basketball team stays at home for its next game, as they take on AMCC opponent Mt. Aloysius College on Wednesday, December 6 at 5:30 p.m. in their Altoona Benefitting THON night.
