PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona women's bowling team started its 2021-22 schedule on Saturday in the Unicorn Invitational, hosted by La Roche University at Perry Park Lanes.

The Lions competed in five baker matches decided by total pinfall during the event, facing Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference opponents La Roche, Penn State Behrend, Pitt-Bradford, Saint Vincent College, and Pitt-Greensburg.

Penn State Altoona began the day with a 772-674 loss to host La Roche. The Lions combined for a high game score of 156 in the fifth game, and they also edged the Redhawks 155-131 in the second game. Penn State Altoona followed their match-opening loss with an 840-681 defeat at the hands of Penn State Behrend. The Lions totaled 152 in games two and five, but it was not enough to overcome Behrend's final advantage in pinfall.

In its third match of the event, Penn State Altoona fell 923-708 to Pitt-Bradford. The Lions dropped 181 pins in the second game, but Pitt-Bradford put two big scores on the board with 209 in the third game and 239 in the fifth game to cruise to a comfortable win. The Lions posted their highest team score of the day in the fourth match during a 909-756 loss to St. Vincent, which included Penn State Altoona's high game score of the day with 192 in the fourth game.

Penn State Altoona finished the invitational with a tight 768-713 loss to Pitt-Greensburg. The Lions led 440-416 through the first three games of the match, but the Bobcats surged back to win, helped by a 204 in the fourth game.

By the day's end, Chloe Mazza (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Township) held a team-best 15.96 baker average, while Breanna Yarnall (Bedford, PA/Bedford) was close behind with a 15.75 baker average. Korinn Clever (Cincinnati, OH/Kings) posted a 14.35 baker average in her colleguate bowling debut, and Madison Gray (Greensburg, PA/Hempfield) recorded a 13.84 baker average in her first college bowling event.

Allyson Givler (Lancaster, PA/Hempfield) and Kaitlyn Estright (Norristown, PA/Archbishop Carroll) rounded out the Lions' scoring with baker averages of 13.17 and 11.79, respectively.

Penn State Altoona women's bowling's next competition is the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Round Robin #1, which will be next Saturday, November 20 and Sunday, November 21 and hosted by Saint Vincent College.