Lions Get First Home Win Against Penn College
by Christina Roukas
ALTOONA, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona women's basketball team recorded its first home win of the season and second win in a row on Wednesday night, when the Lions defeated non-conference opponent Penn College 67-49 in the Adler Arena.
The Lions (2-4) started the game with an early lead. Sarah Huston (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville) hit a three to help her team start the first quarter on a 5-0 run, and Jess Burns (South Fayette, PA/South Fayette) also scored from the three-point line to extend the Lions' lead to 8-1. Jordyn Travis (Penn Run, PA/United) made a layup to put the Lions at a 10-point advantage, 18-8.
Penn College (1-4) battled back in the second quarter and lowered its deficit to two points, 22-20, on an Aubrey Stetts layup off of a turnover. But the Lions' offense came back, and Avana Sayles' (Venetia, PA/Peters Township) layup got the Lions back in the lead by 10 points, 31-21. Burns added a layup to make it 34-21, and the Lions ended the first half with an 11-point lead against the Wildcats, 34-23.
Penn State Altoona continued its momentum in the second half. Midway through the third quarter, a steal by Travis and pass to Burns resulted in a layup that put the Lions up 45-32. Sayles' jump shot made it 47-34, and baskets later in the period from Sayles and Travis set the home team's lead at 51-34 after three quarters.
In the fourth quarter, Burns made another layup to put the Lions ahead by 20 points, 65-45, for their largest lead of the game. Penn State Altoona went on to close the game out with a 67-49 final score.
Sayles had her third double-double of the season, tying the game-high in points with 16 and leading all players in rebounding with 10 boards. Burns contributed 13 points, a game-high eight assists, and two steals, while Huston had 10 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals. Jaidyn McCracken (Bellwood, PA/Bellwood-Antis) grabbed six rebounds and had a game-high three steals.
Penn College was led in scoring by Rachel Teats, who finished with 16 points to go along with seven rebounds. Stetts added 11 points for the Wildcats.
The Lions' next game is Tuesday, December 6 against NAIA opponent Carlow University in the Adler Arena. The game is set to start at 6:00 p.m.
