by Christina Roukas

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona women's basketball team took its second loss of the week on Wednesday night, losing to USCAA opponent Penn State Schuylkill by a final score of 69-59. 

In the first quarter, Jess Burns (South Fayette, PA/South Fayette) scored from the three-point line to put the Lions (2-6) in the lead, 7-6. Avana Sayles' (Venetia, PA/Peters Township) jump shot trimmed a Penn State Schuylkill (7-4) lead to 20-16 in the second quarter, and Burns connected from three again to bring the deficit down to one point, 20-19. Sarah Huston (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville) made a pair of threes to keep the Lions within one point, 28-27. Penn State Altoona trailed by three points by halftime, 30-27.

In the third quarter, Huston's defense created a steal, and her drive to the basket kept Penn State Altoona within two, 34-32. Penn State Schuylkill came back with a 12-point run against the Lions, increasing its lead to 46-32 late in the quarter. Jaidyn McCracken (Bellwood, PA/Bellwood-Antis) connected from three to add some points to the board for the Lions, making it 48-37 with a minute left in the third. Midway through the fourth quarter, Emma Kitko's (Houtzdale, PA/Moshannon Valley) three-pointer cut the Lions' deficit to 14 points, 63-49. Sayles made a three-pointer to make it a 10-point game with 29 seconds remaining, but the game ended with Schuylkill winning 69-59.

Huston led Penn State Altoona with 16 points and five steals, while Sayles contributed 12 points and a team-high 10 rebounds for her fifth consecutive double-double. Burns and Kitko finished with eight points apiece.

Penn State Schuylkill got a game-high 23 points and 15 rebounds from Tajae Stevenson, and Kassiy Ingram had 16 points and 12 rebounds.

The Penn State Altoona women's basketball team continues its season on the road, with its next game on Friday, December 9 at non-conference opponent Penn College at 5:00 p.m