York, Pa – The Penn State Harrisburg Lions have been playing well and getting better since the start of their short season. They came into tonight's match up verse the 6-0 York Spartans with an even 3-3 record and were hopeful to pull the upset. Unfortunately an early 21-4 run by the home team would prove too much to overcome for the young Lions as they suffered their first CAC conference loss 84-41.
Harrisburg responded to the Spartan's early run with an Ana Edmonson (Lancaster, Pa. / J.P. McCaskey) three pointer and a layup by Rachel Moyer (Carlisle, Pa. / Cumberland Valley) to pull things a little closer. But, as the first half drew to a close, the Lions found themselves still down by seventeen 42-25.
The first five minutes of the second half went pretty much the same way as the first. This put the Blue and White down twenty five with the clock starting to wind down on their hopes for the upset. York continued to dominate the second half similar to the first half and kept the lead comfortable until the final whistle.
Despite the 84-41 point loss, the Lions did improve drastically in one of their troubled spot this season, turnovers, only giving the ball up 27 times which was just five more than their counterparts. Other than shooting from the line where Harrisburg had a 60% to 53% advantage, the Spartans outshoot the Lions 47% to 21% from the field and 42% to 16% from three point range.
Edmonson had a strong game by leading the team in both points and rebounds. The freshman scored nine and had five rebounds. Junior Miranda Zeanchock (Carrolltown, Pa. / Cambria Heights) was the second highest scorer with eight points.
Harrisburg doesn't get to think about the game long as they get right back to action Saturday December 7th when they host St. Mary's for a 1:00 tip off.