Second-Half Surge Powers Women's Basketball to Victory

Second-Half Surge Powers Women's Basketball to Victory

Penn State Harrisburg 66, Alvernia 45

 

Harrisburg Starters

Mattis, Miller, Amey, Butler, and Mahan

 

Alvernia Starters

Robinson, Cooper, Devito, Zerbe, and McNeal

 

How It Happened

Penn State Harrisburg used a strong second half to pull away from Alvernia, 66-45. Shanique Mattis led the Lions with 23 points, 6 steals and 4 rebounds.

 

Both teams showed rust from the Holiday Break, with the Lions offense struggling in the early going. Mattis kept the Blue & White in the game coming away with four steals in the opening quarter.  The Lions offense would find traction in the final two minutes of the quarter going on 10-0 run punctuated by a Laurel Amey steal and score as the time expired giving the Lions a 16-8 lead.

 

Early in the second quarter the Lions went on an 8-0 powered by three's from Kendis Butler and Mattis, extending the Lions lead to 12. The Golden Wolves would chip away at the Lions lead, pulling within one point with a minute remaining in the quarter. Briana Davis would recapture some momentum for the Lions, burring a deep three on the Lions final possession, giving Harrisburg a 28-24 advantage at the half.

 

The Lions would pull away in the second half, holding the Golden Wolves to just 10 points in the first 15 minutes of the half. Mattis would continue to power the Lions offense scoring 15 of her 23 points in the second half, including a spectacular in bounce play where she threw the in bounce pass off an Alvernia defender, scored a layup and drew a foul. As a team the Lions were 6-12 from behind the arc in the second half, helping to build a 25-point second half lead.

 

Inside the Numbers

- Shanique Mattis led the Lions with 23 points, 6 steals, and 4 rebounds

- Kendis Butler add 15 points, knocking down five three-pointers

- The Lions defense forced 23 Golden Wolves turnovers, including 14 steals

- As a team, Harrisburg made 13 3-pointers, shooting 37 percent

 

Who's Next?

The Lions will open Capital Athletic Conference play against Southern Virginia University on January 2 at 6 p.m.

 

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