MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Penn State Harrisburg's women's basketball team opened the 2021-22 season with a 69-65 come-from-behind victory over Hood at the Capital Union Building on Tuesday night, Nov. 9. Kendis Butler and Anna Mahan led the way with 18 points each, while Mahan recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds as well.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After a slow start, Penn State Harrisburg (1-0) got things rolling in the second quarter before taking the lead in the third quarter and holding on for a thrilling season-opening victory over Hood (1-1) on Tuesday night.

The Lions fell behind early but Kendis Butler kept them in the game by scoring the team's first eight points on a pair of free throws and back-to-back 3-pointers. The visitors stretched the advantage to as many as 11 points and led 28-18 after one thanks to shooting nearly 77 percent from the floor in the opening quarter.

The Blue & White settled down and got the offense going in the second quarter, putting together a 23-13 run to draw even at 41-41 following a Jayla Galbreath layup with one minute remaining in the first half. Galbreath added another scoop and score in the final minute to keep the score tied heading into the break.

The offensive fireworks of the second quarter gave way to strong defense in the third quarter, with each team holding the other to just 10 points in the frame. In the fourth, the two-player combination of Butler and Mahan made a pair of key plays, one with Mahan finding Butler for a give-and-go layup before Butler returned the favor by making a pretty bounce pass to a diving Mahan who finished at the rim to make it 64-61 with 2:23 left.

Butler added a free throw to push the lead to four but the Blazers answered with back-to-back buckets to tie things up with 35 seconds left. Toni Amato drew a foul with 27 ticks left and knocked down clutch free throws to reclaim the lead and the Lions came up with a defensive stop in crunch time before Mahan put the game on ice with a pair of foul shots in the final seconds.

NOTABLES

- The Lions shot 39.6 percent from the field, while Hood shot 34.4 percent from the floor.

- The Blue & White got to the charity stripe 31 times, converting at a 77.4 percent clip.

- Each team's bench netted 15 points.

- Anna Mahan posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. She added three steals.

- Kendis Butler matched the team-high 18 points and added three boards and a pair of assists.

- Toni Amato scored 11 points and added four rebounds in her collegiate debut.

- Jayla Galbreath finished with nine points, two assists, and a pair of steals.

- Alli Walton pulled down six rebounds in her first collegiate game.

- Jenna Montana's debut saw her net six points, grab three boards, and swipe three steals.

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions take on Delaware Valley on the first night of Lebanon Valley's Rinso Marquette on Saturday, Nov. 13. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

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