MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Penn State Harrisburg's women's basketball team pushed United East foe SUNY Morrisville to the final seconds before dropping a 69-67 nail-biter at the Capital Union Building on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 4.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Penn State Harrisburg (5-4, 1-1 United East) erased a first-half deficit and another late in the fourth quarter before ultimately being edged by Morrisville (5-3, 1-1 United East) on Saturday afternoon. Kendis Butler led the way with 19 points, while Jenna Montana posted a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double. Jayla Galbreath was the third player to reach double figures with a dozen points.

Trailing 26-15 at the 7:15 mark of the second quarter, the Lions clawed back into it by stringing together a 16-3 run to end the first half. During the spurt, Montana, Toni Amato, Galbreath, and Kayla Cade contributed buckets before Butler put an exclamation point on the run with a tough 3-ball while being fouled that put the home team in front by two just seconds before the break.

Butler netted the first five points for Penn State Harrisburg out of the locker room to push the lead to seven and added four more points midway through the third before a Montana layup gave the Lions their largest lead of the day at 45-36 at the 4:12 mark. Macy Carroll's triple kept the advantage at nine with 2:05 left in the third but the Mustangs closed the deficit to a more-manageable five heading into the fourth.

Morrisville opened the fourth with an 8-2 run to reclaim the lead for the first time in the second half. After falling behind 67-60 with less than four minutes left, the Blue & White battled back to draw even following consecutive layups by Paige Kubulak and Galbreath with 1:34 remaining.

Cara Walker converted the go-ahead bucket with little more than a minute left and the Lions got a look at a potential game-winning 3-ball in the final seconds but it was off the mark and the Mustangs escaped the Capital Union Building with the slim victory.

NOTABLES

- The Lions shot 41.2 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from beyond the arc.

- Morrisville shot 33.8 percent from the floor and 30 percent from 3-point range.

- The Blue & White won the rebounding battle 45-38.

- The Mustangs were able to score 25 points off Penn State Harrisburg turnovers.

- Kendis Butler scored a team-high 19 points to go along with six rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

- Jenna Montana had a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

- Jayla Galbreath finished with 12 points, five assists, and a pair of steals.

- Macy Carroll added eight points off the bench.

- Toni Amato netted six points, grabbed five boards, dished out four assists, and two steals.

- Anna Mahan pulled down eight rebounds to go along with two points.

- Paige Kubulak and Kayla Cade each added four points off the bench.

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions return to action in 2022 when they travel to No. 17 Messiah for a non-conference tilt on Wednesday night, Jan. 5. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.

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