WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's women's basketball team jumped out to a sizable lead during the first quarter and never looked back in a 77-57 road victory over United East foe Penn College on Friday night, Jan. 6.

Four Penn State Harrisburg players reached double figures, led by Kendis Butler's game-high 19 points. Ciani Redd-Howard netted 15, Jenna Montana finished with a dozen, and Jayla Galbreath added 11, while Mikayla Wright finished one point shy of a double-double with nine and 10 rebounds.

The Lions (5-6, 2-0 United East) raced out to an early 8-0 lead following an old-fashioned 3-point play by Redd-Howard just 1:09 into the contest. Penn College (1-10, 0-2 United East) scored the game's next seven points but the visitors responded with an 11-0 run that included 3-balls from Montana, Galbreath, and Redd-Howard, and led 24-11 after the first frame. 

The second began with layups from Butler, Sydney Hemler, and Alli Walton before triples from Butler and Redd-Howard extended the advantage to 36-15 with 6:24 left in the first half. The Wildcats showed life by putting together an 11-0 run and cutting the deficit to seven but a Giahny Correa layup ended the spurt and solidified the lead at nine heading into the break.

A Galbreath 3-pointer pushed the lead back to double-digits midway through the third quarter and Montana's buzzer-beater from beyond the arc made it 55-43 heading into the final stanza. 

Penn College made one last push early in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to seven with 6:41 remaining but the Wildcats had no answer for Butler in crunch time, as she netted seven straight points to put the Lions out in front 64-54 with 4:21 left. Redd-Howard converted a layup to preserve the double-digit lead and Butler knocked down a dagger 3-ball that upped the advantage to 14 with 2:27 remaining. Penn State Harrisburg's defense closed things out, surrendering just two points in the final 3:26.

NOTABLES

- The Lions shot 42.9 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from beyond the arc.

- Penn State Harrisburg won the rebounding battle 36-34.

- The visitors scored 34 points off Penn College turnovers.

- The Lions recorded assists on more than half (14) of their 27 field goals.  

- Starters Butler, Redd-Howard, Montana, and Galbreath each shot 50 percent from the floor. 

- Butler buried four 3-pointers en route to a game-high 19 points and grabbed three rebounds.

- Redd-Howard finished with 15 points, six boards, and a game-high five steals. 

- Montana netted three triples and finished with 12 points, three steals, and two assists.

- Galbreath dished out a game-high four assists to go along with 11 points.

- Wright nearly had a double-double, finishing with nine points and 10 rebounds.

- Hemler added four points and four rebounds off the bench, while Walton pulled down five boards and Makayla Claggett added three assists off the bench.

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions return to the Capital Union Building to host conference foe Penn State Abington Untied East action on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.

STAY CONNECTED

Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.