Women's Basketball Tops Gallaudet to Clinch Playoff Berth

bailey oehmig dribbles a ball near midcourt during a win over gallaudet in 2023

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's women's basketball team clinched a spot in the upcoming United East Championship Tournament thanks to a 71-50 victory over Gallaudet at the Capital Union Building on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 11.

 

Bailey Oehmig led the way with a team-high 14 points and six steals, while Olivia Richardson added a dozen points.

 

For the second time in as many outings, Kendis Butler got the game's scoring started with a driving layup. Richardson followed it up with a 3-pointer and a Ciani Redd-Howard jumper off a Butler feed made it 7-0 less than a minute and a half into the contest. The Bison (7-16, 6-8 United East) cut the deficit to three midway through the first quarter but the Lions (14-9, 11-3 United East) closed out the frame with an 11-2 run capped by a Sydney Hemler 3-ball to take a 12-point lead into the second stanza.

 

Correa and Oehmig opened the second with back-to-back layups and the home team took its largest lead of the first half when Butler buried an attempt from beyond the arc to make it 35-18 with 2:50 remaining before the break. 

 

The double-digit lead held into the third quarter and Jayla Galbreath pushed the advantage past 20 for the first time with a triple that made it 50-28 at the 4:34 mark. Richardson netted the final five points of the frame to make it 59-33 after three.

 

Oehmig opened the fourth with her fourth 3-pointer of the contest and it proved academic from there, with the Lions emptying the bench with nearly eight minutes left to play.

 

NOTABLES

- The Lions got off 74 total attempts and shot 40.5 percent from the field. 

- Penn State Harrisburg forced 35 turnovers, scoring 31 points off Gallaudet miscues.

- Despite being outrebounded 57-26, the Lions held the Bison to just 11 second chance points.

- Surprisingly, Penn State Harrisburg got to the foul line just one time on the afternoon.

- With her first bucket, Butler became the program's all-time leader in field goals made (375). She finished with seven points, three assists, and a pair of steals.

- Oehmig went 5-of-6 from the field to record her 14 points. She also swiped six steals.

- Richardson added 12 points and five rebounds.

- Mikayla Wright chipped in with eight points and four boards off the bench. 

- Redd-Howard tallied eight points, four rebounds, and two assists.

- Galbreath dished out four assists to go along with five points. 

 

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions host United East foe Penn College for their penultimate game of the regular season on Tuesday night.

 

STAY CONNECTED

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