WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's women's basketball team used a strong third quarter to build a double-digit lead before holding off a furious fourth-quarter run in a 62-60 victory at King's (Pa.) on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 26.
Bailey Oehmig and Jayla Galbreath each netted a game-high 16 points, with Oehmig adding five rebounds and four assists, while Galbreath finished with three steals. Jenna Montana added 10 points and a team-high five assists.
Holding a two-point advantage at halftime, the Lions (2-5) created separation by outscoring the home team 26-15 in the third quarter. Galbreath, Montana, and Makayla Claggett combined to knock down five 3-pointers during the stanza and the Penn State Harrisburg defense held the Monarchs (2-4) to just 31.8 percent shooting from the field in the frame.
King's flipped the script in the fourth quarter, however, holding the visitors to just 23.1 percent shooting while putting together a comeback effort that included a 20-5 run that put the Monarchs out in front with 1:52 left to play.
Ali Lister found Mikayla Wright for a game-tying layup with 1:23 remaining and Montana came away with a steal during the home team's next trip down the floor. Oehmig was fouled with 11 seconds left and went 1-for-2 at the foul line. Galbreath swiped another steal on the next Monarch possession and Oehmig was fouled again. She knocked down one of two and a desperation attempt from King's fell short at the buzzer, allowing the Lions to escape with the narrow victory.
NOTABLES
- Penn State Harrisburg forced 23 turnovers and scored 24 points off King's miscues.
- The Lions struggled from the charity stripe, finishing 5-for-13 (38.5 percent) but managed nine 3-pointers to make up the difference.
- The Penn State Harrisburg bench outscored the Monarch reserves 11-3.
- Oehmig scored 16 points, grabbed five rebounds, had four assists, and swiped three steals.
- Galbreath finished with 16 points, three steals, and three boards.
- Montana had 10 points, five assists, four rebounds, and three steals.
- Lister, the reigning United East Volt Division Defensive Player of the Week, tallied seven points, seven boards, and a game-high seven steals.
- Claggett finished with seven points off the bench.
- Nicole Hernandez pulled down seven rebounds to go along with four points in a reserve role.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions open United East play at conference foe Penn College on Tuesday night.
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