MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – A slow start cost Penn State Harrisburg's women's basketball team in a 78-68 loss to Delaware Valley at the Capital Union Building on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 9.
Ali Lister turned in her strongest performance of the season with 22 points, seven rebounds, and three steals, while Giahny Correa also finished with 22 points. Jayla Galbreath just missed reaching the double-digit scoring mark with nine points.
The Lions (4-8) were ice cold to begin the game, missing their first 10 attempts from the field. By contrast, Delaware Valley (8-2) came out strong and opened the contest with a decisive 19-0 run. Correa broke the drought with a layup at the 2:25 mark of the first quarter, added an old-fashioned 3-point play, and Mikayla Wright converted a layup to cut the deficit to 23-7 at the end of the opening frame.
The Aggies kept things rolling to begin the second quarter, opening the period with a 9-2 run that stretched the advantage to 32-9 at the 6:45 mark. The home team came to life a bit to end the half, closing it out with an 11-3 spurt to pull to within 15 at the break.
The third quarter was much more evenly matched but Penn State Harrisburg again closed out the frame strong, netting seven of the last eight points to cut the deficit to a more-manageable 11 entering the final period.
Lister had a big fourth quarter, pouring in a dozen points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor, including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc in the final 10 minutes. Following her driving layup with 8:35 remaining, the Lions pulled to within six and a pair of Bailey Oehmig free throws the next trip down kept things close.
Del Val halted the momentum with an 8-0 spurt over the ensuing minute and a half, however, and despite cutting the deficit to single digits once more thanks to a Galbreath 3-ball with a minute left, the Lions' comeback attempt eventually ran out of time.
NOTABLES
- The Aggies shot 50 percent from the field, while Penn State Harrisburg shot 37.1 percent from the floor.
- The Lions impressed from the foul line, shooting on 83.3 percent on 18 attempts.
- Delaware Valley won the rebounding battle 43-33.
- Del Val racked up 46 points in the paint.
- The Penn State Harrisburg bench outscored the DVU reserves 46-30.
- Lister poured in a career-high 22 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field and 8-of-10 shooting from the foul line. She added a team-high seven rebounds and three steals.
- Correa racked up 22 points, four steals, and three assists off the bench.
- Galbreath was a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc to finish with nine points.
- Nicole Hernandez added six points and four rebounds off the bench.
- Jenna Montana grabbed five boards and had three assists to go along with three points.
- Bailey Oehmig chipped in with four points and four rebounds.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions return to action at Hood on Thursday afternoon, Dec. 28. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.
STAY CONNECTED
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