January 26th, 2009

MIDDLETOWN, PA - Penn State Harrisburg women´s basketball team keep the Cazenovia Wildcats at bay in a 52-48 victory. This win gives Penn State Harrisburg their eighth win overall, doubling last year´s total. Cazenovia drops their 15th game on the season.

Cazenovia´s leading scorer, Colleen Clarke, came out hot for the visiting Wildcats scoring seven out of their nine points in the first eight minutes of the game. Although Clarke had a good start to the game, Penn State´s back court started the game just as hot, with freshmanAmaris Gardner (Bayside/Virginia Beach, VA) and sophomore Elizabeth Bard (Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown, PA) scoring 10 of the Lady Lions´ 12 points in the same span. Even though the Wildcats came out hot, it was Clarke´s second foul with 7:27 remaining in the second half that slowed their momentum. Up by eight just before halftime, senior Sandra Adames (Pontiac Northern/Pontiac, MI) steps in to take the charge on Clarke to cause the turnover and more importantly giving her a third foul. The blue and white were able to get another field goal before halftime to make it a double digit lead, 30-20.

In the second half Cazenovia came at the blue and white with a balance attack and tied the game 34-34 with 12:43 remaining, all with Clarke on the bench after collecting her fourth foul earlier in the half. The two teams would go back-in-fourth with Cazenovia´s Samantha Allen tying the game at 46-46 with 3:10 remaining. The Lady Lions would then finish the game out with a 6-2 run to ensure the victory.

Penn State Harrisburg was led by Bard who finished with 16 points as well as snatching 5 steals and grabbing four rebounds. Dorothea Dixon (Middletown/Middletown, PA) had another great defensive game with nine points, seven rebounds, and seven steals. Adames recorded nine points, eight rebounds and two blocks.

Although she was in foul trouble for most of the game Clarke still managed to lead Cazenovia with 13 points off of 6-for-12 shooting while grabbing seven rebounds. Allen finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, seven steals, four assists and two blocks. Emilie Welch chipped in five points, 10 rebounds and three assists. The blue and white return to action on Wednesday night when they host Penn State rival Berks Tip time at Capital Union Building is set for 6:00 P.M.