Middletown, PA – The Penn State Harrisburg women's basketball team celebrated their two seniors Rachel Moyer (Carlisle, Pa. / Cumberland Valley) and Emilee Truitt (West Chester, Pa / Bishop Shanahan) in the final game of the season Saturday February 21st. Unfortunately the Christopher Newport Captains did not come to just honor the Lion seniors; the visitors put a damper on the day by defeating Harrisburg 80-52.
The Blue and White were able to keep things tight at the start. Becca Bailey (Tobyhanna, Pa / Notre Dame East Stroudsburg) scored back to back buckets to bring the Lions within one with 12:00 minutes to go in the half. Christopher Newport slowly worked up a lead and then finished the half on a 19-5 run to go into the locker rooms up 42-21.
As the second half started, the Captains full court press was too much for the Lions who have struggled with turnovers for most of the season. Harrisburg gave away 28 turnovers compared to the Captains 10. This helped the visitors to increase their lead to as high as 39 at one point in the second half.
The Lady Lions refused to give up and finished the final nine minutes on a 19-8 run, which included a big three pointer from both seniors. Both Truitt and Moyer also received a standing ovation as the exited the floor in the final minute for the last time of their collegiate careers.
Harrisburg finished the season in a slump, but the youth they have as well as returning five potential starters for the following year should definitely help improve the Lions chances in the 2015-2016 season.
