ANNVILLE, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's women's basketball team defeated Delaware Valley 73-66 on Saturday on the opening night of Lebanon Valley's Rinso Marquette Tournament to earn a spot in the tourney's championship game on Sunday afternoon.  

HOW IT HAPPENED 

The Lions (2-0) used timely play down the stretch to erase a slim fourth-quarter deficit and take down Delaware Valley (0-2) at LVC's Sorrentino Gymnasium on Saturday night. Jayla Galbreath led the way with 18 points, Ciani Redd-Howard notched a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Kendis Butler stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals. 

Trailing 59-57 with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Penn State Harrisburg got the play in needed when Butler drove hard into the lane and kicked it to Redd-Howard who made the extra pass to Jenna Montana for a 3-ball that gave the Blue & White a lead they wouldn't relinquish with 4:41 left to play.  

Redd-Howard and Galbreath combined for nine points in the final four minutes and Butler put the game on ice with a pair of free throws in the final seconds. Penn State Harrisburg's defense was also strong when it mattered, as the Lions held the Aggies to just seven points in the game's final three minutes.  

The Blue & White stretched a five-point halftime lead to as much as 13 late in the third quarter following a Jenna Montana old-fashioned 3-point play at the 2:40 mark but Del Val ended the quarter on an 11-0 run to pull to within two entering the final 10 minutes.  

Penn State Harrisburg used a spurt late in the second quarter to grab a 40-35 advantage and create a little breathing room heading into halftime after a tightly-contested first half that saw neither team pull ahead by more than seven points in the first two quarters.  

NOTABLES 

- Penn State Harrisburg outshot the Aggies 11-3 from 3-point territory. 

- The Lions got to the foul line 37 times (28-37), compared to 21 instances for Delaware Valley (15-21). 

- The Blue & White won the rebounding battle 44-28. 

- The Aggies scored 38 points in the paint and netted 22 points off Penn State Harrisburg turnovers. 

- The Blue & White bench outscored the Del Val reserves 11-8. 

- Jayla Galbreath led the way with a team-high 18 points. 

- Ciani Redd-Howard posted a double-double in her first collegiate game with 14 points and 13 rebounds. 

- Kendis Butler did a little bit of everything, netting 12 to go along with seven boards, a team-high three assists, and a pair of steals. 

- Jenna Montana scored 12 points and added three rebounds. 

- Anna Mahan pulled down 10 boards, had six points, and tallied three blocks. 

- Alli Walton finished with four points and five rebounds. 

- Haley Keenan led the way for Delaware Valley with a game-high 20 points. 

WHO'S NEXT? 

The Lions will face the hosts from Lebanon Valley in the Rinso Marquette Championship Game on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 14. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. 

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