WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - After more than a month-long layoff, Penn State Harrisburg's women's basketball team returned to the court and escaped Penn College with a narrow 71-66 road victory in United East action on Friday night, Jan. 14.  

HOW IT HAPPENED 

Penn State Harrisburg (6-4, 2-1 United East) held off a scrappy Penn College squad (2-10, 1-4 United East) in the closing moments of a tightly-contested conference matchup on Friday night. Jayla Galbreath led the way with a game-high 22 points, whlie Alli Walton added 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Kendis Butler had eight points and a team-high four assists, while Anna Mahan finished with seven points and a team-best eight boards.  

With the score tied 57-57 early in the fourth quarter, Galbreath connected on her sixth 3-ball of the night before Sydney Hemler pulled down an offensive rebound and put back a layup on the team's next possession to give the Lions a five-point advantage with seven and a half minutes to play.  

The Wildcats pulled to within two midway through the fourth but the visitors responded with a crucial 8-2 run over the final five minutes to put just enough space between themselves and the hosts in crunch time. Mahan ended a two-minute scoreless stretch with a pair of free throws, Macy Carroll finished off a layup through contact and a foul, and Butler put the game on ice by converting two foul shots with 36 seconds remaining.  

The Lions led by seven at halftime and pulled in front by as many as a dozen points following a Mahan layup with 6:42 left in the third quarter. Penn College clawed back into it, however, and used a 17-9 run to close out the quarter and cut the deficit to four heading into the final frame.  

The home team took advantage of Penn State Harrisburg's slow start to begin the game and built an 11-9 advantage after one but the Blue & White bounced back with a 26-point second quarter and took a 35-28 lead into the break.  

NOTABLES 

- The Lions knocked down 10 3-pointers on the night, compared to just two triples for Penn College 

- Penn State Harrisburg was aggressive and got to the foul line 30 times, shooting 63.3 percent from the stripe. 

- The Wildcats won the rebounding battle 49-35.  

- The Blue & White bench outscored the Penn College reserves 22-19.   

- Jayla Galbreath poured in a game-high 22 points, knocking down six 3-pointers in the process. 

- Alli Walton was strong off the bench, finishing with 11 points and seven rebounds. 

- Kendis Butler tallied eight points, a team-high four assists, and a team-best three steals.  

- Anna Mahan finished with seven points and eight boards. 

- Ciani Redd-Howard added six points and five rebounds. 

- Jenna Montana chipped in with six points, three assists, and a pair of steals.  

- Macy Carroll had five points off the bench, while Sydney Hemler added two steals, a pair of rebounds, and two points in a reserve role.  

WHO'S NEXT? 

No rest for the Lions, as they continue United East play by hosting Penn State Abington at the Capital Union Building on Saturday night, Jan. 15. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. 

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