MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Penn State Harrisburg's women's basketball team bounced back from its first loss of the new year with a resounding 82-66 victory over Clarks Summit at the Capital Union Building on Monday night, Feb. 24.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Penn State Harrisburg (10-5) combined a stellar defensive effort with a strong shooting night to hand Clarks Summit (14-3) just its third loss of the season on Monday night. The Lions hit 12 3-pointers, got the foul line 18 times, and held the Defenders 10 points below their average scoring output. Giahny Correa and Kendis Butler each tallied 13 points, while Jenna Montana (12) and Jayla Galbreath (11) also reached the double-digit scoring mark.

Leading 59-54 early in the fourth quarter, the Blue & White put their foot on the gas and scored the next 14 points over a three-and-a-half-minute span. Galbreath got the run started with a layup, Macy Carroll scored through contact before converting an old-fashioned 3-point play, Sydney Hemler connected on a corner 3-ball, and Butler buried back-to-back triples to make it 73-54 with 5:40 remaining.

CSU made one last push in the closing minutes and used a 12-2 spurt to cut the deficit to a more manageable nine with 2:07 left but Anna Mahan found a wide-open Butler at the top of the arc the next time down the floor and the guard capped off her 11-point fourth quarter with the dagger with 1:48 to play. Mahan converted a pair of free throws to put the game on ice and Correa capped it off with a driving layup in the final seconds.

The Lions led by 10 at halftime and held steady throughout the third quarter, taking an 11-point advantage into the final frame. Galbreath converted the rare 4-point play to give the home team a nine-point lead to begin the second quarter after Montana and Mahan carried the load offensively to start the game, with each netting seven points in the first stanza.

NOTABLES

- Penn State Harrisburg finished 5-3 in conference play this season.

- The Lions shot 46.7 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from 3-point territory (12-for-33).

- Penn State Harrisburg shot 77.8 percent from the charity stripe (14-for-18).

- The Blue & White scored 30 points off 24 Clarks Summit turnovers.

- The Penn State Harrisburg bench outscored the Defender reserves 36-2.

- The Lions never trailed and led by as many as 19 points midway through the fourth quarter.

- Giahny Correa missed just one shot en route to scoring a team-high 13 points.

- Kendis Butler came to life in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 of her team-high 13 points in the final frame.

- Jenna Montana did a little bit of everything, racking up 12 points, a team-high seven rebounds, and two assists.

- Jayla Galbreath added 11 points and a pair of boards.

- Anna Mahan tallied nine points without missing a shot. She also dished out a team-high five assists.

- Alli Walton had eight points and three rebounds off the bench.

- Toni Amato added seven points and a game-high six steals in a reserve role.

- Sydney Hemler chipped in with five points and six boards off the bench.

- Torri Laman led the way for Clarks Summit with 16 points in a losing effort.

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions get back to conference play when they travel to Wells on Friday night, Jan. 28. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

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