MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Kendis Butler became Penn State Harrisburg's all-time leading scorer in the team's 74-58 victory over United East counterpart Penn State Abington at the Capital Union Building on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 7. 

Butler netted a game-high 19 points, including the record-breaker on a corner 3-ball late in the third quarter, to increase her career total to 1,177; surpassing Kaitlyn Carmo's previous program record of 1,168 points. Ciani Redd-Howard recorded her second double-double of the season with 11 points and a game-high 16 rebounds, while Jayla Galbreath was the third player to reach double figures with 11 points.

With the game still up for grabs early in the fourth quarter, the hometown Lions (6-6, 4-0 United East) put together a decisive 19-4 run that turned a narrow 55-52 advantage with 8:29 left to play into a much more comfortable 74-56 lead with 1:39 remaining. Galbreath started the spurt with a pair of free throws before Olivia Richardson, Redd-Howard, and Giahny Correa each converted layups to put the home team in front 63-52 at the 4:55 mark. After the visiting Lions (2-7, 1-3 United East) added a bucket, Sydney Hemler hit a corner 3-pointer before Butler put an exclamation point on the team's scoring with a pair of 3-balls in the closing minutes.

After a second quarter in which points were hard to come by, Penn State Harrisburg got a spark from Butler early in the third when she knocked down back-to-back deep triples to give her team a 37-28 lead at the 8:41 mark. Correa added a layup before 3-balls from Richardson and Galbreath stretched the advantage to 45-32 with 6:29 left in the frame. Butler banged a 3-pointer in the corner to break the scoring record and preserve the double-digit lead at the 3:42 mark but Penn State Abington closed out the stanza with an 11-6 spurt that cut the deficit to five heading into the final quarter.

Both teams were strong out of the gate, scoring 23 points each in the opening frame before stalling a bit during the second quarter in which the teams combined for just 10 total points. 

NOTABLES

- Penn State Harrisburg was outshot from the floor (36.2 percent to 28.9 percent) but made up the difference with a dozen 3-pointers and 18 free throws. 

- The hometown Lions dominated the glass, outrebounding Penn State Abington 61-35.

- Penn State Harrisburg's 31 offensive rebounds led to 25 second chance points.

- The Penn State Harrisburg reserves outscored Penn State Abington's bench 26-2.

- Butler poured in a game-high 19 points, including 15 in the second half, to set the program's all-time scoring record. She added a game-high four steals, a team-best three assists, and three rebounds. 

- Redd-Howard was excellent on the glass, grabbing a game-high 16 rebounds to go along with 11 points for her second double-double of the season. 

- Galbreath knocked down three triples en route to 11 points. She added three boards and a pair of assists.

- Correa chipped in with nine points and five rebounds off the bench.

- Richardson netted eight points and grabbed five boards. 

- Hemler finished with six rebounds and five points in a reserve role.

- Mikayla Wright finished with six boards and Alli Walton grabbed five of her own.

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions get a week off before traveling to St. Mary's (Md.) for another conference matchup on Saturday, Jan. 14. 

STAY CONNECTED

Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.