MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Penn State Harrisburg's women's basketball team shook off a slow start and came away with a 59-43 victory over United East foe Penn College at the Capital Union Building on Tuesday night, Feb. 14.
In the low-scoring affair, Jayla Galbreath netted a game-high 11 points. Kendis Butler grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and Jenna Montana swiped a game-best five steals. Bailey Oehmig tallied nine points and Giahny Correa added eight of her own.
The Lions (14-9, 12-3 United East) managed to shoot just 3-for-15 from the field in the opening quarter while the Wildcats (9-15, 8-7 United East) shot a blistering 64 percent from the floor in the first frame, allowing the visitors to lead 18-10 after one.
After Penn College went up by 10 early in the second quarter, things started to turn around after Butler knocked down back-to-back 3-balls to cut the deficit to 22-18 with 7:31 left in the first half. Jenna Montana added an old-fashioned 3-point play and the Lions closed out the stanza with a 7-0 run capped off by a deep, buzzer-beating trey from Galbreath that put the home team ahead 28-27 at the break.
The defense ramped up in the third quarter, forcing 16 turnovers and limiting the visitors to just nine shot attempts in the frame. Penn State Harrisburg outscored the Wildcats 19-6 in the stanza, with Oehmig racking up seven points to help push the advantage to 47-33 heading into the final period.
The Lions kept the pressure on in the fourth and a Makayla Claggett 3-pointer gave the home team its largest lead of the night at 54-35 with 4:29 left to play before bleeding out the rest of the clock to secure the squad's third straight win.
NOTABLES
- The Lions held Penn College to just 1-for-12 shooting from beyond the arc.
- Penn State Harrisburg forced 32 turnovers, scoring 21 points off Wildcat miscues.
- Penn College won the rebounding battle 47-31.
- Penn State Harrisburg's bench outscored the Penn College reserves 23-12.
- Galbreath netted a game-high 11 points to go along with three rebounds and two steals.
- Oehmig scored nine points, grabbed five boards, and swiped three steals.
- Butler pulled down a team-high seven rebounds to go along with six points and three steals.
- Correa netted eight points off the bench and added two assists.
- Montana chipped in with points and a game-high five steals in a reserve role.
- Olivia Richardson finished with six points, four rebounds, and three steals.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions wrap up the regular season when they host Penn State Berks for another conference tilt on Saturday afternoon.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.