Women's Basketball Cruises to Victory In Conference Opener

giahny correa drives past a defender during a game at franklin & marshall in 2023

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's women's basketball team cruised to a 78-51 victory over United East foe Penn College at Bardo Gymnasium in each squad's conference opener on Tuesday night, Nov. 28.

 

Giahny Correa led the way with a game-high 18 points, while Ali Lister finished one point and one rebound shy of a double-double with nine points, nine boards, and four assists. Jenna Montana finished with a dozen points and six rebounds. Ciani Redd-Howard was the third player to reach double figures with 13 points. 

 

After falling behind 9-3 to open the game, the Lions (3-5, 1-0 United East) roared back and used a 13-2 run to end the first quarter and take a 16-11 advantage into the second frame. It was all Penn State Harrisburg in the second stanza, with the visitors using a game-changing 14-2 spurt capped by a Lister layup to take control of the contest.

 

In the second half, Lister and Redd-Howard stretched the lead to 20 for the first time with back-to-back layups to begin the third quarter. The Wildcats (1-6, 0-1 United East) made a push and cut the deficit to 15 with 1:20 left in the frame but Jayla Galbreath and Makayla Claggett halted the home team's momentum with consecutive layups to end the stanza. 

 

Montana opened the fourth with a 3-ball that pushed the advantage to 21, Redd-Howard netted the next four points, and Montana added her fourth triple of the night to make it 68-44 with 5:17 left to play. From there, Correa put a bow on the victory with a pair of 3-pointers bookended around a Mikayla Wright trifecta and a Nicole Hernandez layup.  

 

NOTABLES

- The Lions shot 45.5 percent from the field and held Penn College to just 33.3 percent shooting from the floor.

- Penn State Harrisburg shot 40 percent from beyond the arc (10-for-25), while the Wildcats managed just three triples on the night. 

- The visitors scored 24 points off 26 Penn College turnovers. 

- Correa finished with a game-high 18 points, three steals, and three assists off the bench.

- Redd-Howard netted 13 points to go along with four rebounds. 

- Montana scored 12 points to go along with six rebounds and three assists. 

- Lister nearly had a double-double, finishing with nine points, nine boards, and four assists. 

- Galbreath swiped a game-high five steals to go along with seven points, four assists, and four rebounds.

- Wright added five points and six boards off the bench.

- Claggett chipped in with six points in a reserve role. 

 

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions make their Capital Union Building debut on Saturday afternoon when they continue conference play by hosting United East foe Gallaudet. 

 

STAY CONNECTED 

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