Women's Basketball Falls to No. 24 SUNY New Paltz In NCAAs

jayla galbreath calls out a play during an ncaa tournament game at suny new paltz in 2024

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. - Penn State Harrisburg's historic season came to an end with a 70-52 setback to No. 24 SUNY New Paltz in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night, March 1. 

 

Ali Lister led the team with 13 points and five rebounds, while Giahny Correa and Jenna Montana tallied nine points each. Ciani Redd-Howard grabbed a team-high 12 boards and both Bailey Oehmig and Jayla Galbreath finished with six points apiece. 

 

The Lions (17-12) trailed by six in the first quarter before Jenna Montana hit back-to-back 3-pointers to tie the game at 13 all. New Paltz (25-3) closed out the opening frame with four straight and held a narrow 17-13 advantage after one. The home team eventually pulled ahead by eight at 32-24 late in the second quarter but an Oehmig 3-ball at the 1:17 mark kept Penn State Harrisburg within striking distance entering halftime. 

 

The Hawks stretched their lead to double digits for the first time early in the second half but a Lister triple and a Correa midrange jumper cut the deficit it half with 8:15 remaining in the third quarter. New Paltz answered with five straight points to push the lead back to 10 and despite the visitors getting back to within six after a Galbreath 3-pointer and three Abril Bowser free throws, the Hawks closed out the third on an 11-4 run that kept the Lions at arm's length entering the final period.

 

 

Penn State Harrisburg had no answer for Madison Mullman's hot shooting from beyond the arc and she netted one of her seven triples early in the fourth to make it 60-44 before Julia Sabatino and Abby Korzekwinski added buckets to stretch the New Paltz lead to 20 for the first time with 7:10 remaining. 

 

NOTABLES

- The Lions shot 40 percent from 3-point range (8-of-20).

- New Paltz scored 32 points in the paint.

- The home team's bench outscored the Penn State Harrisburg reserves 27-13.

- Lister scored a team-high 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting with five rebounds and two assists.

- Correa had nine points and five boards. 

- Montana connected on three 3-pointers to finish with nine points off the bench.

- Redd-Howard pulled down a team-high 12 rebounds to go along with five points. 

- Galbreath added six points and four boards. 

 

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