Greater Allegheny Women's Basketball Drops First Conference Contest, 63-46

McKeesport, Pa. - The Penn State Greater Allegheny women's basketball team found themselves on the short-end of the stick, Saturday night, as the Lions fell in their first Penn State University Athletic Conference game of the season to the 9-1, 4-0 PSUAC Lions of Penn State Hazleton, 63-46.

Freshman forward Kelly Moore (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen) came out hot with two jumpers and a completed free-throw to put GA up to a 5-0 advantage just two minutes in the game. Freshman guard Mandi Johnston (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) dropped a three-pointer to put Greater Allegheny ahead of Hazleton 8-7. Hazleton continued to score to take the lead before senior power forward Christina Floyd (Philadelphia, Pa./Sts. Neumann-Goretti) and Moore fought back with two points apiece.

Floyd added two layups before freshman forward Bethany Siebert (Tarrs, Pa./Southmoreland) made a jumpshot. Floyd downed a ringer of a three-pointer to put Greater Allegheny ahead with six minutes to play until halftime, 21-18. Freshman guard Tori Johnston (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) hit a matching three-pointer as Hazleton ran out the remaining scoring tally of the first half, Hazleton leading 28-26.

Floyd put down a try as sophomore guard Tra-Esha Carswell (Homestead, Pa./Steel Valley) made a layup to bring the game to a 32-31 Hazleton lead. The vistors began to pull away as Moore and Carswell both added jumpers toward Greater Allegheny. With less than nine minutes in regulation, Floyd added a layup as Greater Allegheny found themselves down 49-37.

M. Johnston knocked down four points as Siebert made a jumper to bring the game to 54-43 with five minutes of action remaining. Floyd managed a free-throw before freshman forward Morgan McCallister (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) dropped a jumper, Hazleton on top 63-46.

Floyd finished the game with yet another double-double, as the power forward recorded 17 points, 17 boards, three steals, two assists and a block while shooting 46.7% (7-of-15) from the floor, completing both three-pointers attempted. The senior finds herself in first place in not only the USCAA but also the PSUAC for rebounds per game with 18.1 and fifth place in the PSUAC for a field goal percentage of 49.6.

Moore added nine pints with six rebounds, four assists, four steals and four blocks while completing her lone free-throw attempt. M. Johnston put up seven points with seven boards and seven assists while competing the entire game. Siebert and Carswell matched one another with four points apiece toward the Greater Allegheny tally.

As a team, Penn State Greater Allegheny marked 16 points off of turnovers, 14 points in the paint and 13 points off second-chance.

Greater Allegheny (3-7, 1-1 PSUAC) look to continue their Penn State University Athletic Conference weekend as Penn State Lehigh Valley comes to Wunderley Gymnasium. The women are set for tip-off at 1 p.m.