GA Women's Basketball Drops First Home Game of Season, 70-64

McKeesport, Pa. - Despite a sophomore guard Mandi Johnston (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) 33-point night, the Penn State Greater Allegheny women's basketball team dropped their first regular season loss, Tuesday night, as Westmoreland County Community College registered 70 points to GA's 64.

Sophomore guard Tori Johnston (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) opened up regular season play with a three-pointer to give GA the early advantage. The home team was held to just those three as WCCC swelled to a 10-4 lead.

M. Johnston dropped each one of her free-throw attempts to slice the lead in half, 10-5. M. Johnston added a layup before both M. Johnston and T. Johnston downed a layup a piece to send the two teams into a break after the first quarter, 18-11 Westmoreland County.

WCCC dumped four more points in the start of the second quarter before sophomore forward Morgan McCallister (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) slashed a free-throw. M. Johnston tacked on a layup before the sophomore completed two free-throw attempts. Freshman forward Andrea Burroughs (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) put down a layup as M. Johnston and T. Johnston both added layups, 28-22 WCCC. Mandi downed a total of six points to close the gap to 32-28 WCCC to head into halftime.

Freshman guard Chelsy Ware (Pittsburgh, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) made a jumper before T. Johnston completed a layup to even the game at 32 a piece. WCCC pulled away a little before McCallister added another layup. Junior guard Jess Manfredi (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Serra Catholic) knocked down a jumper before the junior drained a three-pointer, 42-39 Wolfpack.

McCallister, Mandredi and M. Johnston added points to tie the game at 47 before two made free-throws gave WCCC the two point advantage heading into the final quarter.

M. Johnston opened the fourth quarter scoring drive with a trey before Burroughs completed a jumper, GA now up 52-51. The Johnston sisters combined for six points before McCallister added a layup, Greater Allegheny still battling back-and-forth with Westmoreland County Community College, 60-59.

With 2:10 left in regulation, WCCC tied the game up at 60 and then held Greater Allegheny to that score for a minute and fifty seconds while they continued their gain. Free-throw completions will be the demise of the Greater Allegheny Lions as M. Johnston notes her last pair of layups in the game. After 40 minutes of hard-fought action on both sides of the ball, Westmoreland County CC edged out Greater Allegheny in the first regular season game of the year, 70-64.

M. Johnston compiled 33 points, as she posted seven from the free-throw line. Along with her 33 points, Mandi earned six rebounds, six steals and five assists. T. Johnston downed eleven points through the game with six rebounds and four assists. Manfredi added seven rebounds and seven points with four assists and two steals.

As a team, Greater Allegheny placed 67% (8-for-12) of their free-throw shots while dropping 26 points in the paint. The lead changed nine different times with three tie games to add excitement to the contest.

Greater Allegheny (0-1) look to go on their first road trip of the season, Thursday, as the women will travel to Central Penn. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.