Back-to-Back Wins for Greater Allegheny Women's Basketball

McKeesport, Pa. - Coming off of their first PSUAC victory of the season, the Penn State Greater Allegheny women's basketball team took a 83-75 battle over Southern State Community College, Saturday afternoon. 

Freshman forward Tiajuanna Burke (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) was the first to add points for the Lions with a made layup and a pair of free-throws. Junior guard Jess Manfredi (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Serra Catholic) put up a layup before sophomore guard Tori Johnston (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) placed a jumper. Burke extended GA over SSCC 10-4 with completed points in the paint just over four minutes into the game.

Sophomore guard Mandi Johnston (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin achieved a layup with four points from the foul line. Burke polished off a jumper and one to put GA over the Patriots, 19-9 after the first ten minutes.

M. Johnston and freshman forward Andrea Burroughs (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) cashed in for a layup each as T. Johnston banked a three-pointer, GA up 26-24 six minutes until the half. M. Johnston made a jumper while Burroughs noted a layup to keep Greater Allegheny in front. As the clock wound down to two, Manfredi laid on points outside the arc as T. Johnston completed a jumper and M. Johnston placed five points to send the two teams into halftime with Greater Allegheny ahead by a nice margin, 40-29.

Burke came into the third quarter with a good layup with a pair of free-throws. M. Johnston added a total of nine points while both Burke and junior guard Tra-Esha Carswell (Homestead, Pa./Steel Valley) added buckets to keep GA ahead 11 points going into the final set of ten minutes, 60-49.

Another seven points added by the hand of Burke while Carswell, M. Johnston and T. Johnston surplused the Lions with buckets made. A three-pointer made by M. Johnston pushed Greater Allegheny to a 75-63 lead with just over two minutes left in regulation. Greater Allegheny finished out the remainder of the game from the foul line, as Manfredi denoted four, M. Johnston with two and Carswell with two herself. The Greater Allegheny Lions came out victorious for their second-time this weekend, 83-75.

M. Johnston dropped a double-double on the day, with a team-high 31 points and ten rebounds with six assists, five steals and a block. M. Johnston completed 76.9% (10-of-13) of her free-throws with ten buckets from the floor. For the third game in a row, Burke posted another double-double with 24 points and 13 boards with 80% (8-of-10) of her foul shots completed. T. Johnston and Manfredi both added nine points a piece as Manfredi assisted with eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals.

As a team, Greater Allegheny out-rebounded Southern State CC 56-42. The Lions posted 78.8% (26-of-33) from the foul line and 27 shots from the floor. GA managed 36 points in the paint, 18 points off turnovers and 16 points off second-chance.

The Lions (5-9, 1-3 PSUAC) take a few days off before they jump back into Penn State University Athletic Conference action and travel to Penn State Fayette. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. on Wednesday the 20th.