Major 71-61 PSUAC Triumph for GA Women's Basketball over DuBois

McKeesport, Pa. - With a dominant fourth quarter, the Penn State Greater Allegheny women's basketball team rallies to take their second Penn State University Athletic Conference victory of the season over Penn State DuBois, 71-61.

GA jumped out to a quick nine point lead, starting with a three-pointer from sophomore guard Mandi Johnston (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) and leading to freshman forward Tiajuanna Burke (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) connecting on six-straight points. Both M. Johnston and junior guard Tra-Esha Carswell (Homestead, Pa./Steel Valley) put down jumpers, 13-10. Freshman forward Andrea Burroughs (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) laid on points in the paint to send the two teams into the second quarter.

Burke and M. Johnston added points from the free-throw line before Burroughs continued to lay points in the paint, GA suddenly down eight points. Sophomore guard Laura Vazquez-Diaz (San Juan, Puerto Rico/Cupey Maria Montessori) downed a layup before M. Johnston rode out the first half of action with six more points, GA trailing DuBois four points, 33-29.

Burke strong-armed DuBois in the first minute and a half with six GA points, tying the game at 35. Junior guard Jess Manfredi (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Serra Catholic) marked a layup before she rang the tying three-pointer, 42-42. Carswell continued to push with four points as M. Johnston noted five to end the third quarter, 51-49 DuBois.

Burke and M. Johnston traded buckets to elevate Greater Allegheny over DuBois, 61-57 with now less than five until the end of regulation. Carswell took six herself to extend the Lion lead to ten. Burke contributed a layup before Carswell padded on the final layup, giving Greater Allegheny a much needed PSUAC win, 71-61.

Burke marked yet another double-double for GA with 23 points and 18 rebounds. The forward cashed in for 64.7% (11-of-17) of her shots from the floor while dishing out one assist. M. Johnston put down 21 points, nine assists, two assists and two blocks while shooting 85.7% (6-of-7) from the foul line. Carswell contributed 14 points and five rebounds while Manfredi pulled down ten boards with five points and four assists.

As a team, Greater Allegheny out-rebounded DuBois 56-46 as the girls dropped 53.8% (7-of-13) from the foul line with 31 noted from the floor. With 42 points in the paint, GA gathered 23 points off second-chance and 14 points off of turnovers.

The Lions (6-10, 2-4 PSUAC) will now look forward to continuing Penn State University Athletic Conference action as Penn State Worthington-Scranton comes to Wunderley Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.