Greater Allegheny Women's Basketball Fall to Hazleton, 75-61

Hazleton, Pa. - Despite hard-work through the first three quarters of a Penn State University Athletic Conference battle, the fourth quarter proved too much for the Penn State Greater Allegheny women's basketball team as they fell to Penn State Hazleton, Friday night, 75-61.

Freshman forward Tiajuanna Burke (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) put a layup to get GA on the board as sophomore guard Tori Johnston (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) drained a pair from the foul line. Sophomore guard Mandi Johnston (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) dropped a three-pointer as Burke put up more points in the paint, GA behind Hazleton 12-9.

Junior guard Tra-Esha Carswell (Homestead, Pa./Steel Valley) slashed a free-throw before M. Johnston dropped another trey. T. Johnston matched her sister with a three to tie the game at 16 with three minutes until the first break. Burke laid on points in the paint as Carswell added two more from the foul line, 21-20 Hazleton after the first quarter.

The GA offense went silent for the next five minutes of play before Burke got on the board with a layup. T. Johnston and M. Johnston both denoted points from the foul line before junior guard Jess Manfredi (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Serra Catholic) laid on points outside the arc, 34-27 Hazleton.

Burke and M. Johnston mirrored one another with layups as the two teams were sent into the break with Hazleton out in front, 40-31.

T. Johnston came out with a jumper before M. Johnston went on a streak of a three-pointer and a jumper, GA still trailing 44-38. Burke and M. Johnston put up two points each as T. Johnston denoted a three-pointer, Greater Allegheny back in the lead with 45-44. M. Johnston put up a layup as T. Johnston capitalized on another three, 50-48 GA. Burke dropped a jumper to keep GA in the lead going into the final quarter of action, 52-50.

Manfredi was the lone Lion to put down points within the first six minutes of the final quarter as Hazleton continued to swell. M. Johnston made a layup before freshman forward Andrea Burroughs (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) added a jumper, Hazleton now out in front 70-58. Burke rode out the remainder of the game from the foul line as Hazleton continued with their unbeaten conference streak, 75-61.

Burke put down a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds with two steals. M. Johnston laid on 20 points with six assists, two boards and a steal. T. Johnston added 15 points with two assists and a steal. 

As a team, Greater Allegheny dropped 58.8% (10-of-17) from the foul line with 22 buckets dropped from the floor. Despite being narrowly out-rebounded 38-36, Greater Allegheny put up 18 points in the paint, 11 points off turnovers and 11 points off second-chance.

The Lions (8-14, 4-8 PSUAC) continue their Penn State University Athletic Conference weekend as they travel to Penn State Schuylkill, Saturday afternoon. The women kick-off the double-header at 1 p.m.