Lion Women's Basketball Falls to Hazleton, 79-55

McKeesport, Pa. - The Penn State Greater Allegheny women's basketball team fell to Penn State Hazleton, Saturday afternoon, to split their Penn State University Athletic Conference weekend.

Freshman guard Ronnie Upsher (Pittsburgh, Pa./McKeesport) was the first on the board for Greater Allegheny with a layup before senior guard Tra-Esha Carswell (Homestead, Pa./Steel Valley) slashed a free-throw. Junior guard Mandi Johnston (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) hammered down a three-pointer before Upsher marked two more points in the paint, 23-8 Hazleton after the first quarter of action.

Johnston noted a layup as Upsher zipped up four straight points. Senior guard Jess Manfredi (Pittsburgh, Pa./Serra Catholic) and Johnston each dropped a jumper to bring the margin to 31-18 Hazleton with just three minutes left in the first half. Carswell added a free-throw and a jumper to send the two teams into halftime, 39-21 Hazleton.

Johnston added a point at the free-throw line after a technical before Manfredi laid on points in the69-42 paint, 43-26 Hazleton. Sophomore forward Andrea Burroughs (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) put down a point point from the foul line before Manfredi finished a pair of jumpers, 52-33. Upsher hammered a ringer of a three-pointer to send the teams into their final quarter of action, Greater Allegheny trailing 62-36.

Manfredi dished out points in the paint before Upsher contributed one from the foul line, 65-39 with less than eight left in regulation. Upsher put down a point from the foul line before Johnston continued on a fast break layup with two points from the foul line herself, 69-44 with under four minutes remaining in regulation.

Carswell and Upsher both completed jumpers as Upsher rained down with a three-pointer and a pair of free-throws, ending the PSUAC match-up in Hazleton's favor, 79-55.

Upsher contributed a double-double in the game with 24 points and ten rebounds along with three assists, one steal and a block. Johnston and Manfredi both put up 12 each as Johnston pulled down six boards, four assists and two steals while Manfredi earned five rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal. Burroughs pulled down 12 boards with two assists, a steal and a point.

As a team, Greater Allegheny was out-rebounded 58-54 as they coughed up the ball 27 times, resulting in 27 points Hazleton points. GA completed 46.2% (12-of-26) from the foul line as the women added 18 points in the paint, 17 points off turnovers and 16 points off second-chance.

Greater Allegheny (3-5, 1-2 PSUAC) travel to Carlow University, Tuesday night, for a non-conference contest. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.