Women’s Basketball Looks for Bounce Back 2018 Following Holiday Break

McKeesport, Pa. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Women’s Basketball Team (0-11, 0-4) is looking to turn things around in 2018 after the 2017 portion of their schedule did not see them win a game. However, the women are getting healthy and a long holiday break maybe just what they need to get that first win on the board. They will get a chance to do that on Friday when they take on Penn State Lehigh Valley (7-5, 4-1).

Freshman Lexus Santiago (Pittsburgh, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) is close to making her PSUGA debut after suffering from a knee injury for the first half of the season and will provide much needed support for the women. It will provide the women with another weapon to use on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

Jayla Ellis (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) will once again be relied on to lead the team from an offensive standpoint. The Sophomore scored in double digits in all but two games this season, including a career high 27 points in the first game of the season against Butler County Community College.

Ellis and teammate Brandy Taylor (Pittsburgh, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) led the team in their final game of the first half when they fell to Penn State DuBois 74-46. Ellis finished with a team high 18 points and Taylor finished close behind with 15. After scoring just 20 points in the first two quarters, the ladies brought up the offense in the second half scoring 26 points, but the game was too far out of reach to make a comeback.

The scoreboard has not been the main focus of the team this season. Head coach Chrissy French wants her girls to focus on their play on the court and getting better every time out. She wants them to focus on making good decisions and shots rather then just shooting to shoot. They did that in this game shooting 27.9% from the floor, an increase of 4% from their previous game against Clarion.

PSU-Lehigh Valley comes into this one coming off their best game of the season when they rolled past PSU-Worthington Scranton 106-48. Lehigh Valley used a consistent offensive attack in the first half scoring 67 points between the two quarters to grab the victory. They had three players finish in double digits and were led by Andrea Watkin’s 23-point effort.

PSUGA has had some struggles against Lehigh Valley in the past with a record of 1-2 in the last three meetings. It was Lehigh Valley that would get the advantage last season winning 92-50 inside the Wunderly Gymnaisum. PSUGA is looking for its first win against Lehigh Valley since the 2013-2014 season when they beat them 90-67.

Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the game will take place at Cedar Crest College as the first half of a Men’s and Women’s Basketball Doubleheader.