Early Offense Downs PSUGA Women vs. York
The PSUGA Women's Basketball team fell behind early and were never able to recover as they fell to PSU-York 64-42.
McKeesport, Pa. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Women’s Basketball Team (1-15, 1-8) fell behind early against Penn State York (9-10, 5-5) on Saturday and were never able to recover falling 64-42. It was the second straight loss for PSUGA after they picked up their first win of the season last Tuesday against Penn State Fayette.
After the two teams battled early on to a 12-10 score half way through the first quarter, York would get the opening they needed going on an 8-0 run to open the lead up to 20-12 with a minute to go in the first. That score would remain into the second quarter and once again PSUGA tried to fight back in the game. Lexus Santiago (Pittsburgh, Pa./Imani Christian Academy) helped her team scoring the first three points of the quarter, however, York’s defense would prove effective and hold PSUGA to just nine points.
PSUGA went into halftime trailing 35-21, and their key offensive weapon Jayla Ellis (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) was held off the scoreboard in the first half. Santiago scored five of her teams nine points in the quarter and had a team leading 7 at halftime. PSUGA has not yet won a game this season when trailing at halftime, and they were looking to beat the odds on this day.
York’s defense came to play in the third quarter holding PSUGA to just six points, and they scored the final eight points of the quarter to lead 47-27 after three quarter of play and seal the deal. Alex Hall (Washington, D.C./Bell HS) had a big fourth quarter scoring nine points as part of a 15-point outburst, but the lead was already to much for PSUGA to overcome.
Hall finished the day with 17 points setting a new career high at PSUGA. Hall has missed some time this season due to injury but has been a force to be reckoned with when healthy. Santiago, who has also been dealing with injury trouble this season, didn’t play in the second half but finished with seven points, and Tina Clybourn (Pittsburgh, Pa./Brashear) finished with seven points as well. Andrea Burroughs (New Rochelle, Ny./New Rochelle) continued her success rebounding leading the team with 12.
PSUGA shot 30.8% (16-52) from the floor staying above the 30% mark for the third straight game. However, the defense continues to allow opponents to score on easy layups and has been a big part of the 1-15 record to open the season.
PSUGA continues their stretch of eight straight home games to end the season when they face off against Carlow on Wednesday. It will be a single game with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. inside the Wunderly Gymnasium.