PSUGA Women Score 37 Second Half Points on Way to Win

Mont Alto, PA. – It was an even battle throughout on Tuesday night, but the Penn State Greater Allegheny Women’s Basketball Team (8-7, 6-1) used a 37 point second half to help them defeat Penn State Mont Alto (3-10, 0-7) 72-65. The win marks back-to-back wins for PSUGA after dropping their first conference game of the season to start 2019. It was a back and forth fight throughout the first half with each team trying to gain an advantage. PSUGA got out to the early lead going on an 8-2 run led by Lexus Santiago (Pittsburgh, PA./Imani Christian Academy) that had PSUGA out in front early. After extending their lead to 16-10 late in the quarter, Mont Alto would outscore PSUGA 9-3 over the final minute and a half of the quarter and it was tied at 19-19 after one. It was much of the same in the second quarter as PSUGA jumped out to a lead before Mont Alto fought back to even things up. After all was said and done the teams broke for the locker room with the score deadlocked at 35-35. With the score deadlocked, head coach Chrissy French and her team were looking for a play that would give them the boost they needed to claim victory. They would find the slight advantage they needed over the final three minutes of the third quarter. Sophomore Tina Clybourn (Pittsburgh, Pa./Brashear HS) hit two big three pointers and PSUGA outscored Mont Alto 12-6 over the final three minutes and PSUGA had the 53-47 advantage heading into the fourth quarter of play. Mont Alto would make one more comeback effort getting as close as 59-58 with six minutes to go, but the PSUGA defense would be able to hold them off and PSUGA went 5-6 from the free throw line to secure the 72-65 victory moving them to 6-1 in Penn State University Athletic Conference play. Tearia Hartley (East Stroudsburg, PA./East Stroudsburg North HS) led the way with a breakout game scoring a team high 17 points while leading the team with six assists. She was one of four PSUGA players to finish in double digits including Santiago who grabbed a career high 17 rebounds while scoring 11 points in the win. PSUGA now moves to 6-1 in conference play and complete the season series sweep of PSU-Mont Alto. They are one step closer to clinching a PSUAC playoff spot as they try and reach the tournament for the first time since the 2013-2014 season. PSUGA has done a complete turn around from where they were a year ago and are moving in the right direction. PSUGA has the next couple days off before returning to action on Friday when they host PSU-Scranton at 6 p.m.