Women Grab Last Second Win in Conference Opener
The PSUGA Women's Basketball team picked up their first conference win in a bthruller over PSU-Hazleton 69-68. Tina Clybourn had her best game of the season scoring 19 points.
McKeesport, PA. - The Penn State Greater Allegheny Women's Basketball (2-6, 1-0) pulled off a last second victory in their conference opener over Penn State Hazleton (1-5, 0-1) 69-68. The girls fought hard throughout the game and pulled off the victory with 12 seconds to go in the game.
PSUGA found themselves behind 68-67 as time was ticking away. After a turnover by PSU-Hazleton, Jayla Ellis (Pittsburgh, PA./Woodland Hills HS) took the ball coast to coast and made the game winning layup with 12 seconds left on the game clock. The defense held strong and came up with one final stop to secure their first conference victory of the season.
It was a close nit contest throughout the first quarter with the teans fighting to three ties in the first quarter before PSUGA gained the 20-17 advantage thanks to a three-pointer by Tina Clybourn (Pittsburgh, PA./Brashear HS). PSU-Hazleton owned the second quarter outscoring PSUGA 19-13 and headed into halftime with a 35-33 lead.
The second-half saw the teams continue to trade points before the game was decided in the final 12 seconds of the game. PSUGA picked up their first conference win in their first conference game for the first time sonce their last playoff appearance in the 2013-2014 season.
Clybourn had her best game of her career scoring 19 points to lead the way in the victory and was one of three PSUGA players to finish in double digits. Ellis and Alex Hall (Washington, D.C./Bell HS) finished right behind with 12 points a piece in the loss. Hall picked up her first double-double of the season leading the way with 11 rebounds and Ellis led with 6 assists in the game.
After facing tough competition in their non-conference games, PSUGA took the lessons they learned and turned it into a conference opening win. It is a step in the right direction for a team that went 4-14 in conference play a year ago as they have their sights set on the playoffs.
PSUGA continues their conference play on Saturday when they face PSU-Schuylkill at 1 p.m.