(PITTSBURGH, PA:) La Roche shot 56% from the field in the
first half and used a key 17-2 spurt to down visiting Penn State Altoona 74-66
Wednesday night in both squads' Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference
openers. The Redhawks improved to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the conference
while the Lions remain winless at 0-4 and 0-1 in the AMCC.
The two teams flip-flopped leads throughout the game's first
nine minutes before Altoona found itself ahead 19-17 with 11:01 remaining in the
half. A good lay up and subsequent foul shot by Jaquaylia Kessler gave the
hosts the lead and started a 17-2 run that included three consecutive triples by
shooting guard Jena Kacsur. The Lions suddenly found themselves down 34-21
with six minutes and change to go and would not get any closer than five the
rest of the way.
La Roche held its biggest lead of the game at halftime (47-33)
thanks to a 7-0 run to conclude the period. Altoona used a 13-0 run of its
own early in the second half to cut the deficit from 18 to just five (53-48) at
the 13:19 mark. Freshman Cassie Proper (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte) hit two
three pointers during the stretch, and after a Marlis Graves triple increased
the lead to eight, sophomore Alicia Glasser answered with a trey of her own to
cut it back to five.
But La Roche guard Ashley Heakins hit two jumpers in a 6-0 spurt
midway through the final half that put the game out of reach for the visitors.
Kacsur, Graves, Kessler, and Lyndi Miloszewski all hit double figures for the
Redhawks. Kacsur had 12 points on four threes, Graves also netted 12, and
Miloszewski and Kessler had 11 and 10, respectively. Three other La Roche
players had at least seven points.
Senior Erin McGowan (Duncansville, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle) fronted
the Lion attack with 18 points and went 7-8 from the charity stripe.
Freshman point guard Courtney Carroll (Altoona, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle) chipped in
10 to go with three steals.
The victors out-rebounded Penn State Altoona 39-27 and got 18
second chance points thanks to 14 offensive boards.
Altoona finished the night shooting 40% from the field compared
to 47% by the Redhawks. The Lions actually outscored La Roche 33-27 in the
second half but made seven fewer field goals in the opening half which proved
the difference.
The Lions return to action tomorrow, Thursday, November 29,
against non-conference foe St. Vincent College. Tip time is slated for
6:00 PM at the Adler Gym.
CONTACT: Penn
State Altoona Sports Information
Steve Crider -- SID
814-949-5173
sac310@psu.edu
