Greensburg dominates Lions, sets up playoff rematch
2.20.08

(GREENSBURG, PA:)  Penn State Altoona suffered through its worst shooting night of the season, making just 18-75 field goals (24%) and 4-27 treys (14.8%) in a 80-46 setback at Pitt-Greensburg Wednesday night.  The Lions dropped to 10-14 overall and 7-10 in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference while the Bobcats improved to 19-5 and 13-4 in AMCC action.

Greensburg pushed its lead to 20 (33-13) less than 13 minutes into the game and carried a commanding 45-21 advantage into intermission.  Twelve of the 13 Lady Bobcats who saw floor time scored a basket but only two reached double figures. 

Kelsey Wilcox and Tiffany Menhorn netted 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the victors, who fired 41.8% from the field (33-79) and yanked an incredible 65 total rebounds.  The Lady Bobcats held a 23-11 advantage in points off turnovers, held a +20 advantage in the paint, and got 36 points from its reserves compared to just 19 from the Altoona subs.

UPG opened the second half on a 12-0 run that ballooned the score to 56-24.  A Wilcox lay up midway through the period gave the hosts their largest lead of the game at 67-28.  The Lions never got closer than 30 and had just one player reach double figures (15) in freshman Courtney Carroll (Altoona, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle).

Compounding Altoona's problems was an inability to make free throws.  The squad was just 6-17 at the charity stripe (35.3%), and leading scorer Erin McGowan (Duncansville, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle), the conference's fourth leading scorer and second best foul shooter, was held without a point in just 11 minutes of action.

The Bobcat victory, coupled with a 61-44 Lake Erie win over Penn State Behrend, means Greensburg and Altoona will meet again in six days in the first round of the conference playoffs.  UPG will be the #3 seed while the Lions will return to Greensburg on Tuesday, February 26, as the #6 seed. 

If the Pitt-Greensburg men earn a first round home game, the Lion and Bobcat women will battle at either 5:00 or 6:00 PM.  However, if the UPG men travel in the first round, then game time would most likely be at 7:00 PM.

Altoona has one more regular season game this Saturday, February 23, against local conference rival Mount Aloysius.  It will be senior day at the Adler Gym as McGowan and Brittany Poorman (Altoona, PA/Altoona) will be recognized prior to opening tip.  The women's game begins at 2:00 PM with the Lion and Mountie men to follow at 4:00.

CONTACT:        Penn State Altoona Sports Information
                           Steve Crider  --  SID
                           814-949-5173
                           sac310@psu.edu