Andrus helps Behrend win physical affair over Lions
2.9.08

(ALTOONA, PA:)  Penn State Behrend shot a blazing 61.9% from the field on the afternoon and received a game-high 26 points from senior guard Julia Andrus as the Erie Lions slipped past Penn State Altoona 76-64 Saturday afternoon at the Adler Gym.  Behrend improved to 11-10 overall and 9-5 in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference while Altoona dropped to 10-11 and 7-7 in AMCC play.

With the game knotted at 58, sophomore guard Andrea Mortimer (Rimersburg, PA/Union) converted a lay up with 3:36 remaining to give Altoona the 60-58 lead.  But the visitors scored the next nine points capped by a pair of Andrus free throws to stake a 67-60 advantage with two minutes left.  Penn State Altoona cut the deficit to three via four straight points from Natalie Sheehan (Johnstown, PA/Westmont Hilltop), but Behrend's Kayla O'Connor drained a jumper and the Erie Lions made 7-8 foul shots in the final 1:31 to seal the win.

Behrend held a dominating advantage on the glass, out-rebounding the smaller Altoona Lions 36-18.  Both teams only allowed eight second-chance points and combined for just 10 offensive boards.

Andrus connected on 6-12 field goals, 11-12 free throws, and dished out five assists for the victors, who shot 79.2% as a team from the charity stripe (19-24).  Altoona also shot its foul shots well, hitting 19-23 for 82.6%, and committed 11 fewer miscues than their counterparts.

The host Lions stayed within striking distance by forcing 27 Penn State Behrend turnovers, 16 in the second half, that resulted in 26 points. 

O'Connor added 17 points and 12 rebounds while forward Anne Priester came off the bench to score 12 points and shoot a perfect 5-5 from the floor.

Sophomore Alicia Glasser (Marion Center, PA/Marion Center) led Penn State Altoona with 16 points off the bench.  Freshman Courtney Carroll (Altoona, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle) and senior Erin McGowan (Duncansville, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle) poured in 12 apiece while Mortimer finished with 11. 

Behrend opened up a 39-30 halftime advantage thanks to 69.6% shooting in the first half (16-23) and 12 points each from Andrus and O'Connor.  Altoona shot just 37.9% (11-29) from the floor in the opening period and fell behind by as many as 13 with 4:00 remaining.  The Erie Lions scored 20 of their 39 first half points in the paint. 

The contest featured six ties and eight lead changes.  The Altoona Lions finished the day just 3-12 from beyond the arc including 0-5 in the second half compared to Behrend, which hit 5-10 treys on the day.

Penn State Altoona returns to AMCC play this Wednesday, February 13, when it travels to Frostburg State for a 6:00 PM tip against the Bobcats. 

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