ERIE, Pa:  One night after breaking Pitt-Greensburg's career made three point record, Emily Nelson (New Stanton, PA, Hempfield) was back at it again.  The senior guard poured in a season high 23 points in a tough 61-54 loss at Penn State Behrend on Sunday afternoon.

The weekend split puts Pitt-Greensburg at 3-2 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference play and 5-8 on the year.  Behrend improves to 4-2 in the conference and 6-7 on the year.

After a closely contested first quarter it would be UPG that would emerge on top.  With the Bobcats trailing by one, an Amanda Estok (Monroeville, PA, Gateway) three pointer at the 2:14 mark, coupled by a Chianti Sivek (Finleyville, PA, Ringgold) layup at the quarter's close would give the visitors a 16-13 advantage at the first break.

Nelson would lead all first half scorers with 16 as the Bobcats finished 36% (10-28) from the floor and 50% (5-10) from behind the three point arc.

Things remained tight over the beginning of the second and at 6:21 another Estok three would knot the score at 22-22.  The Lions would finish the quarter strong, using a 12-5 run to close out the quarter and take a 34-27 lead into the half.

The Lions would maintain the momentum in the third building their lead to as many as 16 points.  Pitt-Greensburg would answer with a 5-0 run by to cap the quarter with two Casey Hamilton (Greensburg, PA, Hempfield) free throws cutting the deficit to 11 at 50-39.

The Bobcats would begin to rally in the final quarter, cutting into the Lion lead over the first five minutes of the fourth.  Back-to-back layups by Nelson and Hamilton at the midway point would bring UPG within a basket, 51-49.  The closing minutes would remain tight, but the Bobcats would get no closer as Behrend created some separation in the last 60 seconds to capture the 61-54 win.

The shooting would cool for Pitt-Greensburg in the second half dropping them to a 31% on the night compared to the Lions' 39%.

Nelson was the lone Bobcat in double-figures after making 64% (9-14) of her shots and 75% (3-4) from three.  Estok would finish with nine points and Hamilton would fall a bucket and rebound short of another double-double with 8 points and nine rebounds.

Pitt-Greensburg returns to action on Wednesday, heading home for an 8:00pm matchup with league leading La Roche on January 13^th.