ALTOONA, PA – The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg women's basketball dropped a conference matchup to Penn State Altoona, 70-61, this evening on the road.
The Bobcats snap a three-game win streak and fall to 15-5 overall and 10-3 in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. The Lions improve to 6-16 and 4-9 in AMCC play.
Sidney McCully scored on the opening possession of the game, but then six straight points by Penn State Altoona put the Lions in front, a lead they would hold until the teams duked it out in the fourth quarter.
The Lions owned a four-point edge at the halftime break. Their largest lead of the game was 12 points, and it came twice, once near the end of the first quarter and then again at the halfway point of the third frame.
Pitt-Greensburg battled all game long keeping it within arm's reach and took their first lead since the opening minute with six minutes remaining, after a 15-3 run. McCully made the last basket of the third, a three-pointer, and the Bobcats rode that momentum through the opening four minutes of the final frame to gain the 55-54 lead.
After the Bobcats got the lead Penn State Altoona took it right back on the next possession and rattled off seven straight points to go up 61-55 with just under five minutes left. Pitt-Greensburg got it back within one possession one more time (64-61) at the 1:51 mark, but never could get any closer and the Lions held on for the win.
Nadege Durand led the Bobcats with 22 points, eight rebounds, five steals, three assists, and two blocks. McCully added 20 points and made two of the Bobcats three triples on the evening.
The Bobcats were outrebounded (41-36) for the first time since January 17, breaking a streak of six consecutive plus rebounding margin games. Shaquoia McCray continued her dominance on the glass with 11 rebounds, her fifth straight games reaching double-digit boards.
From beyond the arc Pitt-Greensburg was held quiet, going 3-for-18 from deep. Penn State Altoona shot 41.2% from three-point range (7-for-17) and 47.5% from the field overall, with 50%+ shooting in three of the four quarters. The Lions were led by the services of Sarah Huston, who scored a game-high 26 points and pulled down 13 rebounds.
Pitt-Greensburg will be back in action on Saturday, when they travel to Medaille College for a 1 pm tip against the Mavericks. The Bobcats won the last matchup, 75-56, back on January 8th in Greensburg.
Fans can follow the Bobcats all season long online at PittGreensburgAthletics.com, as well as on Twitter (@upgbobcats), Instagram (@UPG_athletics), and Facebook (@UPGbobcats).
