Cresson, Pa. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford women's basketball team traveled to Mount Aloysius on Tuesday to play in the first round of the AMCC Championship Tournament for the second year in a row. The Panthers struggled to find their range from the field and were defeated by the Mounties 74-33.
Both teams struggled to get their offenses started from the tipoff, combining to miss 5 shots and commit four turnovers before the hosts got on the board with a putback layup. Despite the Mountie basket, the offensive woes continued and the contest went another three minutes between field goals. Mount Aloysius finally found their rhythm around the 4:30 mark, scoring 13 unanswered points before Paige Gratto made a layup to break the shooting slump. Katie Woolson added a layup a minute later, but the hosts scored 7 more points in the last 90 seconds to take a 20-4 lead into the second.
The second quarter started with a three-point play from Katie Woolson, but the Mounties scored six of the next seven points to extend their lead to 17. Pitt-Bradford cut into the lead midway through the quarter, using an 8-1 run. Amaria Mims started the rally with a three, and then Raquel Sewell made a layup on the next possession. After a Mount Aloysius free throw, Alexa Ackerman closed the rally with another three. The hosts answered her long ball immediately, making a three of their own, and then matched a pair of Avery Benzel free throws to maintain their lead. Amber Murak ended the half with a layup, sending the game to the break with Pitt-Bradford trailing 32-20.
Pitt-Bradford started the second half with another long scoreless streak, but unlike the beginning of the game, the Panther defense could not limit the Mountie offense and the hosts scored 21 unanswered points. Gratto ended the draught with another layup, but her effort was answered with 8 more in a row from the Mounties, pushing the deficit to 39 points. Gratto made one final layup in the final minute of the quarter.
Mount Aloysius scored the first four points of the final period before Sewell made another jump shot to put the Panthers back on the board in the quarter. Over the final few minutes, Benzel drove to the basket and Gratto added one free throw, while Murak made a two free throws and a layup in the final seconds to end the game.
Paige Gratto led the Panthers with 7 points and 9 rebounds. Amber Murak scored 6, while Avery Benzel and Katie Woolson both scored 5. Raquel Sewell grabbed 8 rebounds, including 5 on the offensive end, while scoring 4 points.
The Panthers finish the season with a 4-19 overall record. The senior class of Alexa Ackerman, Avery Benzel, and Katie Woolson bring their careers to a close, playing a part in 19 Pather victories and making 2 playoff appearances.
