Altoona, PA. -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford women's basketball team traveled to Penn State-Altoona on Saturday for an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference matchup. The Panthers were unable to come up with a win, falling to the Lions 77-63.
The contest got off to a frenetic start as the two teams exchanged the lead four times in the first minute and a half. Following a Penn State-Altoona opening basket, Alexa Ackerman got the Panthers on the board with a three-pointer. The hosts quickly answered, but Daizjah Brown momentarily put Pitt-Bradford back in front with a mid-range jumper. After a Lion three-point play, Ackerman hit her second early three to restore the one-point lead, but the Lions were able to retake the advantage and go ahead by five with 5:34 left. Avery Benzel momentarily cut the lead to three on a jump shot, but her effort was immediately matched. Ackerman made a final three with 4:59 left to put the score at 15-17, but her long ball was the last the Panthers would score in the period, as the hosts finished on an 8-0 run to take a 25-15 lead to the 2nd.
As the 2nd quarter began, Brown made a pair of early jump shots to cut the deficit to six. Pitt-Bradford slowly chipped away at the lead, as a McKenna Kelly layup with 2:41 in the quarter pit the Panthers down one point, but the Lions were able to come alive in the final two minutes of the half, scoring eight unanswered points to send the game to halftime with the Panthers trailing 36-27.
After the break, Ashley Hall returned to the floor with a hot hand, as she made three-pointers on three consecutive possession to tie the game at 36 in just 2 minutes and 7 seconds of action. The Lions cooled off the Panther run with a timeout but after a Penn State-Altoona layup slowed the rally Avery Benzel made a three to give the Panthers their first lead since they were ahead 10-9 just 3:21 into the game. Unfortunately, the lead did not last long, and the hosts responded, outscoring Pitt-Bradford 16-2 over the last five minutes of the third to head to the 4th with a 12-point edge.
Just like the two quarters before it, Pitt-Bradford was able to score first in the final period, cutting the deficit to 7 on a pair of free throws from Hall and an Ackerman three. Abigail Goss answered two Lion free throws with a layup to keep the deficit at 7, but the hosts were able to score 5 quick points to extend their lead back into double figures. The Panthers were able to cut into the lead momentarily at numerous points in the final minutes of the game but were never able to get closer to seven.
Alexa Ackerman set a new career high with 18 points. She also grabbed 5 rebounds and registered 2 assists. Ashley Hall finished with 13 points and also had 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Avery Benzel also reached double figures, finishing with 20 points. She led the team with 5 assists. Trinity Lockwood Morris led the team in rebounds with 7 off the bench.
The Panthers drop their 5th straight and fall to 2-12 overall with an 0-4 record in AMCC play. They will return to KOA Arena on Wednesday, January 18th, when they host Hilbert at 7:00 p.m.
