Greater Allegheny Women's Basketball Marks First PSUAC Win over Schuylkill, 68-55

McKeesport, Pa. - With a stand-out performance from senior guard Jess Manfredi (Pittsburgh, Pa./Serra Catholic), the Penn State Greater Allegheny women's basketball team posted their first Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) triumph of the season in the 68-55 upend of Penn State Schuylkill, Friday night

Manfredi was first in the game to score with a layup before freshman guard Ronnie Upsher (Pittsburgh, Pa./McKeesport) marked a layup of her own. Manfredi dropped another layup as junior guard Mandi Johnston (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) added four straight points. Manfredi dropped a jumper and one to before Johnston zipped up five more points. Upsher and Johnston finished points in the paint to send the two teams into the second quarter, Greater Allegheny in front 22-10.

Senior guard Tra-Esha Carswell (Homestead, Pa./Steel Valley) completed a layup and one to start the second quarter of action before Manfredi ignited with four-straight three-pointers to bring the Greater Allegheny Lions ahead of Schuylkill 37-23 with just five minutes until half. 

Johnston dropped a jumper before a trey as Manfredi finished the scoring drive of the first half, 44-30.

Carswell, Manfredi and Upsher marked points in the start of the third before Upsher drained a three-pointer, 53-35 just under three minutes in. Upsher put up the next four before sophomore forward Andrea Burroughs (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) knocked down a free-throw, 58-43 to head into the final quarter.

Johnston and Carswell came out with layups as Upsher zipped up three, 65-44. Manfredi dropped a silencing three to finish the scoring drive for Greater Allegheny, 68-55.

Manfredi finished the night with a team-high 24 points, as she completed 56.3% (9-of-16) from the floor with five three-pointers. Jess noted eight boards, six assists, four steals and two blocks. Johnston contributed 20 points with four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Upsher noted 14 with five rebounds as Burroughs pulled down nine rebounds herself.

As a team, Greater Allegheny was out-rebounded 51-42 as the women shot 38.4% (28-of-73) from the floor and 35.7% (5-of-14) from the foul line. GA managed 30 points in the paint with 27 points marked off of the Schuylkill 25 turnovers.

Greater Allegheny (3-4, 1-1 PSUAC) will host another PSUAC match-up, Saturday afternoon. Hazleton comes to Wunderley Gymnasium for a 1 p.m. tip-off.