GA Lady Hoops Falls to Mont Alto, 64-54

Mont Alto, Pa. - Despite a 19-point night from junior guard Mandi Johnston (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin), the Penn State Greater Allegheny women's basketball team fell to Penn State University Athletic Conference opponent, Penn State Mont Alto, Friday night, by a margin of 64-54.

Johnston contributed all seven points in the first quarter as Mont Alto quickly took the lead, 21-7.

Freshman guard Jayla Ellis (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills added the next two points on free-throws as sophomore forward Andrea Burroughs (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) and freshman guard Ronnie Upsher (Pittsburgh, Pa./McKeesport) deposited the following four, 21-13. Ellis marked a pair of jumpers as Johnston added four free-throws while Upsher posted a jumpshot. Ellis closed out the first half with a three-pointer, Mont Alto leading Greater Allegheny 37-26.

Burroughs, Johnston and Upsher consisted of the action in the third quarter, as the home team stayed on top 52-36.

Upsher put up points in the paint while Ellis and Johnston dropped four points each. Burroughs, Johnston, Ellis and freshman forward Justice Mitchell (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) peppered the MA defense as the PSUAC contest was finished in the home teams favor, GA falling 64-54.

Johnston had a team-high 19 points with 100% (4-for-4) from the foul line, seven rebounds, seven assists, four steals and two blocks. Ellis came off the bench for 15 points, six boards, three steals, one block and an assist. Mitchell pulled down 12 boards with three steals, two points and an assist as Burroughs had 11 rebounds, eight points, two blocks and a steal. Upsher added ten points, seven boards, seven assists, four steals and two blocks.

As a team, Greater Allegheny out-rebounded Mont Alto 46-44 as the women managed 66.7% (6-of-9) from the foul line and 23 buckets from the floor. The Lions added 20 points off turnovers, 12 points in the paint and ten points off second-chance.

Greater Allegheny (5-11, 3-7 PSUAC) looks onward to their final PSUAC contest of the weekend. The women are set to take on Penn State York, Saturday afternoon, for a 1 p.m. tip-off.