After Close Start, PSUGA Women Fall to Clarion
The PSUGA Women's Basketball Team got off to a hot start against Clarion holding the lead for most of the first quarter, but in the end it wasn't enough as they fell to Clarion by the final score of 74-21
Clarion, Pa. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Women’s Basketball Team (0-10, 0-3) faced their toughest test of the season Wednesday afternoon when they battled Division II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Competitor Clarion University (5-4, 1-3). It was a close game halfway through the first quarter, but Clarion was able to run away with the game collecting a 74-21 victory.
PSUGA would get on the board first thanks to a three-pointer by Brandy Taylor (Pittsburgh, Pa,/Imani Christian Academy) to get PSUGA out to a 3-0 lead. They would hold onto that lead for the first four minutes of the ball game until Clarion hit a two-pointer and two free throws to regain a 4-3 lead. PSUGA would take the lead again as it was Taylor once again hitting a three-pointer to up the PSUGA advantage to 6-4. Clarion would retake the lead as they responded with a three-pointer of their own to make it 7-6 with 4:30 to go in the first quarter.
Once they got the lead, Clarion would never look back. They went on a 18-0 run to take a 22-7 lead after one quarter of play. They would continue to rack up the points in this one as they scored 15 or more points in every quarter, while PSUGA never scored more then seven points in a quarter. The early offensive success that PSUGA saw faded towards the end of the game as they were only able to grab two points in the fourth quarter sealing their fate.
It would once again be Jayla Ellis (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) leading the way with 10 points, her tenth straight game scoring in double digits. Brandy Taylor’s two early three-pointers were all she got on the day scoring six points and she picked up the lone PSUGA assist on the day. Andrea Burroughs (New Rochelle, Ny./New Rochelle) rounds out the leader board with her team high nine rebounds on the day.
This was the second game this season where PSUGA has scored under the 30-point mark as they scored just 21 points on the day. They shot just 23.1% (9-39) from the floor, 12.5% (2-16) from beyond the arc, and 20.0% (1-5) from the free throw line. Being efficient with their shots continues to be a priority for this year’s team as they try to improve on that every single game. They were seeing that shooting percentage increase every game, however, it took a little bit of a step back on Wednesday.
The PSUGA Women’s Basketball Team has one game remaining in the first half of the season before they head off for the holiday break. They will travel to Penn State DuBois on Friday to compete in the first half of a Men’s and Women’s Basketball Doubleheader. Tip-off for Friday’s Women’s Action is scheduled for 6 p.m.