MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's women's basketball team overcame a seven-point deficit in the final four minutes and Jordan Carpenter sank a pair of free throws in the final seconds to snatch a 70-69 non-conference victory from Gwynedd Mercy at the Capital Union Building on Monday night, Dec. 9.
 

Carpenter, the reigning four-time United East Offensive Player of the Week, finished one rebound shy of a double-double with a team-high 26 points and nine rebounds. Ali Lister and Mikayla Coleman netted 16 points apiece, with the former adding five assists and four steals.

 
After leading by as many as nine points with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter, Penn State Harrisburg (6-3) saw their lead shrink early in the fourth before a Kailyn Bell 3-ball put Gwynedd Mercy (4-6) back in front 53-52 with 7:59 left to play.

 
From there, the Griffins used an 11-5 run to pull ahead 64-57 with 3:59 remaining but a Lister layup sparked a 9-0 spurt capped by a Coleman old-fashioned 3-point play that put the Lions back out in front 66-64 with 1:22 to play. The visitors converted a layup to pull even at the 1:01 mark and Angelina Balcer went 1-for-2 at the foul line to put GMU ahead 67-66 with 38 seconds left.

 
Carpenter put the home team back on top with a layup with 25 ticks left but Erin Eisenhart converted an acrobatic underhand scoop in the lane to swing the lead back to the Griffins with four seconds remaining but Carpenter was fouled at the rim off a sideline inbounds pass with two seconds left. She sank both free throws and Gwynedd Mercy's last-gasp desperation heave missed the mark as time expired.

 
NOTABLES
- The Lions shot 44.8 percent from the field and 87.5 percent from the foul line.
- Gwynedd Mercy won the rebounding battle 39-34.
- The GMU bench outscored the Penn State Harrisburg reserves 14-0.
- Carpenter finished with a team-high 26 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks. She was 8-of-10 from the charity stripe.
- Lister racked up 16 points, five assists, five boards, four steals, and a pair of steals.
- Coleman scored 16 points and had two steals.
- Sam Shaak added seven points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
- Moffatt chipped in with five points and four boards.
 

WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions travel to Delaware Valley for another non-conference contest on Thursday night.


STAY CONNECTED
Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Facebook, X, and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.