LANCASTER, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's women's basketball team had a shot at forcing overtime in the closing seconds of a defensive-minded United East contest at Lancaster Bible but ultimately came up just short in a narrow 48-46 setback on Thursday night.
Jordan Carpenter was the team's lone player to reach double figures, recording her 11th double-double of the season with a game-high 12-points and 10 rebounds. Lauren Moffatt and Mikayla Coleman finished with nine points apiece, while Sam Shaak and Giahny Correa chipped in with five points each.
Trailing by three with 16 seconds remaining following an old-fashion 3-point play by Lancaster Bible (7-9, 4-4 United East), the Lions (11-5, 5-3 United East) stayed alive when Correa swiped an errant pass and converted a layup in transition to cut the deficit to one with three seconds left to play. Penn State Harrisburg was forced to foul and LBC's Natalie Wenger went 1-for-2 from the charity stripe, giving the visitors one last chance with 1.2 seconds left. Carpenter got a good look at the potential game-tying bucket as time expired but her layup didn't fall, allowing the Chargers to escape their home floor with the nail-biting victory.
Coleman hit a pair of 3-balls early in the fourth quarter - one that tied the game and one that put the Lions out in front 40-37 at the 5:43 mark but Lancaster Bible answered with five straight points to reclaim the lead and set the table for a thrilling finish.
The Lions held a 28-26 advantage at halftime but struggled to get the offense going after the break. Despite holding the Chargers to eight points in the third quarter, Penn State Harrisburg managed just one field goal and six points in the frame and the contest was deadlocked heading into the final period.
LBC jumped out to an 8-2 lead to begin the game but eight combined points from Moffatt and Sam Shaak allowed the visitors to close the gap to 15-13 after the first. Carpenter scored six points in the final three minutes of the second, including a putback off her own miss that gave the Lions a slim lead heading into the break.
NOTABLES
- The back-and-forth affair included 10 ties and six lead changes.
- The Lions had a rare off night from the free throw line, finishing just 11-of-19 from the stripe (57.9 percent).
- Lancaster Bible won the rebounding battle 35-31.
- Penn State Harrisburg turned it over 23 times, leading to 20 points for the Chargers.
- Carpenter recorded her 11th double-double of the season with a game-high 12 points and 10 rebounds.
- Moffatt went a perfect 3-of-3 from the field and 2-of-2 from the foul line en route to nine points and six rebounds.
- Shaak added five points and six boards off the bench.
- Ali Lister racked up four points, seven rebounds and game-high four assists.
- Coleman finished with nine points.
- Correa added five points.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions continue conference play when they travel to St. Elizabeth for a rematch of last season's United East Championship Game on Saturday afternoon.
STAY CONNECTED
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