NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Early offensive woes and costly turnovers doomed Penn State Harrisburg's women's basketball team in a 78-44 non-conference setback at No. 5/10 Christopher Newport on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 8.
Despite foul trouble, Jordan Carpenter recorded her 14th double-double of the year with 15 points and 10 rebounds, setting the program's single-season scoring record in the process. Ali Lister posted her first double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Mikayla Coleman added 15 points.
While more than 90 percent of the scoring for Penn State Harrisburg (15-8) came from three players, the Captains (22-1) were much more balanced offensively, with 13 different players scoring. CNU's depth hindered the Lions as well, as the team's aggressive press was smothering on the defensive end, forcing 30 turnovers that led to 36 points off Penn State Harrisburg miscues.
It was all Christopher Newport to begin the game, as the Lions were unable to crack the Captains' full-court press for much of the first quarter. As a group, Penn State Harrisburg turned the ball over 10 times while managing just two field goals in the opening frame. CNU closed out the quarter on a decisive 14-2 run in the final 5:04 to increase the advantage to 20-4 after one.
Carpenter scored all six points for the Lions in the second period but by the time she converted her third free throw of the frame, the Christopher Newport lead had ballooned to 21 points. The Captains finished out the half with back-to-back 3-pointers to stretch the gap to 37-10 at the break.
After CNU pulled ahead by 30 for the first time early in the second half, Lister converted a pair of foul shots and Sam Shaak added a layup to make it 43-14 at the 6:26 mark. From there, however, the home team locked down defensively once more and put together a 17-2 spurt to end the third and make it 60-16 heading into the final quarter.
Lister bookended a 12-0 Penn State Harrisburg run to open the fourth, hitting a jumper to begin the frame and connecting on a 3-ball two and half minutes later to pull to within 60-28 with 7:27 left to play. Nicole Hernandez knocked down a jumper to cut the deficit to 29 with 3:48 remaining but the Captains answered with eight straight points before giving way to the CNU reserves in the final three minutes.
NOTABLES
- Saturday was the first contest against a nationally-ranked opponent for the Lions this season. Messiah was receiving votes in the national rankings when Penn State Harrisburg faced the Falcons in November.
- The Lions shot just 27.5 percent from the field and 13 percent from 3-point range.
- Nearly a third of Penn State Harrisburg's point total came from the free throw line (13-of-17).
- CNU got off 22 more field goal attempts than the Lions.
- The Christopher Newport bench outscored the Penn State Harrisburg reserves 40-2.
- Carpenter finished with a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double and set the program's single-season scoring mark with 448 points, surpassing the previous record of 443 set by teammate Giahny Correa a year ago.
- Lister also posted a double-double, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
- Despite a sluggish shooting night from the floor, Coleman went 6-of-6 from the foul line and finished with 15 points.
- Two points apiece from Shaak and Hernandez accounted for the rest of the Penn State Harrisburg scoring.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions return to conference play when they host United East foe Bryn Athyn for the penultimate game of the regular season on Tuesday 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.
