ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's women's basketball team dug itself an early hole it couldn't climb out out of before succumbing to hot-shooting Cedar Crest squad in an 81-48 conference loss on Tuesday night, Feb. 10.
Lauren Moffatt led the way with a team-high 15 points, with 13 of them coming from the free throw line. Mikayla Coleman added 12 points and Nicole Hernandez was the third player to reach double figures with 10 points.
The hometown Falcons (16-8, 8-4 United East) jumped out to an early lead and despite the best efforts of Akira Cho, who scored five straight points to begin the game, stretched the advantage to double digits late in the opening quarter. Cedar Crest closed the first on a 14-6 run to take a 26-13 edge into the second.
The Falcons led by as many as 19 points midway through the second period but jumpers from Moffat and Azaria Bryan Franklin, as well as a layup from Hernandez, cut the deficit to 13 with 3:03 left in the first half. Cedar Crest stopped the run by Penn State Harrisburg (8-16, 7-5 United East) with four straight to end the half to push the lead to 40-23 at the break.
The home team continued to press the issue in the third, building its advantage to 26 at the 1:26 mark, before running away with things for good with another productive spurt in the fourth to bookend the contest with a pair of 20-plus point quarters.
NOTABLES
- The Lions had a rough shooting night, finishing just 14-of-65 (21.5 percent) from the field.
- Cedar Crest was stout from the floor, shooting 51.5 percent (34-of-66) on the night.
- Penn State Harrisburg got to the foul line 22 times, compared to just four free throw attempts for the Falcons.
- The home team won the rebounding battle 50-36.
- The Lions recorded just six assists on the night.
- Moffatt went 13-of-14 from the foul line en route to netting a team-high 15 points. She also grabbed five rebounds.
- Coleman had 12 points and four boards.
- Hernandez finished with 10 points and three rebounds.
- JP Ferguson added four rebounds and a team-high three assists.
- Bryant Franklin corralled a team-high seven boards.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions wrap up the regular season by hosting Lancaster Bible for a key conference matchup on Saturday afternoon.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Facebook, X and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.
