by Christina Roukas

ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona's women's basketball team played their last game of the regular season on Saturday afternoon against Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference opponent Penn State Behrend, with Altoona losing 76-44.

Despite the loss, Penn State Altoona (7-17, 6-10 AMCC) still gained the sixth and final seed in the upcoming AMCC postseason tournament, after the conclusion of other games from around the league on Saturday. The sixth-seeded Lions will travel to play three seed Pitt-Greensburg in a first round AMCC Tournament game on Tuesday, February 22 at 7:00 p.m.

In the first quarter, the Penn State Altoona offense had a hard time putting up shots. Penn State Behrend (20-3, 14-2) had a six-point run to start the game until Megan Hartman (Claysburg, PA/Claysburg-Kimmel) put Altoona on the board with a jumper. Behrend played strong defense against Altoona, blocking three Altoona shots. Alexis Cannistraci (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone) recovered one of the blocks and put up a layup, putting the Lions' deficit at six, 10-4. Behrend ultimately ended the first quarter with a 17-point lead, 24-7.

In the second quarter, Behrend came out strong, putting up ten points in the first three minutes of the quarter to expand its lead to 34-11. Altoona was unable to get a rhythm going offensively, only making 26.6 percent of their shots. Behrend held a strong lead of 28 points against Altoona, ending the first half up 49-21.

In the third quarter, Behrend put up 15 total points, increasing their lead to as much as 35. Cannistraci was fouled in the final minute of the quarter and made both foul shots, and Emily Marines (Nanty Glo, PA/Blacklick Valley) also made a free throw with two seconds left to set the end-of-the-third-period score at 64-32.

In the final quarter, Altoona pulled their offense together midway through, as Cannistraci made a layup and Ellie Matthews (Kennett Square, PA/Kennett) made a three to decrease Altoona's deficit to 68-37 at 4:49. Matthews also made a layup and free throw at 3:23 to make it a 30-point game, 70-40. Cannistraci made a layup in the final seconds in the game, but Penn State Behrend came out victorious by a final score of 76-44.

Penn State Altoona committed 15 turnovers in the loss, compared to Penn State Behrend, who had nine.

Cannistraci led Penn State Altoona with 17 points, three steals, and two blocks, and she also tied for the team-high in rebounds with eight. Matthews contributed 11 points and six rebounds off the bench.

Emily Munson (New Hartford, CT/Northwestern Regional) tied for the team lead in rebounds with eight. Sarah Huston (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville) had six points and six rebounds.

Penn State Behrend got a game-high 22 points from Kara Haslett. Alanna Dibble contributed 11 rebounds and 10 points, and Rachel Majewski brought 15 points for the home team.